Captain Says Team Is as Strong as Ever

“We are a strong team, our rivals must fear us,” said Korean national soccer team captain Lee Woon-jae at the end of the team’s three-day break.

Sitting down for a bowl of tofu pot stew at a Korean restaurant in Los Angeles, Lee shared his opinions of the national team’s current situation. He also spoke frequently of his second daughter, who will be 100 days old at the end of the month, and his wife, who constantly prays for him. Although Lee does not like being away from his family, he will cherish the memory of the moment by the time he returns to his family.

“I am trying my best not to get pushed off from my position on the team,” Lee spoke of the level of competition within the team. He often advises younger players to “always look to the future because the present is not the end of the line. Never forget that you’re part of the national team.” When asked about the team’s other goalie who has yet to have his day on the field, Jo Jin-ho, a close friend and roommate, Lee said, “We normally exchange jokes in the room and seldom talk about the game. Talking about the game too much might hurt his feelings.”

Lee also explained his role as the team’s captain, “We have the best players in Korea on the team. But there are rules. If those rules are broken, it’s my job to step in and remind the others about them.”

As a veteran of 2002 World Cup, Lee showed confidence in the team’s capability, saying, “We are now in much better shape with many experienced players who are currently playing in European leagues. Our rivals should fear us.”

As the goalie responsible for controlling the team’s defense line, he spoke of the team’s current experimentation with a 3-back and 4-back defense formations. He points out that a 4-back stretch poses a danger of leaving the rear open, while a 3-back formation could leave the defense open in either the left or right side. He concluded that the players will soon adapt to these new systems in the long run.

“The result might not be what people expect. We are here to learn how not to make too many mistakes. Encouragements from our fans go a long way,” said Lee.

Won-Hong Lee bluesky@donga.com