"Korean soccer without home advantage" Son Heung-min and Lee Jae-sung simultaneously, not just because of grass...Wandering plus external anxiety
"Korean soccer without home advantage" Son Heung-min and Lee Jae-sung simultaneously, not just because of grass...Wandering plus external anxiety
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"One win, three draws at home, five goals and four runs," "Three wins and one draw away, nine goals and three runs away."
The home turf, where people feel familiar and comfortable, is becoming an enemy. The "92 line," which serves as the leader of the national soccer team, is also a phenomenon with a reason.
"Captain" Son Heung-min (Tottenham) and Lee Jae-sung (Mainz, 33) spoke about the "slow home game" that continues after finishing 1-1 against Jordan in Group B of the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup at Suwon World Cup Stadium on the 25th.
"We have to play in the best condition and environment at home. It's upsetting that we can't improve. I think it's a little difficult to speak on behalf of a player's mind," Son said. "I know it sounds like a ping-pong, but it's very important for a match to be decided with small details. The current situation seems to have a big impact on the game."
Lee Jae-sung, who criticized the uneven state of the ground turf in Korea prior to the match against Jordan, also voiced his opinion again. "All the players take great responsibility for not producing results at home. However, it is true that we need more help in the environment. I hope we can gain advantages at home." There are many players in the team who play soccer in a good environment (such as Europe). They all have aspirations, but it's a pity that they can't fill them here."
As the worst soccer field grass issue has recently emerged as an issue in the K League 1, Son Heung-min and Lee Jae-sung's remarks are also interpreted in harmony. However, looking into internal voices, the national team players' demands for environmental improvement are not limited to grass.
Team Korea has used different stadiums due to various circumstances including grass for the four home matches of the third qualifying round so far. They traveled around Seoul (against Palestine), Yongin (against Iraq), Goyang (against Oman) and Suwon (against Jordan). In fact, while living a itinerant lifestyle, they had to adapt to different grass and lighting for a short time and played actual matches every time.
"Frankly, the players talked a lot about the Paju NFC. More and more players are playing in Europe and the team is tired in general, but the team moves to their accommodation every time, which is why it's chaotic," A said. "In addition to the official training, players in Paju have separate reinforcement training and can now rest whenever they want to. That's not the case now."
Paju NFC has served as a home by using it as a training and lodging space for national teams of all ages for more than 20 years after the Korea Football Association and Paju City signed a free lease contract. Then, the KFA decided to leave early last year due to the expiration of its contract. The KFA is building a soccer center four times the size of Paju NFC in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, but it will be completed only this fall.
Japan, a neighboring country that confirmed its advance to the World Cup finals as the "World's No. 1" this month, played all four home games at Saitama Stadium, which is considered a "soccer site" amid a stable training environment for the national team. Any team that moves around the home turf to train and play will inevitably lose its home advantage. Another extension is that Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) and Baek Seung-ho (Birmingham City) are injured.
Other factors such as public criticism over the administration of the Korea Football Association, which caused controversy over the appointment of Hong Myung-bo as coach, and Chung Mong-kyu, chairman of the Korea Sports and Tourism Organization, 메이저사이트 which has yet to win approval from the Korea Sports Council due to prolonged conflicts with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism even after winning the fourth term, are affecting the atmosphere of the A-team home game. Players are not in an environment where they can fully concentrate on playing games. They are at a loss as they are placed in the atmosphere and environment of "it's my home but not mine." Son Heung-min's mention of strengthening details is in line with this situation.