There was a report in the Japanese media that the Korea-Japan war was being pursued in June, but it was different from the truth. There is no reason to pursue a burdensome war with Japan in a situation where the Klinsmann has just started sailing. However, it was confirmed that he is promoting an overseas expedition in September to prepare for the Asian Cup.
Japanese media such as ‘Sports Nippon’ and ‘Nikkan Sports’ said on the 12th, “The Korea Football Association hopes to make a match between Korea and Japan from the end of the year. The Korean national team has emerged again as an opponent for the Japan national team’s June A-match evaluation match. It was canceled in March, but the Korean side is strongly hopeful this time.” 메이저놀이터
The coming June A match will be for two weeks from June 12th. The Japan Football Association announced the 2023 schedule on January 1st, and announced that the June A match will be held in Toyota on June 15th and Osaka on the 20th. Japanese media predicted that if the Korea-Japan match is concluded in June, it will be held at home in Japan.
However, the Korea Football Association (KFA) dismissed the Japanese report, saying it was not true.
A KFA official said, “The report is different from the facts. The report that the Korea-Japan match was promoted during the March A match itself is not true. At the time, our national team was in the process of appointing a manager, but it is difficult to catch an A match without the manager’s intention. Also, our national team is now building. It is nonsense to catch a burdensome Korea-Japan match from the first game of coach Klinsman.”
“As you know, it is very difficult to find an opponent for the A-match evaluation match in a situation where it is impossible to schedule an A-match with European teams. For this reason, the working-level officials of the Korean and Japanese associations are often communicating to jointly bid for an A-match, but it seems that the story that came out comfortably during this process has been misrepresented. There has never been an official document or negotiation. It is a story that lacks evidence,” he drew a line.
From the KFA’s point of view, there is no reason to do the burdensome Korea-Japan match, especially on the Japanese expedition. Currently, the Korean national football team, led by coach Jurgen Klinsmann, is enjoying the greatest popularity. Because it is a team full of superstars such as Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, and Kim Min-jae, all seats were sold out in two A-matches in March, and the A-match in June is also a guaranteed box office success. This means that there is no reason to play an A-match in Japan in June.
There is another reason. The Klinsmann has just begun its voyage. A match in March convened most of the members of the 2022 Qatar World Cup and created a festival ground. The real start is in June. In a situation where coach Klinsman has to convene players with a long-term plan and experiment, the burdensome match against Japan can have a negative effect.
KFA will play two A-matches at home in June, and is promoting overseas expeditions such as Europe in September. A KFA official said, “June is looking for a team in North and Central America or South America, not Japan. In September, we are promoting overseas expeditions such as Europe.”
Rather, there was an analysis that Japan was the one who wanted the Korea-Japan match. A football official said, “It is rather Japan, not Korea, that wants the Korea-Japan match. Japan is continuing the managerial system of Moriyasu Hajime, and we have just started the build-up. Japan has no choice but to have an advantage in the head-to-head confrontation, and if Korean superstars such as Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, and Kim Min-jae come from their own home, box office success can be guaranteed. Looking at various situations, it is Japan, not Korea, that wants it more desperately.”