'Irrefutable, dedicated icon' Lee Jae-sung is behind every Korean soccer crisis

"Assist? (Son) Heung-min put it in well, so it's an assist!"

Veteran midfielder Lee Jae-sung (31-Mainz), who assisted his 'best friend' Son Heung-min (31-Tottenham) on the opening goal in the first A-match after the 'Ping Pong Gate' scandal that rocked the soccer world, the Korea Republic's 2026 North and Central American World Cup Asia Zone Second Qualifying Group C match against Thailand at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on June 21, gave all the credit to his teammate, as he always does. At the airport on the way to Thailand, when praised for the assist by the KFA's official cameras, he was quick to praise Son's determination and, as always, expressed his "infinite gratitude for being able to play in front of the fans".

In the 42nd minute of the first half, Lee Jae-sung's left-footed kill pass to Son Heung-min on the endline was desperate and, more importantly, measured. The pass fell perfectly at his feet, and there was no way the 'World Class' captain could miss it. He found the corner of the net with his left foot. After a sprint, Lee Jae-sung's assist was not on the screen. After a lone pass, Lee Jae-sung's shot bounced off the out-of-play fence. He watched Son Heung-min's goal from a distance and smiled in delight.

With both skill and character, Lee Jae-sung is a team player who shows through his actions, not his words. He made his A-match debut on March 27, 2015, in a friendly against Uzbekistan (0-0 draw), and scored the winning goal against New Zealand (1-0 win) four days later. His prolific work rate, clever tactical readings, nimble left foot, and dedication to the team have made him a favorite of every South Korean coach over the past decade. He played at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and has scored 10 goals in 85 games in 10 years.

Former Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (now Shandong Taishan) head coach Choi Kang-hee has praised the attacking midfielder's defensive involvement, interception talent, and dedication to the team in the past. "There are very few midfielders in Korea who can defend like Jae-sung. I was the first to ask him, 'How do you play soccer like that? "There are three elements of a soccer player: skill, physical strength, and mental strength. Mental strength is competitiveness, self-management, and personal life management. Skills are soccer intelligence, game management, and tactical skills. Physical strength is endurance, speed, and the ability to play for 90 minutes straight. Lee Jae-sung is a player who has all three elements."

Lee Jae-sung, who has been the centerpiece of the national team for the past decade, constantly challenging himself and growing, is one of the most heartbreaking players in the recent national team infighting. "I'm sure all the players felt it, not just me," Lee said in an on-the-spot interview on YouTube's Polly TV after the Bayern Munich game and ahead of the March call-up, "I've been in the national team for a long time, and there have been good times and bad times, but you have to keep going." "As a senior, I think I have to take this opportunity to lead well. I think all the players felt it a lot, and we can definitely improve from it. I'm confident that if we have more time to talk to the younger guys and get to know them better, we can get through the tough times." "I hope everyone will take the honor of being in the national team as a responsibility and not as a burden. It's true that the national team is tough, but I hope they don't think too hard about it. We gave disappointment and sadness at the Asian Cup, but we can give happiness and joy through soccer again. We just need to recreate those moments. I hope we can create a good atmosphere," he said.

According to soccer website Footmob, Lee's passing success rate against Thailand was 98 percent, with 55 of his 56 passes completed. Both of his long passes were successful, with a 100% success rate. He created the most chances (3) and created the most big chances (1) for both teams.

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Pub: 24 Mar 2024 08:22 UTC
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