Whenever a national team has an A-match, coaches are on edge.
Any injury to a key player on the national team is a huge blow. When you combine the pride of representing one’s country, the passion of young blood eager to wear the flag, and the rough play of the opposition, injuries are common. Some European club managers are fed up with what they call the ‘FIFA virus’.
This month’s A-League has been an emergency for the K League. It’s been a busy year for the national teams at all levels, not just the youth teams, and it took just one game for the injury news to hit.
Ulsan Hyundai’s leading scorer, Uhm Won-sang, was the first to go down. Called up to the Asian Games soccer team, Uhm Won-sang showed off his goal-scoring prowess in the first exhibition game against China on Nov. 15, scoring a brace in the sixth and ninth minutes of the second half.
However, he was substituted in the 24th minute after injuring his right foot in a foul by China, a country synonymous with rough soccer. Uhm Won-sang underwent a medical examination and was found to have damaged the outer and inner triangular ligaments of his right ankle, forcing him to return home.
An Ulsan official said, “It’s inevitable that he will have to take a break for about two weeks,” and sighed, “It’s a shame because he was in the middle of his performance.” The blow was compounded by the fact that Ulsan had loaned out Yoon Il-rok to Gangwon FC shortly before Uhm Won-sang’s injury.토토사이트
Jeju United, who are battling for second place, also have a hole in their defense. Ahn Hyun-beom, who is in charge of the side defense, collapsed during the national team’s exhibition match against Peru on the 16th. Ahn injured his right shoulder and was diagnosed as needing four weeks of rest. For Jeju head coach Nam Ki-il, finding a replacement for the rest of the season has become an urgent task.
Gimcheon, who are in a fierce promotion battle in the second division, will have to hope that Won Doo-jae’s injury is minor. Won Doo-jae was also an injury substitute against Peru. Unlike the two players, Won hasn’t been recalled from the national team, so there’s still a chance he could play against Cheonan Citizens Football Club on the 24th.
However, it’s important to note that Won Doo-jae was also injured in an A match in March last year. Gimcheon’s new head coach Jung Jung-yong recently attended a soccer-inspired golf tournament and said, “We don’t have as many players as we thought. I’m worried about the large number of vacancies for players who will be retiring this month.”