The back door of Lake Klinsmann, guarded by ‘monster’ defender Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), has been getting tighter with each passing game. With five consecutive clean sheets in their last five matches, the national team will look to build on their fifth consecutive A-Match win.
Jürgen Klinsmann’s men’s national team will face China in Group C of the 2026 North American Football Confederation (NAMC) Asia Pacific Second Qualifying Round at the Universiade Stadium in Shenzhen, China, on June 21 at 9 p.m. ET.
After defeating Singapore 5-0 in their first match at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Sept. 16, South Korea will be looking to extend their winning streak against China. China is second in the group behind South Korea after coming from behind to win 2-1 in Bangkok on the same day.
South Korea has recently featured a sharp attack led by captain Son Heung-min (Tottenham) and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), while the defense has stabilized.
South Korea has kept a clean sheet in five consecutive matches, from a two-game European tour in September to the game against Singapore on Sept. 16.
The team did not concede a goal against Wales (0-0 draw), Saudi Arabia (1-0 win), Tunisia (4-0 win), Vietnam (6-0 win), and Singapore (5-0 win). Even with Asian underdogs like Vietnam and Singapore in the mix, back-to-back clean sheets are a welcome sight.
Beyond South Korea, the center-back combination of Kim Min-jae and Jeong Seung-hyun (Ulsan), who has risen to the level of a “world-class” defender, is a solid unit.
Under Paulo Ventura, Kim Young-kwon (Ulsan) often partnered with Kim in the center, but Klinsmann seems to have found a partner in Jung Seung-hyun. Lee Ki-je (Suwon) and Seol Young-woo (Ulsan) are often seen in the left and right fullback positions.
While they don’t have the flashy offense, the back-to-back clean sheets have built up the confidence of the defense and they are determined not to concede a goal against China.
However, they cannot afford to let their guard down. South Korea suffered a shock 0-1 defeat in a World Cup qualifier for Russia eight years ago in Changsha, China. It was dubbed the “Changsha Disaster” at the time.
China will have to be wary of a counterattack centered around veteran striker Wu Lei (Shanghai Shenhua). China’s sharp counter-attacking tactics were used on several occasions against Thailand.
Kim Min-jae, who played for Beijing Guoan (China) before heading to Europe, expressed confidence in his team’s ability to win against a tough and nervous China. 토토사이트
“Singapore was tough enough,” he told reporters after the first game, “and I expect China to be tough too, and we’ll be equally tough,” he said.
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