It proved the trust of the director. The voice of Crown Prince Hwang In-beom (Olympiacos) was full of confidence.
The Korean national team, led by coach Paulo Bento, won 2–1 against Portugal in the final Group H match of the 2022 Qatar World Cup held at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar at 0:00 am (Korean time) on the 3rd.
As a result of this day, Korea succeeded in advancing to the round of 16 with 1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss and 4 points (4 goals, 4 concessions). Portugal rose to first place in Group 6 with 2 wins and 1 loss. Uruguay is tied with Korea with 4 points (2 points, 2 conceded), but was eliminated in 3rd place in the group due to multiple points.
Hwang In-bum played full-time in three World Cup matches and became one of the key players in the dramatic round of 16. Hwang In-beom, who met in the mixed zone after the match against Portugal, said, “It’s not difficult right now. It’s like a miracle. I’m happy and happy. The atmosphere as a team is really good. Regardless of the opponent in the round of 16, if you recover well, the results will follow.” revealed
He gave a thumbs up to the national team’s best friend’s theatrical goal. Hwang Hee-chan missed the previous two games due to injury, but scored a theatrical goal as a substitute against Portugal and led the team to the round of 16. At the time of Hwang Hee-chan’s final goal, Hwang In-beom said, “I wanted to follow Hwang Hee-chan, but it was a long way away. It was a really nice goal. (Son) Heung-min hyung put a wonderful pass. I solved it. I’m proud of it. I’m proud of (Oh) Hyeon-gyu who was outside,” he recalled.
Bentuho did not immediately laugh at the victory over Portugal. This is because the round of 16 was decided according to the results of the game against Uruguay. Hwang In-beom said, “Time didn’t go too fast. I kept asking how many minutes were left, and they said it was 4 minutes. Everyone was so desperate. They won the game against Portugal wonderfully, but I thought it wouldn’t make sense if Uruguay scored one more goal. Everyone I prayed. I asked Hee-chan to walk around with me on his shoulder. I was so excited that I couldn’t communicate.”
Hwang In-beom, who was known for his calm interviews, could not hide his excitement. He said, “I tried to be careful with my words in the interview. I always tried to be humble.” said.
Brazil, a strong player in South America, is likely to face the round of 16. Bentuho lost 1–5 in the June evaluation match. Hwang In-beom said, “The game against Brazil in June was a turning point in my football life. I learned a lot while feeling frustrated. If I play against Brazil, I’m sure that I won’t be as stiff as I was back then. We’re growing well as a team. The atmosphere is good. Even though it’s difficult The match is expected, but if we pour out more than we have, we will show a good match.”
Director Bento’s tenacity, which he has honed for four years, has borne fruit. Hwang In-beom said, “Even if the results weren’t good, I was proud of myself and the players. Thank you for showing me.”
It was different from the motivation. Japan and Australia have already qualified for the round of 16, demonstrating the potential of Asian football. Hwang In-beom said, “No one packed their bags. I didn’t want to go to Korea right away. It was a pity to end it like this. He said that a miracle would happen only if he poured out everything. I am proud to have survived. Advancement has been a motivator, but I am proud to show my potential on the world stage.”
Until the end, there was no obstacle to building up the performance of his teammates. Hwang In-beom said, “Hwang Hee-chan wanted to help a lot in the previous two games. I knew his earnestness. I was sure he would play in the match against Portugal, but I didn’t know how many minutes he would play. He showed Korea what kind of player he was. I’m proud of him as a player and friend.” added.
