What will be head coach Hong Myung-bo's winning card in the fateful Korea-Japan match?
The men's national football team, led by Hong Myung-bo, will face rival Japan in the third match of the 2025 East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Championship (East Asian Cup) at 7:24 p.m. on the 15th at Yongin Mistr Stadium. Korea and Japan, both having won two matches, clash for the tournament trophy.
Korea lost to China 3-0 in the first match and to Hong Kong 2-0 in the second match. However, Japan won against Hong Kong 6-1 in the first match and defeated China 2-0 in the second match. Japan, with a goal difference of +7, is currently leading the group, surpassing Korea, which has a +5 goal difference.
Korea holds the record for most championships in the East Asian Cup with five titles. Japan closely trails with two titles. Surprisingly, China has won twice in 2005 and 2010. In 2022, Korea surrendered the trophy to Japan, ending a four-year championship streak. Korea must take revenge on Japan to secure its sixth title.
Korea fielded veteran striker Jumin-kyu, along with Lee Tae-seok, Kim Joo-sung, Park Jin-seop, Kim Jin-kyu, Kim Bong-soo, Jo Hyun-woo, Lee Dong-kyung, Moon Sun-min, Park Seung-wook, and Kim Moon-hwan, for the match against China. Kim Bong-soo made his debut in an A-match. Lee Dong-kyung, Jumin-kyu, and Kim Joo-sung scored consecutive goals, leading to a complete victory.
Head coach Hong Myung-bo made changes to all 11 starting players from the match against Hong Kong. Goalkeeper Lee Chang-geun (Daejeon), along with Byeon Joon-soo (Gwangju), Kim Tae-hyeon (Kashima), Seo Myung-kwan (Ulsan), Kim Tae-hyeon (Jeonbuk), Jo Hyun-taek (Ulsan), Lee Seung-won (Kimcheon), Kang Sang-yun (Jeonbuk), Seo Min-woo (Gangwon), Lee Ho-jae (Pohang), and Na Sang-ho (Machida) had the opportunity to play.
The intention was to rest key players in preparation for the match against Japan and test the remaining players. As a result, it is highly likely that the players who participated in the match against China will form the core of the lineup for the match against Japan.
A variable is the forward. It is crucial whether Oh Se-hoon, who knows Japanese players well while playing in the J League, will be substituted in place of Jumin-kyu. Japanese media expressed caution, saying, "Jumin-kyu knows the Japanese players well."
However, veteran Jumin-kyu is maintaining good form after scoring in the match against China. Oh Se-hoon is struggling with declining performance in the J League. Head coach Hong Myung-bo cannot afford to take risks in a must-win match against Japan. Oh Se-hoon appears likely to come on as a joker depending on the situation.
Head coach Hong Myung-bo commented on the match against Japan, saying, "In the East Asian Cup, the final Korea-Japan match is always the most important. We will prepare well and do our best to bring home a victory for the championship. We will focus on winning against Japan. The overall condition of the players is not bad," expressing confidence in victory.
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