S. Korea's U-20 football team returns home after World Cup heroics
- 5 years ago
South Korea's under-20 football team is returning home to a heroes' welcome today... after finishing runner-up at the FIFA World Cup in Poland.
Scoring the best ever World Cup finish among all age groups on the men's side,... the young Taegeuk Warriors will attend what's sure to be a pulsating welcoming ceremony in downtown Seoul later this afternoon.
But, our Kan Hyeong-woo, along with many other reporters from various news outlets and fans, is at Incheon International waiting for the team to land this morning.
Hyeong-woo, they're a bit behind schedule, aren't they?
Good morning Conn-young. Well the young Taegeuk Warriors were supposed to land at 6:25AM, Korea time, around 35 minutes ago.
But we are hearing their arrival has been delayed to 7:07AM.
As you can see behind me, hundreds of media personnel are packed in here to get a glimpse of the young players who made a historic run to the final of Under-20 World Cup in Poland.
As you touched upon, by finishing runner-up at the biennial competition,... the young squad became South Korea's first men's team to advance to the final in any FIFA tournament.
So despite their 3-1 loss against Ukraine in Saturday's final,... the Taegeuk Warriors have written a new page in the history books.
In a remarkable run,... the South Korean team played seven matches in the span of about three weeks,... winning five in a row against South Africa, Argentina, Japan, Senegal and Ecuador to reach the final.
President Moon Jae-in congratulated the South Korean team after wrapping up his tour of Northern Europe.
In a tweet Sunday,... President Moon said he's proud of the players who enjoyed themselves on the pitch.
He added the team will be remembered as the most awesome team in the hearts of the South Korean people.
Indeed, the young players thrilled fans and gave us all something to cheer for... and one player, in particular, stood out above the rest.
Hyeong-woo, tell us more about Lee Kang-in, the winner of the Golden Ball.
Right Conn-young, South Korea's ace Lee Kang-in, who is the youngest member of the team at just 18 years old was named the winner of the Golden Ball, an award given to the best player of the tournament.
He's the first South Korean player on the men's side... to ever win the top individual award at a FIFA tournament.
Given that the Golden Ball trophy usually goes to a player on the championship winning team,... it's clear that Lee's playmaking ability left quite the impression on the tournament observers.
He finished the World Cup with two goals and four assists in just seven matches.
By the way,... the last player to win the award at the age of 18 was Argentina's Lionel Messi in 2005.
Messi, of course, has gone on to be one of the best players in the world for his club side, Barcelona.
The young Taegeuk Warriors, including Lee Kang-in, will attend a welcoming ceremony later today and spend time with fans at Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall.
...
Scoring the best ever World Cup finish among all age groups on the men's side,... the young Taegeuk Warriors will attend what's sure to be a pulsating welcoming ceremony in downtown Seoul later this afternoon.
But, our Kan Hyeong-woo, along with many other reporters from various news outlets and fans, is at Incheon International waiting for the team to land this morning.
Hyeong-woo, they're a bit behind schedule, aren't they?
Good morning Conn-young. Well the young Taegeuk Warriors were supposed to land at 6:25AM, Korea time, around 35 minutes ago.
But we are hearing their arrival has been delayed to 7:07AM.
As you can see behind me, hundreds of media personnel are packed in here to get a glimpse of the young players who made a historic run to the final of Under-20 World Cup in Poland.
As you touched upon, by finishing runner-up at the biennial competition,... the young squad became South Korea's first men's team to advance to the final in any FIFA tournament.
So despite their 3-1 loss against Ukraine in Saturday's final,... the Taegeuk Warriors have written a new page in the history books.
In a remarkable run,... the South Korean team played seven matches in the span of about three weeks,... winning five in a row against South Africa, Argentina, Japan, Senegal and Ecuador to reach the final.
President Moon Jae-in congratulated the South Korean team after wrapping up his tour of Northern Europe.
In a tweet Sunday,... President Moon said he's proud of the players who enjoyed themselves on the pitch.
He added the team will be remembered as the most awesome team in the hearts of the South Korean people.
Indeed, the young players thrilled fans and gave us all something to cheer for... and one player, in particular, stood out above the rest.
Hyeong-woo, tell us more about Lee Kang-in, the winner of the Golden Ball.
Right Conn-young, South Korea's ace Lee Kang-in, who is the youngest member of the team at just 18 years old was named the winner of the Golden Ball, an award given to the best player of the tournament.
He's the first South Korean player on the men's side... to ever win the top individual award at a FIFA tournament.
Given that the Golden Ball trophy usually goes to a player on the championship winning team,... it's clear that Lee's playmaking ability left quite the impression on the tournament observers.
He finished the World Cup with two goals and four assists in just seven matches.
By the way,... the last player to win the award at the age of 18 was Argentina's Lionel Messi in 2005.
Messi, of course, has gone on to be one of the best players in the world for his club side, Barcelona.
The young Taegeuk Warriors, including Lee Kang-in, will attend a welcoming ceremony later today and spend time with fans at Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall.
...