*This content was translated by AI.
To achieve results in short-format tournaments or playoffs, there must be so-called 'crazy players.' When a player delivers extraordinary performances, it becomes much easier to reach goals such as winning championships. The emergence of a 'crazy player' is the scenario desired by all coaches and teams across every sport.
The same applied to men's football at the Asian Games. Especially in recent editions, players who delivered incredible performances have become major forces on the journey toward gold medals. Since their outstanding performances not only bring glory of winning gold as national team members but also lead to tangible outcomes such as special military service exemptions for teammates, the meaning of 'crazy performances' at the Asian Games has been even greater.
At the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, Hwang Ui-jo (Alanyaspor) delivered dazzling performances. He scored a hat-trick from the opening group stage match against Bahrain and netted another hat-trick in the quarterfinals against Uzbekistan after an extended battle. Adding one goal each against Malaysia, Iran, and Vietnam, he scored a total of nine goals in seven tournament matches. Although he remained silent in the final against Japan, he became the top scorer of the tournament and the number one contributor to Coach Kim Hak-beom's team winning the Asian Games gold medal.
At the time he was selected for the national team as a wildcard (aged 24 or older), fierce public criticism surrounded by 'nepotism controversies' quickly subsided. Amid Hwang Ui-jo's outstanding performances, Son Heung-min (LAFC), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Hwang Hee-chan (Schalke 04), Cho Hyun-woo (Ulsan HD), and Lee Seung-woo (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors) all received special military service exemptions through the Asian Games gold medal. Especially for Son Heung-min, the Asian Games at that time was virtually his last opportunity to resolve his military service issue.
At the 2022 Hangzhou tournament held in 2023, Jung Woo-young (Union Berlin) delivered incredible performances. Summoned by coach Hwang Sun-hong, Jung Woo-young scored a hat-trick in the opening match against Kuwait, followed by multi-goal performances in the round of 16 against Kyrgyzstan and the semifinals against Uzbekistan. He then recorded a crucial equalizing goal in the final against Japan, demonstrating his presence as the tournament's ace.
His eight goals fell just one short of Hwang Ui-jo's record of nine goals from the previous edition. Nevertheless, Jung Woo-young's scoring ability of netting eight goals in seven matches drew even more attention, especially since he was a wide attacker rather than a central striker like Hwang Ui-jo. Not only did Jung Woo-young himself, who had moved to Europe early on, but also key A national team players such as Lee Kang-in (Atletico Madrid), Baek Seung-ho (Birmingham City), Lee Han-beom (Club Brugge KV), and Seol Young-woo (Augsburg) resolved their military service concerns at that time.
At the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games as well, there is a need for a player who will inherit the legacy of Hwang Ui-jo and Jung Woo-young. Only then can the challenge of achieving four consecutive gold medals in men's football at the Asian Games become more manageable. To minimize the vulnerabilities revealed during Lee Min-seong's team's journey over the past year and a half, a player capable of delivering crazy performances is essential.
Fortunately, there are quite a few players currently performing well with their clubs. Especially the momentum of two wildcards who joined after competing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America—Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic FC) and Eom Ji-sung (Swansea City)—is extremely strong. Yang Hyun-jun joined Lee Min-seong's team immediately after scoring consecutive goals in two league matches. His season record stands at seven matches, two goals, and one assist. Eom Ji-sung also recently scored one goal and provided one assist in two consecutive matches, accumulating two goals and two assists in seven matches this season. Striker Kim Myeong-jun, who belongs to the KRC Genk U23 team, has also joined Lee Min-seong's team while on a hot streak of four goals in four Belgium Second Division matches.
Of course, looking back at the cases of Hwang Ui-jo and Jung Woo-young, their performances at the Asian Games were not necessarily an extension of their club form immediately before the tournament. Even attackers with potential who did not stand out in club play, such as Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City) and Yang Min-hyeok (Westerlo), can fully carry on the legacy of their predecessors if they get off to a strong start early in the tournament. Depending on who begins to show what kind of presence, the possibility of Lee Min-seong's team winning gold at the tournament could change dramatically.
Lee Min-seong's team will face Qatar in the first Group D match of the group stage at 7:30 p.m. on the 15th in Nagoya, Japan. They will then clash with Saudi Arabia at 7 p.m. on the 22nd. Both matches will be held at Mizuho Park Rugby Stadium in Nagoya City, Japan. Unlike other groups that consist of four teams each, Group D, where Korea is placed, has only three teams. The top two teams from the group will advance to the quarterfinals to determine the champion. Korean men's football has reached the summit for three consecutive times since the 2014 Incheon Games. Lee Min-seong's team now aims to make history with four consecutive titles.
<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>
*This content was translated by AI.
