INCHEON (Yonhap News) ― South Korean men’s U20 football team returned home on Tuesday after making a valiant run at the FIFA U20 World Cup in Turkey.
South Korea lost to Iraq 5-4 on penalties in the quarterfinals on Sunday. A victory would have sent South Korea to the final four at the biennial event for the first time since 1983 in Mexico.
The U20 players, however, were still lauded for their efforts throughout the tournament and they received a hero’s welcome at Incheon International Airport.
“I’d like to applaud our players for their hard work,” Lee Kwang-jong, the team’s head coach, told reporters at the airport.
“These young players have a bright future ahead and they can compete anywhere against any team as long as they keep working hard.”
Korea’s U20 national soccer team head coach Lee Kwang-jong and his squad arrive at Incheon International Airport on Tuesday. (Yonhap News)
Considered an underdog without a budding superstar, South Korea squeaked into the knockout stage, after beating Cuba, drawing Portugal and losing to Nigeria.
South Korea finished third in Group B and earned one of four round-of-16 berths awarded to third-place nations.
In the round of 16, South Korea stunned the favored Colombia 8-7 on penalties, with goalkeeper Lee Chang-geun coming up with a crucial save. The quarterfinals match against Iraq also went into a shootout.
The teams ended regulation tied 2-2, and in the 118th minute, about 2 minutes from the whistle, Iraq scored the go-ahead goal.
Lee, the starting goalkeeper and team captain, said he was particularly disappointed about losing to Iraq.
