The Hong Myung-bo team is preparing for the 'high-stakes match against Japan.'
The South Korean men's soccer team, led by coach Hong Myung-bo, will clash with Japan in the final match of the 2025 East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Championship (East Asian Cup) on the 15th at 7:24 p.m. at Yongin Mir Stadium. Both teams have secured 6 points by defeating China and Hong Kong, and the East Asian champion will be determined by the result of this match.
Currently, Japan has a goal difference of +7, while Korea has +5. There can be no championship without a victory. Even a draw would mean Korea cannot win due to the goal difference.
Korea holds the title of being the most successful team in the East Asian Cup (5 titles), but recent momentum has favored Japan. Korea surrendered the championship trophy after a 0-3 defeat to Japan in the final match in 2022, and they were also beaten by the same score in an away friendly in 2021. There has never been a 'three consecutive losses' in historical Korea-Japan matches. This defeat could be not just a simple runner-up finish but potentially the most humiliating record in the history of soccer.
Coach Hong Myung-bo noted, "In the past, there was a strong sentiment that 'we must win against Japan.' However, at some point, I felt that it wasn’t everything." He maintained his composure while stating, "Since this is the final, we will definitely win. I trust the players."
The Hong Myung-bo team has successfully managed two tasks: 'selecting the best players' and 'tactical experimentation' during this tournament. In the first match against China, they deployed their best lineup and achieved a commanding 3-0 victory, and in the second match against Hong Kong, they also secured a 2-0 win despite changing all the starters.
In both games, a three-back formation was utilized. Following the three-back line composed of Kim Joo-seong, Park Jin-seob, and Park Seung-wook in the match against China, a stable defense was maintained with Kim Tae-hyun, Byeon Joon-soo, and Seo Myeong-gwan in the match against Hong Kong, resulting in a clean sheet. Coach Hong clearly stated, "The three-back can be Plan A for future World Cups."
Wing-backs such as Moon Seon-min and Mo Jae-hyun contributed to expanding the team's attacking options, while central midfielders Kim Bong-soo, Seo Min-woo, and Kang Sang-yoon delivered impressive performances.
The most intense internal competition is for the striker position. Joo Min-kyu, who scored in the match against China, is currently in the lead. Oh Se-hoon, playing in the J-League, has advantages in experience against Japanese players, but due to a recent decline in form, he is more likely to appear as a late substitute rather than a starter. Lee Ho-jae gained confidence after scoring his debut goal in the match against Hong Kong.
Coach Hong evaluated, "I can't predict the World Cup roster right now, but this tournament was a good time to sketch out the picture for a year later." In fact, if any of these players leave a significant impact in the match against Japan, they could secure a foothold for entering the final World Cup squad.
Japan, like Korea, also implemented a rotation system, changing all players in both games. They crushed Hong Kong 6-1 in the first match and defeated China 2-0 in the second match. Notably, 30-year-old mixed-race striker Jermaine Ryo, who scored four goals in the first match, is a target that Korea's defense must contain.
Japan, consisting only of J-League players, shows strengths in speed and organization. Coach Hong communicated, "Japan is a team accustomed to dealing with three-back formations. At some point, we will apply the plan we prepared. It's important to closely mark key opposing players and execute our offensive strategy efficiently."
Team captain Jo Hyun-woo expressed, "As always, we prepared the same weapons. If we execute the plays our coach wants, we will definitely win. We will make sure to keep our goals conceded at '0'" and solidified his determination for victory in the Korea-Japan match.
Through this tournament, Korea assessed the depth of its domestic player pool and tested new tactics, laying the groundwork for the World Cup. However, the ultimate goal of all this preparation is to achieve victory.
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