Korea hires foreign talent for short-term results
Japan is focusing on young athletes in the Olympics
Football Association “Presenting a blueprint through discussion”
The Korean men’s national under-23 soccer team is at a critical crossroads. A choice must be made between a short-term plan, like the current one, aiming for military service benefits for the Asian Games and a ticket to the Olympic Games finals, and a long-term plan, like Japan’s, which uses all other competitions. as a stepping stone to the Olympic Games. If the latter is chosen, Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) and others may remain as the last generation to receive the benefits of military service.
An official from the Korea Football Association said in a phone call with the Seoul Shinmun on the 29th, “The power improvement committee of the national team or the technical headquarters will look at the competition result report and submit a blueprint,” and added, “ The specific The content and publication schedule will be decided through discussion.”
This issue was raised by former coach Hwang Seon-hong, who lost in the quarter-finals of the 2024 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U23 Asian Cup held in Qatar and was on his way home on the 27th, saying, “If the coach’s life is determined by the performance in the Asian Games, then the Olympics will not be possible.” It is difficult to concentrate and the preparation period is short. “The system needs to be changed every four years,” he said.
A representative example is Japan. Starting with the 2022 AFC U23 Asian Cup, Japan formed a team of under-21 players, two years younger than the competition’s age limit, in preparation for the Paris Olympics two years later. The Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games was also postponed by a year due to COVID-19, allowing participation up to the age of 24, but only players under the age of 22 took part. Not one wild card was used (over 24).
However, it is difficult for Korea to ignore the Asian Games, where the benefits of military service are at stake. Last year’s Hangzhou tournament also invited three wild cards, including Baek Seung-ho (Birmingham City), Park Jin-seop (Jeonbuk Hyundai), and Seol Young-woo (Ulsan HD), as well as foreign players, including Lee Kang-in and Hong Hyun-seok (Gent). They won the gold medal, but continuity was the problem.
Due to the age limit for participating in competitions, only three players, including Kim Jeong-hoon (Jeonbuk), Hwang Jae-won (Daegu FC), and Ahn Jae-jun (Bucheon FC), participated in Games Hangzhou Asian and the last qualifying round of the Olympic Games in Paris (U23 Asian Cup). It is a structure that inevitably leads to differences with Japan, with which both countries have long collaborated. Japan progressed to the semi-finals of the Asia Cup and crossed the crest of the 7th division to take part in the Olympic Games.
Football commentator Kim Dae-gil said, “The pace at which Asian countries are catching up has accelerated significantly. “At the football association level, we need to draw up a long-term road map and come up with a plan for players of a certain age to gain experience,” he said “As we rush to prepare for every competition, there is a lack of continuity . He explained, “The Football Association needs to think of ways to persuade the public by saying, ‘This tournament is on the way to the Olympics, so watch it even if the good results.’”
Reporter Seo Jin-sol
#military #service #benefits #longterm #planning.. #National #under23 #football #team #crossroads
