Lee Soon-min (Gwangju FC), a “late midfielder” wearing the Taegeuk mark at the age of 30, boarded a plane leaving for England ahead of his first A match on the 4th. Attention is focusing on whether Lee Soon-min, who went on an expedition to Europe with players from Ulsan Hyundai and Jeonbuk Hyundai, who played K League 1 the previous day, will also show “crazy performance” in the national team. Born in 1994, Lee Soon-min was proudly listed on the national team’s midfielder list to be responsible for the midfield in warm-up matches against Wales and Saudi Arabia on the 8th and 13th.
Along with overseas players such as Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), Hong Hyun-seok (Hent), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), Hwang In-beom (Olympiacos), Yang Hyun-joon (Celtic), Park Yong-woo (Al-Ain), Moon Sun-min, Ahn Hyun-beom (Jeonbuk Hyundai), and Lee Dong-kyung (Ulsan Hyundai) joined the national team’s midfielders. Regarding the selection of Lee Soon-min, the Korea Football Association explained, “He is a key midfielder of Gwangju FC, which is creating a sensation of promotion teams in the K League this year.”
Lee Soon-min, who wore the national team uniform for the first time in his life, also played in an away match against Ulsan on the 3rd, helping Gwangju win 2-0 completely. The main position is a midfielder, but he played as a fullback on the day and played as a central defender during the game.
Lee Soon-min followed Ulsan’s Kim Min-hyuk to the end when he had a right-footed shot in the penalty area in the extra time of the first half, and kept up with Um Won-sang, a fast kick, in the 35th minute of the second half, turning Ulsan’s attack to nothing. 스포츠토토탑
Lee Soon-min said at a press conference after the match, “I’ve been living reality hard while dreaming. “At some point, the reality we achieved makes us dream again,” he said. He also said, “Our preconceptions are being broken as we go up one step at a time. I think, “I can go up more,” and “I can dream more,” he said, adding, “I don’t know the limit.” Although he joined the national team, it is unclear whether Lee Soon-min will play at the moment because he has to compete fiercely for the starting lineup.
However, the Klinsmann team, which must win its first win in this warm-up match, may use Lee Soon-min, who fills the empty spot in the back regardless of location such as center back and fullback. In order to prevent the explosive speed of Welsh striker Brennan Johnson, who recently moved to Tottenham, Son Heung-min’s team, it is necessary for players like Lee Soon-min to be determined.
When asked about Lee Soon-min’s performance the previous day, he also said, “There are many parts that we prepare together as a team, and there are many promised movements. “Whatever position you enter, you just have to focus on your role in an organized situation,” he said. “That’s why I can produce good results even in a position that I’m not familiar with.”
Just as Gwangju coach Lee Jung-hyo uses Lee Seung-min with close tactics, Jürgen Klinsmann could be a strong ambush that can subdue Wales if he uses the “Lee Soon-min card” properly.
