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| South Korea's national football team manager Paulo Bento, center, exchanges high fives with his players after the 2022 EAFF E-1 Championship match against Japan at Toyota Stadium in Toyota, Japan, July 27. / Courtesy of Korea Football Association |
By John Duerden
South Korea is rightly proud of its record against Japan, winning 42 and losing just 16 of their 81 encounters. The first two victories came in 1954 as Korea qualified for the World Cup. The last two meetings however have ended in 3-0 defeats and while, on the face of it, those losses don't seem quite as important, they are concerning. Japan has looked to be at a different level and this bitter and old soccer rivalry is in danger of becoming one-sided.
In March 2021 came the 'Yokohama Disaster' in a friendly between the two teams. Then came the final game of the East Asian Championships last Wednesday. The tournament itself is not a massive deal but, as written on these pages before, while winning may not get fans very excited ― in this tournament ― losing to regional rivals does not go down well.
And that is what happened. Korea made short work of China and then Hong Kong in the first two games of the four-nation tournament and defeated both 3-0. But then lost by the same scoreline to Japan, which means that this game will be the one that is remembered.
Korea was without Son Heung-min, the English Premier League Golden Boot winner, and new Napoli defender Kim Min-jae but Japan has many more players based in Europe. This was largely a game between players from the J.League and the K League and the former won, comfortably.
Japan could have won by more and Korea looked toothless going forward and hapless at the back. Coach Paulo Bento said the loss was down to individual mistakes, adding that comparing Korea with different nations was not the right method.
Yet comparisons are inevitable. Losing to the Samurai Blue is never pleasant but being outclassed, outfought and outthought is hard for fans to take. It's beginning to feel a little like the summer of 2005. Then, just after the East Asian Cup, South Korea head coach Jo Bonfrere cut a miserable figure and was soon out of a job despite leading the team through qualification for the 2006 World Cup.
Of course, the 2022 World Cup in November is the priority and it is fortunate for Bento that there is not much time left to make a change. It was the best part of a year before Bonfrere's replacement was in place. If the current coach was given the chop, there would be just a couple of games in September to prepare for the World Cup just weeks later.
It is not just about the World Cup, however. In June's Asia Under-23 Championships, Korea and Japan met at the quarterfinal stage and, once again, the result was a 3-0 defeat. Japan sends more players to Europe and looks to be producing lots of young players of high quality.
While it is not just about the senior team, after four years under Bento, there are still as many questions as answers about where the Taeguk Warriors are going. Perhaps all will become clear at the World Cup in November, one way or another.
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