Ahead of the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Championship, national teams from Korea, China, Japan, and Hong Kong have ramped up training and preparations, each setting their sights on victory.

At an official press conference held at Mir Stadium in Yongin on the 6th, the head coaches and players from each nation attended to share their strategies and determination for the competition. Because the tournament is taking place outside the official FIFA A-match calendar, the squads have been primarily assembled with players from their respective domestic leagues.

Korean national team head coach Hong Myung-bo remarked, "We have selected a large number of young defenders with World Cup potential for this tournament. Their continuous growth will not only be important for this event, but also crucial in the coming year." He added, "Despite having a short training period, our effort will be total in every match as we strive for the best possible results."

Significant changes in Korea’s defensive line are expected, as four out of the ten defenders have earned their first national team call-up. Whether these newcomers can adapt swiftly could influence Korea’s fortitude heading into the World Cup finals.

China enters the competition under interim management, following a recent coaching change, with Dejan Djurojevic, who normally leads the U-20 team, now at the helm. "Our goal is to display our best football," Djurojevic stated. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s coach Ashley Westwood commented, "Korea, Japan, and China are all strong teams. We'll approach this tournament as challengers instead of favorites."

For Japan, attention focused on captain Yuto Nagatomo, who set a national record by appearing at four consecutive World Cups, from South Africa in 2010 to Qatar in 2022, ranking him joint first in Asia alongside coach Hong Myung-bo.

Expressing his determination to play, Nagatomo said, "I'm only thinking of winning the championship." He also noted, "Though the team has been built around players based abroad, there is stiff competition from those in the J League as well." On a personal note, he shared, "I want to appeal to the coach for a fifth World Cup appearance," emphasizing, "This tournament is an opportunity to prove my worth again."

Nagatomo has so far played 15 World Cup matches, and he could surpass Hong Myung-bo’s Asian record of 16 appearances.

Korea is set to face China in their tournament opener on the 7th at 8 PM at Mir Stadium, while Japan takes on Hong Kong on the 8th. The much-anticipated Korea-Japan match is scheduled for the 15th at the same venue.

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=Yonhap News Agency