Why did Eom Ji-sung warn South Korea about complacency before the semifinal against China?

Eom said the team had been enjoying a good run after beating Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam, but that early success could make players take wins for granted. He said the team would fall apart if it started doing that.

When and where will South Korea play China in the Asian Games men’s football semifinal?

South Korea will play China at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Nagai Stadium in Osaka. The venue is about 140 kilometers west of the main host city, Nagoya.

What did Eom Ji-sung say South Korea must do to beat China?

Eom said the team should stay with the basics, avoid silly mistakes and continue making the plays it has practiced. He also said the attackers have been in good form and that the team wants to spread the offense while keeping China from scoring.

Football forward Eom guards against complacency ahead of semifinal duel vs. China

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Summary

Eom Ji-sung said South Korea must avoid complacency before its men’s football semifinal against China at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Osaka on Wednesday. The under-23 team is chasing its fourth consecutive men’s football gold medal after wins over Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam. Eom said the team must stick to the basics, minimize mistakes and keep applying the plays it has practiced.

Key Facts

South Korea will face China at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, about 140 kilometers west of Nagoya.
Korea’s under-23 men’s team is aiming for its fourth consecutive Asian Games men’s football gold medal.
Eom Ji-sung scored a hat trick in South Korea’s 4-1 win over Qatar in the opening Group D match.
South Korea then beat Saudi Arabia 2-0 to win Group D and routed Vietnam 4-0 in the quarterfinals.
Eom plays club football for Swansea City and said the team must minimize silly mistakes and keep its focus on the basics.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 28, 2026 10:17 pm KST

Korean winger Eom Ji-sung celebrates after scoring his third goal against Qatar during their Group D opener in men's football for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Mizuho Park Rugby Stadium in Nagoya, Japan, Sept. 15. Yonhap

NAGOYA, Japan — With Korea about to take on China in the semifinals of the Asiad men's football tournament this week, winger Eom Ji-sung said Monday the biggest threat to his team's gold medal chase may be complacency.

"The moment we start taking wins for granted, we will fall apart," Eom said in a video released by the Korea Football Association (KFA) during the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Korea's under-23 team will face China at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, some 140 kilometers west of the main host city, Nagoya. Coached by Lee Min-sung, the young Taegeuk Warriors are trying to claim South Korea's fourth consecutive men's football gold medal.

It has been mostly smooth sailing so far. Eom's hat trick powered South Korea past Qatar 4-1 in the first group stage match, and Korea blanked Saudi Arabia 2-0 to clinch the top spot in Group D.

Then in the quarterfinals, Korea routed Vietnam 4-0.

"The mood has been great in training sessions, after those wins in the group stage and the quarterfinals," Eom said.

"Our attackers have been on fire. After I scored three times in the first match, my teammates have picked up the slack. We will try to spread the offense and keep the other team from scoring in the next match."

While Korea may be favored over China on paper, Eom said he will not take any team lightly.

"The fact that they have made it to the semifinals shows how capable they are," he said. "We all understand we absolutely cannot let our guard down or be complacent. However, if we make all the plays that we have been working on, then I think we will win the match without a doubt."

Eom, who plies his club trade with the English side Swansea City, said the key will be to stick to the basics.

"We have to minimize silly mistakes," he said.

"These things could play a big role. I have to take care of the basics myself and ask my teammates to do the same."

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