South Korea head coach Paulo Bento gives a thumbs-up sign during his team’s friendly match against Cameroon at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul on Sept. 27, 2022. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — Paulo Bento, head coach of the South Korean men’s national football team, is facing public criticism for persistence in his choice of players and tactics with less than two months to go before the opening of the Qatar World Cup.
On the nation’s major online communities and YouTube, voices are growing that domestic football fans should boycott the final World Cup tuneup match in November.
Some online commentators are showing disappointment over the coach, insisting that fans should not show up to the stadium where the match will be hosted.
The fire of disappointment was ignited by the fact that Bento did not use Lee Kang-in, who has played well in the top Spanish league.
Ahead of a match in September, the RCD Mallorca midfielder was selected for the national football team for the first time in a year and a half.
Nonetheless, Bento did not give him any chance to play in two friendly matches in September.
“If Lee Kang-in was not playing well for his club team just like last season, coach Bento’s choice could be understandable, but it’s not the case right now,” football commentator Kim Dae-gil said.
“Lee is famous for his talent in decisive passing. Bento should have checked how he performs together with two Premier League players — Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan — at least in a single game.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
