Bento’s return to Korea▶ Click here for a larger view
The national soccer team, who lost 0-3 in the 80th Korea-Japan match, returned with heavy steps.
The soccer team, including coach Paulo Bento, returned home through Incheon International Airport on the afternoon of the 26th after a friendly match against Japan in Yokohama, Japan on the 25th.
Players who played in overseas leagues, such as Lee Kang-in (Valencia) and Jung Woo-young (Freiburg), headed straight to the country where they belonged, and K-League players and staff came to Incheon on this day.
Due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19), there were not many airport users, so the arrival hall was busy.
It was difficult to find general users or fans, and only a few officials stood sparsely around the gate.
It was announced in advance that there would be no separate media activities, such as an interview for returning home for the prevention of Corona 19, but there were a few reporters trying to capture the appearance of the national team with a camera.
‘Yokohama humiliation’ Bento returns home▶ Click here for a larger view
The players who exited the gate about an hour and 20 minutes after the aircraft landed had their faces covered with masks and face shields, but they looked firm.
After leaving the arrival hall in heavy silence, the athletes took the bus provided and headed to the quarantine area, the Paju National Training Center (NFC).
The national team lost 0-3 in this year’s first A match against Japan the day before. After the 2011 Sapporo disaster, the friendly match was a confrontation with Japan in 10 years, but the score was the same as at the time.
Amidst the ongoing Corona 19 phase, the Korea-Japan War, which raised concerns from the promotion process, continued to be noisy until the opening.
Many key players such as Son Heung-min (Tottenham) were not able to join, and it was pointed out that too many specific team players were selected or that a player who could not be in my condition was named, and controversy about’communication’ between the national team and the field arose.
The national team regretted losing the match against Japan on the 25th▶ Click here for a larger view
Even after teaming up and leaving for Japan after twists and turns, the coach of the Japanese national team and the person in charge of the Korean accommodation security continued to suffer from Corona 19 and infection.
Even in all of these circumstances, there was a justification for checking skills in practice ahead of the 2nd qualifying round for the 2022 Qatar World Cup in Asia, which will resume in June, but there was no income in terms of performance. I couldn’t even try to counterattack because of a helpless jolt, and I had to chew on a complete defeat.
As the national team was overwhelmed by fierce criticism, on this afternoon, unusually, Chairman Chung Mong-gyu released a’post to the public’ and apologized, saying, “The soccer association’s responsibility for failing to fully support the match in the best condition is greater.” did.
The national team, who returned with regret, will cohort quarantine until April 2 at Paju NFC. Training will continue during this period.
The national team will qualify for the second round of the 2022 Qatar World Cup in Asia in June. The 2nd qualifying round will be held in a group by group instead of Home and Away, and as Group H will be held in Korea, the Bento will play in the home in June in four consecutive matches.
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