'Scoreless' Hwang Ui-jo: "Finishing is disappointing but must not lose confidence... We will win against Romania"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Following Kim Hak-bum's team's loss in their first match at the Tokyo Olympics, 'wildcard' Hwang Ui-jo (Bordeaux), who led the national team's attack, expressed great regret over missing scoring opportunities.

After the first match of the men's soccer Group B league against New Zealand at Kashima Stadium in Ibaraki, Japan, on the 22nd, Hwang said, "Since it was the first game, the players seemed tense. It will get better from now on," adding, "There are two matches left, so we must not lose confidence."

That day, the national team lost 0-1 to New Zealand, signaling a red alert for advancing to the quarterfinals.

After the game, netizens criticized the national team's lack of goal-scoring ability. While conceding a goal was a problem, they also expressed disappointment that despite taking 12 shots, the team ended the match scoreless.

Hwang reflected on the cause of the defeat. He said, "Our primary goal was not to concede. The players did their best, but it is most regrettable that the situation changed after conceding from a single chance given to the opponent," emphasizing, "That should not happen in the next match." He continued, "Since we created chances, we should have finished them to make the game easier. In the next match, the forwards need to pay attention. It is important to finish as quickly as possible to ease the burden on our defending teammates."

Regarding the headed shot opportunity caught by the goalkeeper near the end of the first half, he said, "I tried to head the ball into the goal, but I couldn't put much power into it," expressing regret, "Besides that moment, if I had been a bit more precise, I could have scored, but I missed many chances."