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Around a week has passed since the three Zerofivers left at the World Cup had to pack their bags and leave Qatar following defeats in the last 16. Jae-sung Lee and South Korea lost 4-1 against Brazil, while 24 hours later the tournament was also over for a Switzerland national team containing Silvan Widmer and Edimilson Fernandes after a 6-1 defeat to Portugal. “To play at the World Cup has been a huge dream of mine since I was a kid, so I was really overjoyed,” said Lee, having shaken off his initial a few days after the game disappointment. Mainz’s captain also spoke of still having “positive emotions” alongside also “a bit of disappointment” that the team didn’t make the next round.
Lee and South Korea make a whole nation proud
The final round of group stage matches had been highly emotionally-charged for the three Zerofivers, who both needed results in their final group games. Both teams managed to pull this off, with Switzerland winning 3-2 having been 2-1 down, putting themselves in the last 16. South Korea meanwhile still had to rely on the other game in Group H going their way despite a surprise last-minute win against Portugal, eventually going through due to having more goals scored than Uruguay. “We have prepared well these last four years, so we could perform with confidence and we tried to put into practise everything that we have worked on. We had the aim to win every game and to play good football,” explained Lee.
The tournament took place in winter, but thanks to the joy and passion, the atmosphere was just as hot as during the height of summer.
Lee went on to explain that the cohesion in the team was “very good”. “We were like a family on and off the pitch,” reported the midfielder, explaining that in qualifying for the last 16 for only the third time in the country’s history, and the first time in twelve years, they had not just done themselves proud, but the whole country. “The tournament took place in winter, but thanks to the joy and passion, the atmosphere was just as hot as during the height of summer,” said the South Korean, describing the mood back home. Against Brazil the team just ran out of stream: “In the group phase we did a lot of running and gave our all. Unfortunately after that, we didn’t have quite enough time to fully recover,” explained South Korea’s number 10.
South Korean gratitude for Portuguese coach
Paulo Bento’s team had to face a star-studded Brazil side just three days after their victory against Portugal, and were overrun in the first half. They found themselves 4-0 down after 36 minutes in what ended a 4-1 defeat. Head coach Bento resigned after the elimination from the tournament, ending a four-and-a-half year stint as coach of the ‘Taegeuk Warriors’. “He remained the same from the beginning to the end and led the team, so the whole team is grateful to him and has huge respect for him,” commented Lee.
Not a great game against Portugal, but on the right track
The Swiss Mainz players were not quite as thrilled, but still not dissatisfied with how the tournament went, when reflecting a few days after their side’s round of 16 elimination at the hands of Portugal. “The bottom line is that we qualified for the knockout stage,” but didn’t get any further, reflected Widmer. “The goal was to keep going. That’s why there are positive feelings, but also a bit of disappointment still that we didn’t grab a win,” explained the Zerofivers captain. Personally, he was only watch the game against Portugal from his hotel room as he was suffering with illness. Widmer explained that he found it difficult to only be able to watch the game against Portugal, especially after the strong performances the team put in during the group stage. For now, though, Widmer confirmed that he is feeling better, even if the illness did “throw him off course a bit”.
Fernandes, who was in the starting eleven against Portugal, suggested that it was “not a good game” for his side against the team coached by Fernando Santos, stating that on the day the 2016 European Champions “were simply better”. Nevertheless, the the 26-year-old suggested that the Switzerland team are on the right path despite the disappointment of the loss.
After their experience at the World Cup, the three Mainz players are now on holiday before they return to team training at Bruchweg at the beginning of January.
The tournament took place in winter, but thanks to the joy and passion, the atmosphere was just as hot as during the height of summer.
Lee went on to explain that the cohesion in the team was “very good”. “We were like a family on and off the pitch,” reported the midfielder, explaining that in qualifying for the last 16 for only the third time in the country’s history, and the first time in twelve years, they had not just done themselves proud, but the whole country. “The tournament took place in winter, but thanks to the joy and passion, the atmosphere was just as hot as during the height of summer,” said the South Korean, describing the mood back home. Against Brazil the team just ran out of stream: “In the group phase we did a lot of running and gave our all. Unfortunately after that, we didn’t have quite enough time to fully recover,” explained South Korea’s number 10.
South Korean gratitude for Portuguese coach
Paulo Bento’s team had to face a star-studded Brazil side just three days after their victory against Portugal, and were overrun in the first half. They found themselves 4-0 down after 36 minutes in what ended a 4-1 defeat. Head coach Bento resigned after the elimination from the tournament, ending a four-and-a-half year stint as coach of the ‘Taegeuk Warriors’. “He remained the same from the beginning to the end and led the team, so the whole team is grateful to him and has huge respect for him,” commented Lee.
Not a great game against Portugal, but on the right track
The Swiss Mainz players were not quite as thrilled, but still not dissatisfied with how the tournament went, when reflecting a few days after their side’s round of 16 elimination at the hands of Portugal. “The bottom line is that we qualified for the knockout stage,” but didn’t get any further, reflected Widmer. “The goal was to keep going. That’s why there are positive feelings, but also a bit of disappointment still that we didn’t grab a win,” explained the Zerofivers captain. Personally, he was only watch the game against Portugal from his hotel room as he was suffering with illness. Widmer explained that he found it difficult to only be able to watch the game against Portugal, especially after the strong performances the team put in during the group stage. For now, though, Widmer confirmed that he is feeling better, even if the illness did “throw him off course a bit”.
Fernandes, who was in the starting eleven against Portugal, suggested that it was “not a good game” for his side against the team coached by Fernando Santos, stating that on the day the 2016 European Champions “were simply better”. Nevertheless, the the 26-year-old suggested that the Switzerland team are on the right path despite the disappointment of the loss.
After their experience at the World Cup, the three Mainz players are now on holiday before they return to team training at Bruchweg at the beginning of January.
