'64th place' Overcome Jordan Trauma...Another task given to Hong Myung-bo
'64th place' Overcome Jordan Trauma...Another task given to Hong Myung-bo
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Another task given to South Korea, which is seeking to advance to the World Cup finals, is overcoming Jordanian trauma.
Led by coach Hong Myung-bo, the Korean national soccer team will have a showdown with Jordan in the eighth Group B match of the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA World Cup North-China at Suwon World Cup Stadium at 8 p.m. on Saturday. South Korea ranks first with four wins and three draws (15 points), while Jordan ranks second with three wins, three draws and one loss (12 points).
They are Jordan, the most demanding opponent in Group B. They are ranked 64th in FIFA rankings, but Korea is particularly nervous about Jordan. After a draw in the group stage of the 2023 Qatar Asian Cup, they suffered a shocking 0-2 defeat in the semi-finals, which they now have bad memories of.
He left Jordan in the third match in October and ended his revenge with a 2-0 victory, but this time, "Ace" Musa Al Tamari and Yazan Al-Naimat, who made Korea cry at the Asian Cup, can play in good condition. On top of that, Yazan, who has been reborn as an iron wall for FC Seoul, must also be pierced.
Due to the good skills of key players, they cannot be seen as an easy target. Jordan's first K-League player Yazan has been playing as the best defender since joining FC Seoul last summer. He boasts solid physicality and stability, and has strength in set piece. Al Tamari is also active in France in the offensive team, and Al Naimat, who has scored 18 goals in 48 games for the Jordanian national team, is a person to watch out for. Jordan has better personal physical and technique than Oman, so if it plays a close defense, it may struggle more than the match against Oman.
Jordan lost to South Korea in the third round, but was confident. Jordanian coach Jamal Selami, who attended the press conference, said, "We recognize the importance of tomorrow's game where we meet a strong team like Korea. We are in a good mood after winning 3-1 against Palestine. I think we are qualified to be in the World Cup finals. Of course, South Korea has many world-class players and outstanding strikers, but Jordanian defenders are excellent. We will defend well through them."
Just as Korea finds it difficult to make an expedition to the Middle East, an expedition to Korea is also not easy for Jordan. The team has to adapt to cold weather and overcome jet lag caused by long-distance flights. "It is the most difficult for us, but we also had a match against Palestine in Malaysia. We are all tired, but we have prepared for it. We are physically tired, but we tried our best to adjust our conditions. There is also jet lag, but we will display our best performance in tomorrow's game," Selami said.
Yazan, who is familiar with Korean life, said, "I know how difficult it is to travel to and from the Middle East and Korea because I am living in Korea. Nevertheless, I talk well with the medical staff and try to maintain my best condition. Especially in Korea, the food is different, so it is helpful that I am nourishing the players by working with a professional chef. I will take enough rest for tomorrow's game and try to prepare as well as possible."
All of the key players also showed up at the 15-minute training session that was open to reporters after the pre-press conference a day before the match. In the aftermath of the long-distance flight and the match against Palestine just before, some players warmed up on the mat first. There was a rumor that Al Thamari had to separate himself from the players for individual training, but his condition was not 100 percent due to minor injuries.
Korea is advantageous at home in many ways, but it is necessary to forget painful memories such as the Asian Cup incident through victory over Jordan. As Korea, ranked 23rd by FIFA, had a home draw against Oman, ranked 80th, Korea is now in a position 토토사이트 where it cannot ignore the underdog. Against Jordan, which is ranked 64th, Hong Myung-bo should show off his pride as an Asian powerhouse.