‘나주의 외손자’ 옌스 카스트로프, 월드컵 무대 데뷔전보다 값진 인내의 시간 > 뉴스

The national team led by coach Hong Myung-bo chose to use a pragmatic strategy by using the three-back card against the Czech Republic. The biggest concern was the composition of the left and right wingbacks, and Coach Hong chose Lee Tae-seok, who prioritized defensive stability, as the starter instead of Jens, who has offensive talent. Lee Tae-seok followed in the footsteps of his father, Lee Eul-yong, and played on the pitch for 69 minutes, setting the record as a ‘rich national team member’ who stepped onto the World Cup stage. As a result, he repaid the coach’s trust by contributing to the team’s comeback victory. On the other hand, Jens had to watch the game from the bench throughout the game without even being able to warm up. This decision is interpreted as a result of Coach Hong's strategic decision to minimize variables that may arise in the first game and maintain a stable defensive balance, rather than simply due to differences in player abilities.

Korean society's interest in Jens Castrov is like a combination of national affection that goes beyond simple expectations. Born to a German father and a mother from Naju, Ahn Su-yeon, he chose South Korea despite having dual citizenship and walked the honorable path of receiving the Taegeuk mark. In particular, Naju City, Jeollanam-do, his mother's hometown, showed great interest in him, calling him 'Naju's maternal grandson', and as it became known that his aunt lives in Bitgaram Innovation City, the entire community is cheering on his World Cup journey. His story of rising through the ranks of the German age-group representative to the adult national team has been evaluated as having expanded the scope of Korean soccer, and his vigorous activity level and ability to play multiple positions have been considered important assets in strengthening the national team.

Tactically, Jens is a versatile multi-player who can play from central midfielder to wingback. In fact, he has consistently received opportunities to play for Borussia Mönchengladbach, a prestigious club in the German Bundesliga, and has proven his prolific activity and ability to actively press. Coach Hong Myung-bo also included him in the final entry, hoping to play a bridge role between the midfield and the side. However, due to the nature of a short-term tournament called the World Cup, coaches have no choice but to prioritize thoroughly proven combinations and tactical stability. Considering the strong pressure and fast offense and defense transition speed of the Czech Republic, the main reason for this benching seems to be that Lee Tae-seok's defensive organization was evaluated as a priority rather than Jens' mobility.

Missing the first match of this World Cup will certainly be a bitter experience for Jens. The player's individual goal of making his World Cup debut has been postponed to the next game, and the specific reason why he was unable to participate in the game or whether he was injured has not been officially clarified. Nevertheless, his potential is still valid and he is worthy of being a ‘joker’ who can turn the team around at any time during the long journey of the World Cup. Coach Hong also did not stop experimenting by using 25 players evenly in the warm-up matches, so watching how Jens will prove his worth in the remaining matches of the group stage will be another point to watch in this tournament.