New Zealand vs South Korea: The New Zealand and South Korean national teams will face off in their first match in Group B of the men’s soccer sport at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Thursday (22/7/2021) at 01:30 PM IST.
Live Link to watch New Zealand vs South Korea
https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/events/live-sites/
In mid-July, as a warm-up for the Olympics, New Zealand had two trials with Australia’s U-23 team in Ichihara. First, they won 2-0 through Chris Wood’s penalty and Elijah Just’s goal. However, they lost 0-1 in the next match.
GAME DAY for our Men’s Football Team ⚽️
Tune in to @skysportnz as they take on Korea 🇰🇷
⏱ 7.50pm
📺 SKY sport 5#EarnTheFern #KoTātauTeKapaOAotearoa #WeAreTheNZTeam
🖤🌿 pic.twitter.com/9909lfF4v1— The New Zealand Team (@TheNZTeam) July 22, 2021
Meanwhile, Kim Hak-bum’s team performed impressively despite failing to win. That’s because their two test opponents are much tougher than New Zealand, namely the Olympic teams Argentina and France.
South Korea drew 2-2 with Argentina at Yongin. Twice behind, twice they equalized through Lee Dong-gyeong and Um Won-sang. After that, despite taking the lead through Kwon Chang-hoon’s penalty, they lost 1-2 to France in Seoul.
New Zealand and South Korea must be ready to perform as well as possible in the first match later. The best results can be capital to compete with Honduras and Romania in this group.
New Zealand squad
Goalkeepers: Michael Woud (Almere City), Jamie Searle (Swansea), Alex Paulsen (Wellington Phoenix).
Defenders: Michael Boxall* (Minnesota Utd), Liberato Cacace (Sint-Truiden), Callan Elliot (Xanthi), Dane Ingham (Perth Glory), Nando Pijnaker (Rio Ave), Winston Reid* (Brentford), George Stanger (Hamilton) , Sam Sutton (Wellington Phoenix).
Middle: Joe Bell (Vikings), Clayton Lewis (Wellington Phoenix), Marko Stamenic (Copenhagen), Gianni Stensness (Central Coast Mariners), Ben Old (Wellington Phoenix).
Forwards: Joe Champness (Newcastle Jets), Elijah Just (Helsingor), Callum McCowatt (Helsingor), Ben Waine (Wellington Phoenix), Chris Wood* (Burnley), Matthew Garbett (Falkenberg).
⚠️ WARNING ⚠️
Don’t stand too close to the Rondo. #EarnTheFern @TheNZTeam pic.twitter.com/WOWDlFTa8L
— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) July 20, 2021
South Korea squad
Goalkeepers: Song Bum-keun (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Ahn Joon-soo (Busan Il Park), An Chan-gi (Suwon Samsung Bluewings).
Back: Lee You-hyeon (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Jeong Tae-wook (Deagu), Kang Yoon-sung (Jeju Utd), Lee Sang-min (Seoul E-Land), Kim Jae-woo (Daegu), Kim Jin -ya (FC Seoul), Seol Young-woo (Ulsan Hyundai), Kim Min-jae* (Beijing Guoan).
Middle: Kim Jin-kyu (Busan Il Park), Jeong Seung-won (Daegu), Kim Dong-hyun (Gangwon), Lee Dong-gyeong (Ulsan Hyundai), Won Du-jae (Ulsan Hyundai), Lee Kang-in (Valencia).
Front: Lee Dong-jun (Ulsan Hyundai), Um Won-sang (Gwangju), Song Min-kyu (Pohang Steelers), Kwon Chang-hoon* (Suwon Samsung Bluewings), Hwang Ui-jo* (Bordeaux).
Estimated Line-up
New Zealand (4-3-3): Michael Woud; Callan Elliot, Winston Reid, Nando Pijnaker, Liberato Cacace; Clayton Lewis, Gianni Stensness, Joe Bell; Ben Waine, Chris Wood, Elijah Just.
Coach: Danny Hay.
South Korea (4-4-2): Song Bum-keun; Lee Sang-min, Kim Jae-woo, Park Ji-soo, Kang Yoon-sung; Lee Kang-in, Kim Dong-hun, Won Du-jae, Kim Jin-kyu; Kwon Chang-hoon, Lee Dong-jun.
Coach: Kim Hak-bum.
In terms of quality, these two teams can be said to be quite balanced. However, South Korea’s preparations are more convincing. Troubled Argentina and France is proof of that.
South Korea also seems to deserve a bit more favorites in this match.
