As the most recent Korean member of the FIFA Century Membership with over 100 worldwide caps, midfielder Lee Jae-sung stated Thursday he has by no means taken a chance to characterize the nation as a right.
Lee, 33, earned his a hundredth cap on Oct. 10 in a pleasant towards Brazil, and performed his a hundred and first match 4 days later towards Paraguay. He was referred to as up once more for matches towards Bolivia on Friday and towards Ghana on Tuesday. The Korea Soccer Affiliation has scheduled a particular ceremony previous to Friday’s kickoff at Daejeon World Cup Stadium within the central metropolis of Daejeon to acknowledge Lee’s accomplishment.
“I’m actually honored to be again with the nationwide crew for these matches. I do not take these events as a right,” Lee stated at his prematch press convention in Daejeon. “I’m grateful for the truth that I’m wholesome sufficient to have the ability to reply the decision of the nation. It is all the time nice to see my teammates right here.”
Lee stated Daejeon will all the time have a particular place in his coronary heart as a result of he made his nationwide crew debut within the metropolis on March 27, 2015, in a pleasant towards Uzbekistan.
“I do know I would not be right here with out all of the love and assist from so many followers,” he stated. “As I’ve accomplished my entire profession, I’ll attempt to dedicate myself to the crew and make an enduring impression on followers.”
Lee and the nationwide crew went by a curler coaster journey final month on the subject of fan reception. They misplaced to Brazil 5-0 in entrance of over 63,000 followers at Seoul World Cup Stadium. And when Korea returned to the identical venue on Oct. 14, solely about 22,000 spectators confirmed as much as watch the house crew beat Paraguay 2-0.
It was the smallest crowd for a males’s nationwide crew match right here in 10 years.
“I believe it gave us a chance to look again on our efficiency,” Lee stated. “If we placed on a very good present and play responsibly, then it can give our followers a cause to come back watch us play.”
Lee, a cerebral playmaker, has scored 15 objectives for Korea. When requested if he’ll attempt to have a good time his milestone with a objective Friday night time, Lee smiled and stated, “If you recognize me in any respect, I will not consciously attempt to rating objectives. But when I discover myself in a great place for the crew, then I’ll attempt to rating. If my teammate has a greater alternative, then I’ll attempt to set him up.”
