북중미의 뜨거운 열기 속, 홍명보호가 쏘아 올린 희망의 서막 > K-wave Trends

Hong Myung-boho's first opponent, the Czech Republic, ranked 40th in the FIFA rankings, which was lower than ours, but their high-altitude bombardment with players taller than 190cm was very threatening. In this match, which was played in the rain and the environmental variables of the highlands of Mexico, our players responded with organized defense and sharp offense against the technical individuality and fighting spirit of the Czech Republic. In particular, the defensive line led by Kim Min-jae effectively blocked the opponent's cross attacks and minimized the number of goals conceded, and the offensive line led by Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan and Lee Kang-in broke down the Czech Republic's solid wall with organic movement. As a result, securing 3 points with a 2-1 comeback win is very encouraging as it not only set the record of winning the first World Cup match in 16 years, but also secured an advantageous position in advancing to the round of 32.

This World Cup not only increased the number of participating countries, but also brought groundbreaking changes in terms of game operation and rules. The most notable part is the strong sanctions against chronic time delay, so-called 'bed soccer'. A new rule has been introduced where players who have been treated by medical staff for an injury must wait outside the pitch for one minute after the match resumes. This is intended to increase actual play time and increase the fun of watching by blocking intentional actions that try to break the flow of the game and gain time. In fact, when it was piloted in the US Professional Soccer League (MLS), the number of game suspensions was reduced by more than 70%, so it is expected that this World Cup will be more exciting and fair.

The method of calculating group stage rankings has also undergone a major overhaul for the first time in 56 years. Breaking away from the past practice of prioritizing goal difference, if the points are tied, the 'winner wins principle', which considers head-to-head performance first, is applied first. This means that not only point management, but also direct wins against opposing teams serve as decisive variables in determining group rankings. Our national team's goal is not simply to advance to the round of 32, but to join the tournament as the top of its group, minimizing travel distance and securing an advantageous position in the bracket. In the knockout stages after the round of 32, the opposing countries and match venues are drastically different depending on the group stage rankings, so one point from each game will be the key to determining future performance in the round of 16 or higher.

Meanwhile, in this tournament, in addition to the players, special people are also at the center of attention. China, which has not been to the World Cup finals for 24 years, is making its presence known through international referee Maning instead of the national team. Manning, who is famous for his strict judgment, is receiving a huge number of views in China and is being treated as a 'World Cup star', a phenomenon that reflects the bitter self-portrait of Chinese fans who try to make up for their team's absence by proxy cheering on the referee. As such, each country is approaching the competition with its own expectations and variables. Statistics companies point out Spain as the strongest candidate for the championship, but they also say that, as the saying goes, “a soccer ball is round,” it is difficult to predict how the variables that occur in each game will affect the outcome of the tournament.