Avoiding the Cellar in FIFA Tourney

Will the champions of Asia be able to maintain their pride?

Jeonbuk Hyundai will play their last match against Auckland (New Zealand), the winning team of Oceania continent, in the FIFA Club World cup.

The match will be held at Tokyo National Stadium on December 15 at 7:20 p.m. (live broadcast by Xsports), competing for fifth and sixth place.

Allowing a goal at the second half of the game in the 34th minute, Jeonbuk was defeated by Club America 1-0 on December 11. Now Jeonbuk is determined to maintain its self respect by doing its best in this match.

Team Oakland successively defeated the New Zealand league, won the 2006 Oceania Club Championship, and qualified for this game. In the match against Al Ahli (Egypt) on December 12, they were lethargic from start to finish and ending up losing, 2-0 to Egypt.

Not only did Jeonbuk Hyundai fail in making the best of their free kick chances, but they also failed to seize the chance to score.

Jeonbuk spent mainly their time on last-ditch training to strengthen its organizing ability and its free kicks.

In particular, taking into account that Kim Hyeong-beom, with his strong point in making accurate shooting, failed twice in scoring the first points, they are determined to seize free kick opportunities as much as possible and get a head start on the match.

Choi Cheol-sun, a former national youth team member, playing on the right wing, cannot attend the game due an injury to his ankle.

jaeyuna@donga.com