Bentoho Kim Young-kwon: "Like the Kazan Miracle... We Will Stop the Individually Outstanding Portugal as a Team"

"Similar feelings to the Germany match 4 years ago, the players are truly desperate"
"Not just Ronaldo, all 11 players must be cautious"

On the 1st (local time), one day before the third group stage match against Portugal in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Paulo Bento and Kim Young-gwon held a press conference at the Media Center (MMC) set up at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC) in Al Rayyan, Qatar.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] "There is nowhere to go back anymore, we must move forward. We are truly desperate."

Kim Young-gwon (Ulsan), a defender of the South Korean national football team, expressed his desperate will to win against the strong Portugal ahead of the last group stage match of the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

On the 1st (Korean time), Kim Young-gwon attended the pre-match press conference for the Portugal game held at the main media center in Al Rayyan, Qatar, and said, "This is a match where a victory is necessary. Like the previous two matches, I think passion and the attitude to fight on the field are important," adding, "We will not give up until the end."

South Korea will face Portugal, ranked 9th by FIFA, in the final third match of Group H in the World Cup group stage at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan at midnight on the 3rd (Korean time).

Currently recording 1 draw and 1 loss (1 point), South Korea is in a situation where a win is essential against Portugal (2 wins, 6 points). Even if they win, they will have to watch the result of the Uruguay (1 draw, 1 loss, 1 point) vs. Ghana (1 win, 1 loss, 3 points) match happening at the same time.

When asked how he would defend against Portugal’s top star Ronaldo, Kim Young-gwon said, "Everyone knows Ronaldo is a world-class player, and Portugal is individually an excellent team, but I think if we unite as one team, we can defend well."

He continued, "There are too many good players to single out any one player. We have to be careful of all 11 players, and to stop those 11 players, the players know well that teamwork and organization must be well established," emphasizing, "If we do as prepared, it will lead to good results."

On the afternoon of the 28th (local time), the Group H second match between South Korea and Ghana was held at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, during the 2022 Qatar World Cup group stage. As the match ended 2-3, Son Heung-min and Kim Young-gwon showed their disappointment.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim Young-gwon also said, "After we do our best, luck will also be needed."

Kim Young-gwon, who scored the winning goal in the second half during the 'Miracle of Kazan' when South Korea defeated Germany 2-0 four years ago in Russia, said his feelings then and now are similar.

He said, "It is a match where we must do our best and also have luck on our side. There is nowhere to go back, and we must move forward," adding, "The players are truly desperate. If that desperation comes out on the field, I think it will lead to good results."

South Korea must play the Portugal match without head coach Bento, who was sent off after protesting to the referee following the second match against Ghana.

Kim Young-gwon said, "I think the coach had a good reason for what he did. I have not a single negative feeling about it," adding, "I accepted it thinking there must be a reason for the coach’s decision, whom we have trusted for four years. Since it is an important match, we will focus and prepare well."

He continued, "The Portugal match is a game where a victory is necessary," and said, "The passion and the attitude to fight on the field, as shown in the previous two matches, are important. We will not give up until the end," showing his determination.