Defending Against the 'Tall Squad': Fierce Competition Among Goalkeepers

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The North and Central America World Cup match against the Czech Republic is now just four days away. Our players are refining their strategies to fend off the opponent's "tall squad." The pressure is especially high on the goalkeepers, the final line of defense.

Lee Jeong-Chan reports from Guadalajara.

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On the first day of closed-door tactical training in preparation for the Czech match, our players boosted their morale by greeting the press with energy.

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As training began, a sense of tension was evident, particularly among the goalkeepers.

Jo Hyeon-woo, who led the "Miracle of Kazan" with divine saves at the Russia World Cup, and Kim Seung-gyu, who served as the starting point for the "build-up football" under the Bento regime and contributed to the Round of 16 finish in Qatar, are competing for the starting spot for the third consecutive time. Kim Seung-gyu, who has regained his position after overcoming recurring knee injuries, is showing extraordinary determination.

[Kim Seung-gyu/National Football Team Goalkeeper: Whoever plays, I think it will be a huge help to the team. All three of us (goalkeepers) are in such good condition, and I want to finish with the best results, even better than the last three World Cups.]

The first opponent, the Czech Republic, relies on long balls and crosses targeting tall players like Patrik Schick. Since the trajectory and speed of the ball can be unpredictable at high altitudes, the goalkeepers are thoroughly preparing to prevent even a single fatal mistake.

[Jo Hyeon-woo/National Football Team Goalkeeper: (At high altitudes) the ball trajectory comes in differently than expected, so I have to predict it in advance and stay focused.]

[Kim Seung-gyu/National Football Team Goalkeeper: Just guarding the goal isn't enough to stop everything. I need to be proactive, coming out to help the defenders and so on.]

With the ability to handle aerial balls becoming more critical than ever, the competition among the goalkeepers, who dream of a spectacular flight, has truly ignited.

(Video reporting: Hwang In-seok, Video editing: Hwang Ji-young, Design: Hwang Se-yeon)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.