Reporter Lee Jae-sang = 2023 International Football Federation (FIFA) Australia-New Zealand Women’s World Cup ahead, ‘Colin Bellho’ sets out to build valuable experience against European powerhouses. Attention is focusing on how much performance he can show in a confrontation with European players with excellent physical skills.
The women’s national soccer team (ranked 15th in FIFA rankings) led by coach Bell will participate in the Arnold Clark Cup, a friendly competition between four countries, to be held in England from the 17th.
The Arnold Clark Cup is an international friendly competition hosted by the Football Association of England and celebrates its second year this year. Host country England (4th), Italy (17th), Belgium (20th) and Korea will participate.
Each of the four teams will face each other once, and Korea will play against England on the 17th, followed by Belgium on the 20th and Italy on the 23rd.
The national team preparing for the Women’s World Cup, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand this summer, plans to prepare for Germany, which will face in the World Cup group stage, or European teams, who are likely to meet in the single-legged tournament.
Korea is in Group H along with Germany, Colombia and Morocco in the World Cup finals.
England, the first opponent of the Arnold Clark Cup, is the champion of the Women’s European Football Championship (Women’s Euro 2022) held last year, and is a strong team that has recently gone undefeated in 26 A matches.
In the previous record against England, Korea has a record of 1 draw and 1 loss. They met Belgium once and drew once, and against Italy three times, losing all of them.
Cho So-hyun (Tottenham), Lee Young-joo (Madrid CFF), and Lee Min-ah (Incheon Hyundai Steel) failed to join the national team due to injury, but Ji So-yeon (Suwon FC) and Lee Geum-min (Brighton) will be summoned to participate in this tournament.
Coach Bell, the day before the tournament, said through the Korea Football Association on the 16th, “The players’ physical condition is not 100%, but they will pour out everything.” We will be able to check the mental aspect as well.”
In Korea, there is a leak in the midfield because Jo So-hyun, Lee Young-joo, and Lee Min-ah cannot play together. Ace Ji So-yeon is also not in good shape after ankle surgery at the end of last year.
Coach Bell said, “(The vacancy in midfield) is a big concern for us,” and “I will show you how to solve it (in this tournament). It will be an opportunity for other players.”
Korea has a variety of strikers, including veteran Park Eun-seon (Seoul City Hall) and Cheon Ga-ram (Ulsan University of Science). Attention is focusing on what kind of players Coach Bell will be able to use to unleash the waters of the attack. 바카라
“I always want 100% for the players,” he said. “The national team door is always open, and even players who were not selected this time have a chance if they show good performances.”
Above all, coach Bell plans to test the physical strength of the players and check their defensive organization through this tournament.
He emphasized, “In order for the national team to succeed, all players’ physicals must be at their peak.”
Prior to Ji So-yeon, through the association, “England, which we will meet at the Arnold Cup, will be a good preparation because it has a similar tendency to Germany, our World Cup group stage opponent.” It will be time to find out,” he said.