"The criticisms we have faced will serve as a tonic." Coach Lee Min-seong expresses confidence in winning the gold medal at the Asian Games

*This content was translated by AI.

Ahead of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya (Japan) Asian Games, Lee Min-seong, head coach of the South Korean U23 men's football national team, issued a declaration stating he will help Korean football rise again with a gold medal.

According to News1, Coach Lee Min-seong made these remarks at a pre-tournament press conference for men's football held on the 14th at Mizuho Rugby Stadium in Nagoya, Japan, saying, "The criticisms we have faced will serve as a tonic at this tournament."

The Lee Min-seong squad, established last June, faced fierce criticism over both its performance and results, including finishing fourth at the AFC U23 Asian Cup in January. The team lost to Uzbekistan and Japan, who are two years younger, and recently suffered a 0-1 defeat against Kyrgyzstan in a friendly match.

However, Coach Lee Min-seong stated, "For the past year and six months, we have been running with the goal of winning a gold medal. We have conducted training well even after arriving in Nagoya. All preparations are complete." He added, "Every day is precious. These are days that cannot be turned back once they pass. Starting from the match against Qatar, we will cherish every game and do our best."

To secure the men's football gold medal at the Asian Games, which has been won by South Korea since the 2014 Incheon tournament, the team must first advance through the group stage. The Lee Min-seong squad is scheduled to play Group D matches against Qatar on the 15th and Saudi Arabia on the 22nd. Unlike other groups, only three teams are in Group D, which reduces the physical burden for South Korea. To reach the quarterfinals, the team must finish within the top two of the three teams.

Coach Lee Min-seong added, "I have seen the players directly in the Qatar league. Although many players have changed on the Saudi side, the coach remains the same, so there will likely be no major stylistic changes." He noted, "A water battle may actually be advantageous for us. Of course, the players are confident that they can perform well regardless of the weather conditions."

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*This content was translated by AI.