“Gimesh” Ji So-yeon (32, Suwon FC) is more confident than ever before taking part in her third World Cup. This time, he showed a strong will to score a ‘field goal’ without fail.
On the 3rd, Ji So-yeon faced reporters at the Paju NFC (National Football Team Training Center) and said, “My goal is to go as high as possible (at the World Cup). I want to bring better results than 2019. I’m ready for that. Please see how he plays a great game,” confidently saying, “In the World Cup, there are only penalty goals, but this time I want to score a field goal. Scored a lot of goals, but no World Cup field goals. I’m trying to be greedy for a great goal,” he said with strength.
Ji So-yeon, the star of Korean women’s soccer, is a ‘living legend’. Starting his career at Ainak Kobe (Japan), he played for Chelsea (England) from 2014 to last year. He left a dazzling trace even with the Taegeuk mark. Ji So-yeon holds the record for the most appearances (144 games) and the most goals (66 goals) for the women’s national team. 토토사이트 순위
However, the previous two World Cups left him with regrets. In the 2015 International Football Federation (FIFA) Canada World Cup Costa Rica and the second leg of the group stage, he scored a penalty kick goal and contributed to advancing to the round of 16, but the expected field goal did not happen. In the 2019 French tournament, he experienced the pain of being eliminated from the group stage (3 matches lost). This is the reason why the determination ahead of the 2023 FIFA World Cup in Australia and New Zealand is extraordinary.
Above all, the Australia/New Zealand World Cup could be the last tournament for Ji So-yeon, who is now in her 30s. In addition, there is a high possibility that this tournament will be the last dance for players called the ‘golden generation’, such as Cho So-hyun (Tottenham) and Park Eun-seon (Seoul City Hall). It is also the background that Ji So-yeon returned to Korea ahead of the World Cup and underwent surgery on her chronically ill ankle.
He said, “Half of the recruited players have been together for more than 10 years since 2010. Now, even without words, we know each other well on the field,” he said. “It is an earnest World Cup that can be the last of the golden generation. We are more mature than 10 years ago and we communicate well with each other. The coach is also leading me to have a winning mentality, so I am following well.”
Ji So-yeon, who runs with the attitude of ‘last’, emphasized the need to put down the ‘burden’. He said, “Not only me but the players are always thinking about the development of women’s football. More than that, isn’t the World Cup every player’s dream? I want players to play for their dreams. I only felt pressure and ran, but this time I hope to enjoy it. There are players who can be the last tournament, so I want to enjoy it.”
