[SPOTV News = Reporter Park Dae-hyun] The Qatar Asian Cup, which opened on the 13th (Korean time), is Son Heung-min's (31, Tottenham Hotspur) fourth Asian Cup.
The first participation was in the 2011 Qatar competition. Son Heung-min showed off his presence by scoring one goal in the group stage match against India. However, Korea bowed out in the semifinals against Japan. Finished the competition in 3rd place.
In the 2015 Australian competition, he helped the team finish second. Son Heung-min, who has emerged as the national team's ace, played well, scoring two goals in the overtime match against Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals.
The dramatic equalizer in the final against Australia was deeply engraved in the minds of fans. Just before the end of the second half when the game was tied 0-1, Son Heung-min hit the host country's net. The game was pushed into overtime.
However, Korea gave the winning goal to James Troisi in the second half of extra time. 1-2 split loss. Son Heung-min shed tears on the pitch.
In 2019, he took part in the third round of two matches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, they suffered from scoreless empty balls. Korea also suffered a blow in the quarterfinals. That year, they lost 1-2 to the winning team, Qatar, and fell out early.
This tournament is virtually the last tournament in which Son Heung-min, born in 1992, participates while maintaining his prime skills. This year, Korea is evaluated as having the strongest power ever. Starting with Heung-min Son, Hee-chan Hwang (Wolverhampton), Min-jae Kim (Bayern Munich), Kang-in Lee (Paris Saint-Germain), In-beom Hwang (Crvena Zvezda), etc., the European team boasts hot form in offense and defense.
According to the Korea Football Association, Son Heung-min, along with goalkeeper Kim Yong-dae (retired), is the player with the most names in the Asian Cup entries.
This year, if Son Heung-min plays all of the group stage, starting with the match against Bahrain on the 15th, and plays through to the round of 16 and quarterfinals, he will set a meaningful record.
He beat former Korea Football Association vice-president Lee Young-pyo (46), who played in 16 games, and became the Asian Cup player with the most appearances. Son Heung-min has often shown his ‘sincerity’ towards the Taegeuk mark. It is worthy of being remembered as a statistic that matches words and actions.
Son Heung-min contributed to the team's 3-1 victory by scoring the winning goal in the 20th round of the 2023-24 English Premier League (EPL) against Bournemouth held at home on the 31st of last month.
After the game against Bournemouth, Son Heung-min said in an interview with British broadcaster Sky Sports, "I have to leave the team for a while (due to being selected for the national team). I feel regretful," but added, "Representing my country is more important than anything to me," and said he would like to attend the Asian Cup. emphasized the will to do so.
Qatar, the host of this Asian Cup, is a place with good memories for Son Heung-min. As a key striker for the Korean national team led by current UAE coach Paulo Bento, he played a role in advancing to the round of 16 of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
At the time, the ‘mask fighting spirit’ attracted attention. Son Heung-min, who played the Qatar World Cup wearing a protective face mask due to an orbital fracture about a month before the opening, delighted the nation with a fantastic assist in the third group match against Portugal.
He gave a brilliant 'crotch pass' to Hwang Hee-chan, who was behind the defense, and helped score the winning goal. He contributed to the 2-1 victory and advanced to the round of 16 of the away World Cup for the second time in history.
This year, Korean soccer will attempt to regain the Asian Cup title for the first time in 64 years. Korea has not won the championship for over half a century since 1960. He only took second place and third place four times each.
Korea was tied in Group E with Bahrain, Jordan, and Malaysia. The journey begins with the first match against Bahrain on the 15th.
Considering the knockout stage after the round of 16, the 'first step' must be made well. The 1st and 2nd place teams in Group E will meet the 1st and 2nd place teams in Group D in the round of 16. Group D includes Japan, a strong contender for the title, along with Korea.
There is a need to secure first place in the group and pave the 'silk road' rather than the hard road.
Klinsmann's recent 6-game winning streak is not bad. The controversy over the ‘lack of color’ at the beginning of its launch is being gradually erased. The performance of narrowing the gap between attack and defense based on strong forward pressure and completing a concise counterattack through this is appeasing criticism.
After the Bahrain match, Korea will face Jordan on the 20th and Malaysia on the 25th.
