On July 21, the opening game of the East Asian Cup, the Chinese men's soccer selection team was defeated by the South Korean team with a score of 0-3 In an interview with the Korean media, South Korean star Hwang In-bum bluntly said that playing against China was an easy game for them.
--About the game
Hwang In-beom said: "This is the first game I have been involved in since my injury. Due to the long absence from the battlefield, my physical condition really struggled, and the hot and humid weather somewhat affected my play. Fortunately, we opened up the game in the first half and scored again in the second half to take control of the game. The players and the coaching staff were well prepared for the game, which made the game go smoothly.
--On finger injuries
Hwang In-beom revealed, "I have yet to fully recover from my finger injury and my bones have yet to fully heal, but luckily the pain has not stopped me from giving my full attention to the game."
--On positional adjustments
Hwang In-beom spoke: "I was mainly active on the left side in the first half, while I shifted to the right side in the second half, which was a tactical adjustment, and we also used a double striker tactic. In the national team, the coach doesn't want players to be tied to specific positions, but rather seeks balance and the most effective way to attack.
--About China
According to Hwang In-beom, "We expect the game to be very tough, with China adopting a defensive strategy, and we had a similar matchup in the World Qualifiers. The key was not to be impatient until scoring chances were created. As a result, the game became easier and the Chinese team became less physical in the second half, creating space for us."
-On the changes in this year's East Asian Cup
Hwang In-beom commented, "It hasn't changed much, and it's true that when I was in Korea, the conditions were very favorable. In Japan, there are quite a few deficiencies in terms of training grounds and hotels. Compared to three years ago when I first participated in the East Asian Cup, my position in the team is no longer that of a young player. I hope to help the team both on and off the field.
--On the next round against Hong Kong, China
