Substituted in the 30th Minute of the Second Half Against Uruguay
Showcasing Skills Freely Without Nervousness
Lee Kang-in (Mallorca) was uncertain to go to Qatar until the final announcement of the national football team roster. This was because head coach Paulo Bento thoroughly overlooked him, judging that he lacked defensive contribution and stamina. Lee Kang-in did not lose confidence. This season, he built a strong case for selection by recording 2 goals and 3 assists in fourteen matches in the Spanish La Liga.
Coach Bento included Lee Kang-in in the final roster for the 2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup. He explained the reason by saying, "His technique is quite good, and he has shown improvement in several areas." Bento is a coach who does not make significant changes in player selection. It can be said that Lee Kang-in won him over purely with his skills.
On the 24th, Lee Kang-in made his dream World Cup debut by coming on as a substitute in the 75th minute during the first group stage match against Uruguay in Group H at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar. He began to open up attacking opportunities with aggressive dribbling. The sharpness of the offense was quickly revived.
Although his time on the field was short, Lee Kang-in did not get nervous and fully demonstrated his abilities. He even smiled lightly after being tackled by Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), a world-class midfielder, showing his composure. He said, "Coach Bento told me to show what I have when I get the ball." Regarding the reason for using Lee Kang-in, Coach Bento expressed satisfaction, saying, "His quick forward passes are good," and "He showed good qualities defensively as well as offensively."
Lee Kang-in is now preparing for the second group stage match against Ghana on the 28th. He said, "In the end, football is about scoring goals to win. I hope to score and win in the next match," and added, "We always prepare to win. I want to perform better and win." He emphasized, "Since we have reached the World Cup finals, Ghana will naturally be a strong opponent. I believe that if we prepare well and play as one team, good results will come."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
