‘Korea is the leader in Asian football.’
Is this proposition true or false? It seems difficult to give a clear answer. I wonder if the answer will be divided and confronted tightly.
At one time it seemed true. There was a time when the equation ‘Korean football = Asia’s leader’ was accepted without objection. Thanks to this ‘truth’ deeply rooted in the hearts of Koreans, the time when Korean soccer fans were able to build up their pride was evidently not too long ago.
What about now? Today it is awkward to question and refute those who express it. In the midst of the steady growth of Japan and the rapid growth of the Middle East, led by Iran and Saudi Arabia, Korean football seems to have slowed down somewhere.
Those who insist that the above proposition is true point to the World Cup record as a representative example. Certainly, Korean football’s feat of reaching the semifinals in the World Cup (2002 Korea-Japan) and advancing to the finals for 10 consecutive years are not lacking at all in representing Asia. No, to the point of overflowing. In terms of overall results, isn’t Korea ranked first in Asia (7 wins, 10 draws, 21 losses)?
However, it is also true that if you narrow your horizons to the Asian stage, there is a bitterness that is not clear in a corner of your heart. The AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Asian Cup, the most prestigious in Asian football, is an example of that. Korea dominated Asia by winning two consecutive victories from the first tournament (Hong Kong, 1956), but it has long since been pushed out of that position. Until the 18th competition (2019 UAE), the dream of returning to the top was not achieved for 59 years.
So, is the above statement false? not. A country’s soccer capabilities cannot be judged solely by the national team’s record. Of course, it is clear that the trajectory of the national team is one of the important criteria. However, it is only part of it. This is why pros, who form both sides of the national soccer potential side by side with the national team, are emerging as another yardstick.
Looking at this extension, the objective data proving that the above proposition is close to the truth is noteworthy. In the Asian field of the 2022 World Rankings recently announced by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) one after another until the 30th, Korea vomited its spirit by sweeping all of the ▲ league ▲ men’s clubs ▲ women’s club divisions. It is not a vague subjective evaluation, but a ranking based on the total score of various domestic and international competitions, so it is more reliable and objective data.
South Korea, 2022 Asian Football League-Men’s and Women’s Clubs, all 3 divisions, ascending to the top
Over the past year (January 1st – December 31st), IFFHS quantified and ranked the national leagues and men’s and women’s clubs’ performance in domestic and international competitions. In the three Asian football categories in 2022 announced based on the total score calculated accordingly, Korean football took first place with an overwhelming gap. Not only did the K-League climb to the top with ease, but the men’s and women’s clubs were fiercely taking both 1st and 2nd place ( see table) .
First of all, in the professional league sector, Korea (K League) overwhelmed Japan (J League). The K-League with 525.25 points far outperformed the J-League with 402 points by 123.25 points. In the K-League, which was launched in 1983, and the J-League, which was anchored in 1992, ginger seems to awaken the spiciness as it ages.
The K-League once again boasted that it is an absolute powerhouse in Asia. Since 2011, for 12 consecutive years, he has reigned in ‘Asia’s No.
The K-League has also been highlighted worldwide. By ranking 18th in the world, it showed that he is a standard player in developing Asian football. It also showed off its upward trend, jumping four places from 22nd last year. 메이저사이트
In the men’s club sector, the K-League showed absolute strength. Three clubs, including Jeonbuk Hyundai (165 points), which took first place easily, placed in the top 10. Ulsan Hyundai ranked second (121 points) and Daegu FC ranked fourth (104.75 points).
The J-League was quantitatively the same as Korea, but qualitatively far behind. The best ranking was 5th (Urawa Red Diamonds, 98 points), followed by 6th (Kawasaki Frontale, 93.5 points) and 9th (Yokohama F. Marinos, 88.5 points), respectively.
In the women’s club sector, the super strength of Korea (WK League) continued. Launched in 2009, it roared with four clubs in the top 10 despite its short age. 1st place Incheon Hyundai Steel (114 points), 2nd place Gyeongju Water Resources (111 points) → 6th place Hwacheon KSPO (84 points) → 8th place Suwon FMC (81 points) took the lead in promoting the superiority of the WK League. The rear wave of the Yangtze pushed the front wave away.
Established in 1989, 20 years earlier than the WK League, the Japanese women’s soccer league was just trying to save face. It was like taking comfort in the fact that Urawa Reds and INAC Kobe Leonesa were tied for third place (105 points).
Confidence and arrogance are one letter apart, but the resulting gap is huge. Progress is always possible when you are awake. When you relax and let loose, stagnation or regression is inevitable. This is why Korean soccer always has to keep vigilant and run. It is also the mindset to enter the center of world soccer as the leader of Asian soccer and as a flag bearer.