Portuguese President Marcelo Revelo de Souza, who lost to the Korean national team in the final Group H match of the Qatar 2022 World Cup group stage, delivered a ‘congratulatory message’. Korean national team coach Paulo Bento (Photo) comes from Portugal, and before taking charge of our national team, he also coached the Portuguese national team.
In the match held on the 3rd, Bento watched from the stands as they miraculously progressed to the round of 16 by winning 2-1 with a dramatic come-back goal in extra time in the second half. Although he was sent off for protesting against the referee immediately after the 2nd match (against Ghana) in the previous group stage, he could not keep the bench in the important match, but the Taegeuk Warriors showed their fighting spirit and achieved the best result. .
According to the results of the match, Bento’s home country, Portugal, secured 2 wins, 1 loss and 6 points, taking first place in Group H. climbing the river
According to Portuguese daily ‘Correio da Magna’, President Rebelo de Souza said, “We had a better army than Korea, but Korea did better in today’s game. After commenting, “Coach Bento understood Portuguese football well,” he said, “Coach Bento is a competent Portuguese leader. I congratulate him for leading the Korean team well.”
President Seok-yeol Yoon also sent a congratulatory message, and coach Bento received congratulations from the two presidents. Immediately after the game, President Yoon said, “The challenge begins again. I congratulate the Korean national football team on advancing to the round of 16,” he said.
Bento, who was born in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, played as a member of the Portuguese national team in the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup 20 years ago against Korea in the group stage. After taking up his position as coach of our national team in 2018, he was criticized for not matching the ‘building football’ he had constantly emphasized in Korea, but as a result, he was able to progress to the round of 16 for the game. first time in 12 years.
In the round of 16 match against Brazil, which takes place at 4:00am on the 6th, Bento returns to the bench and directs the national team. Captain Son Heung-min was delighted, saying in an interview just after the team progressed to the round of 16, “I’m so grateful to be able to play the last game on the bench with the coach .”
Reporter Kim Bong-gu, Hankyung.com kbk9@hankyung.com
