Structural problems are real. Beyond simple blame, the Korea Football Association's narrow view of the U-23 national team led to the disaster.
The U-23 national soccer team led by coach Hwang Seon-hong returned to Korea via Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 at 12 p.m. on Tuesday. He stepped on the Korean soil in a dark atmosphere. On the occasion, Hwang said that he did not think so when asked if his concurrent position had been toxic as a result.
On the previous day, Hwang lost 10-11 in the shootout after Shin Tae-yong's 2-2 draw with Indonesia in the quarterfinals at the AFC U-23 Asian Cup held in Doha, Qatar. He struggled amid unfavorable conditions for Lee Young-joon (Kimcheon) to leave the team, but failed to smile. 먹튀검증
Korea will not be able to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics, which will open in July, due to its shock defeat at the match against Indonesia. The top three teams in the final round of Asian qualifying for the Paris Olympics will receive a direct ticket to Paris. The fourth place finisher will advance to the finals only if he wins a playoff against Guinea in Africa.
Korea failed to advance to the Olympic finals for 10 consecutive times as it was eliminated in the quarterfinals. Prior to this event, Korea had been on the stage for the finals every time (nine times in a row) since the 1988 Seoul Olympics. It is the first time in 40 years that Korea has failed to advance to the Olympics finals since the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Meanwhile, Hwang said it was his fault and also mentioned the system structure. Regarding the cause of the failure, Hwang said, "It may seem like a ping jong, but the management structure and system of teams in the current age group must absolutely change. What I felt after taking charge of the team for about two years was that the gap would widen further with this system."
"It's hard to tell you everything, but I think we need to listen to the voices of the field and work together to figure out a way," he said. "The concurrent position of the national team did not affect me that much. I am responsible for these results. I feel heavy in my heart, and I can't help but feel sorry," he blamed himself for the mistake.
Coach Hwang Sun-hong, who mentioned long-term plans and structural problems, said, "We need to go with a four-year cycle for the national team. For sure, if a coach's lifespan depends on his performance at the Asian Games, he has no choice but to focus on the Asian Games, and he has to prepare for the Olympics after that, so it is not a four-year period."
"Last year, I had to focus on the Asian Games in September, and this year's event in April afterwards, but the preparation time was really short. It's only been a few months. With this structure, there is no way to completely subdue the opponent in Asia," Hwang said.
In fact, Hwang's remarks have been constantly being made in the field. In fact, Korea's U-23 national team is fundamentally different from other national teams of different age groups. It is because it is not an "age group" national team to nurture the A national team but rather an "all-star" for military exemption.
In Korea, national youth teams of different age groups have managers developing and developing national teams with maximum continuity, but the U-23 national team is different. Basically, national teams of different age groups operate with a consistent continuity. However, in order to exempt them from mandatory military service, the U-23 always requires more results than training.
That is why the national team will be formed with the best members who have joined the wild card every time. Unlike other national teams of different age groups, the U-23 national team was led by proven professional-level coaches, not professional youth leaders such as Shin Tae-yong, Kim Hak-beom, Park Sung-hwa, and Park Hang-seo.
The appointment was aimed at a significantly different goal from other age groups. In fact, the late coach Lee Kwang-jong was the only coach among U-23 coaches who were professional youth leaders. Starting with the U-15 national team in 2003, Lee was appointed as coach of the U-17 national team in 2007, the U-20 national team in 2010, and the U-23 national team in 2013.
After this continuity, coach Lee Kwang-jong, who led the gold medal in 28 years at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, was scheduled to take the helm until the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, but sadly passed away. Since then, there has never been a coach who continues from U-15 as the head coach of the U-23 national team.
In the end, coach Hwang Seon-hong's remarks point out this problem. Although there is no other choice due to the Korean military service issue, the disappearance of fostering or direction is a concern. The disappearance of continuity is more problematic than the KFA confused Hwang through the concurrent position of coach.
Anyway, the Korean soccer team is facing its worst crisis in 2024. Even with the golden members at the forefront, it suffered a shocking elimination at the Asian Cup and failed to advance to the Olympics for the 10th consecutive time, which had been taken for granted. The KFA's responsibility is taken for granted, and now it is necessary to consider the fundamental goal of the U-23 national team's existence and operate it continuously based on the philosophy of soccer.
