At 20:00 on the 21st, the national football team will gather at the Shenzhen Universiade Center Stadium to meet the second round of the 36th round of the showdown with South Korea. Despite the disparity in strength between the two sides, the national soccer team will need to go all out and try not to let their opponents win easily, given their local advantage.
Lighten up and go all out
South Korea, ranked 24th in the world and third in Asia, are significantly better compared to Thailand. In the qualifying rounds, the focus of the Top 36 was whether they could beat Thailand. The result of the battle with South Korea seems to be less important.
There's no need to worry about winning or losing, just giving it your best shot. The national football team has a long history of psychological problems, so that the "draw is out of the line" of the game often ended in a loss. However, in this kind of fearless game, the national football team may be able to show a higher level. Even if you face the powerful South Korea, the hope of getting points is small, but at least it will not make the scene too ugly.
Klinsmann declines invitation
South Korea are clearly confident, with Klinsmann having six players from the top five leagues under his belt, something that the Chinese team can't hope to match. In his pre-match press conference, Klinsmann praised South Korea as "a very talented and strong team in Asia". He said his short-term goal is to win the Asian Cup and then qualify for the World Cup. For the game at hand, his goal is to win.
Rumors about Klinsmann potentially coaching China have finally been confirmed as empty. Klinsmann said he had come to Beijing four or five years ago as a Bundesliga promotional ambassador, but was not invited to coach China. He was well aware that the 40,000 tickets for the match were sold out, and felt the desire of the fans, hoping to give back to them with a high-level match.
Jankovic: Shouldering expectations
Yankovic also spoke highly of the South Korean team, calling it "world class". But he emphasized that the Chinese team's goal is to qualify for the World Cup. Getting three points on the road is crucial, and returning home, he hopes to continue the winning momentum, "I hope the team can withstand the expectations of the whole country, not only the result, but more importantly the fans' desire for fighting spirit, passion for victory and love of soccer."
As Asia's brightest star, Sun Xing is in the spotlight and how to limit his play in the game has become a hot topic among fans. However, from a coach's point of view, Jankovic said that he not only has to defend Sun Xing, but also all the players on the field. Defense is a holistic project that requires all players to be extremely disciplined. The stronger the opponent and the more threatening the offense is, the more aggressive the national team's defense needs to be. Jankovic also pointed out that even the top teams in the world have loopholes, and that it is important to analyze the weaknesses of the opponents and seize the opportunities as much as possible.
The event is set to create a frenzy, with 40,000 tickets sold out four days in advance. But Yankovic reminds everyone that the more fans there are, the more they need to stay calm. Focus on yourself and give it your all.
