The Korean women’s soccer team was completely defeated by England, fourth in the FIFA World Ranking, in their first match in the ‘World Cup Year’, realizing the gap with the world’s powerful players.

The Korean national team (ranked 15th), led by coach Colin Bell (England), lost to England 0-4 in the first leg of the 2023 Arnold Clark Cup held at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, England on the 17th (Korean time).

South Korea, where key players such as Ji So-yeon (Suwon FC) could not come forward due to injuries, held a high-level ‘World Cup Mock Test’ against ‘European Champion’ England, who is 11 steps higher in the world rankings and won the Women’s Euro 2022 (2022 European Championships). ‘.

Korea will participate in the finals of the 2023 Australia-New Zealand Women’s World Cup (July 20-August 20), with the opening coming up in five months.

The Arnold Clark Cup is an international friendly competition hosted by the Football Association of England.

While Korea, England, Italy, and Belgium are participating in the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, three countries except Belgium are participating in the Women’s World Cup, so it is a good opportunity to strengthen their strength and gain experience.

In the previous match, Belgium beat Italy 2-1.

Korea will play the second match against Belgium at 3:15 am on the 20th and the third match against Italy at 1:45 am on the 23rd.

Korea has recorded 14 wins, 7 draws and 7 losses since Bell took over.

Korea has not escaped inferiority against England with 3 matches, 1 draw and 2 losses.

After taking charge of the Korean national team, Bell lost his first confrontation with England, his ‘homeland’.

Son Hwa-yeon, Choi Yu-ri, and Kang Chae-rim (Hyundai Steel) were responsible for Korea’s attack, while Lee Geum-min (Brighton) and Kim Yun-ji (Suwon FC) stood in the midfield.

With a three-back defensive line close to a five-back in operation, Jang Seul-gi (Hyundai Steel) and Chu Hyo-joo (Suwon FC) acted as left and right wingbacks, while Kim Hye-ri, Lim Seon-ju, and Hong Hye-ji (above Hyundai Steel) formed the three-back.

The goalkeeper gloves were worn by “veteran” Kim Jeong-mi (Hyundai Steel).

Lim Seon-joo played 100 of her A matches from her debut match against the Northern Marianas in August 2009 to this day, becoming the 7th Korean female player to join the ‘Century Club’.

‘Ace’ Ji So-yeon, who suffered 메이저놀이터an ankle injury, kept her bench because she was not in perfect shape.

In addition, players who had been in charge of the midfield, such as Cho So-hyun (Tottenham), Lee Young-joo (Madrid CFF), and Lee Min-ah (Hyundai Steel), could not even join the national team due to injuries, so Korea had to play a difficult game.

Jo So-hyun, who plays on the English stage, cheered on her teammates from her stands.

Five of the players who started in the Euro final against Germany in July last year started for England that day.

Backed by the one-sided support of the home crowd, England drove hard from the first half, but Korea held up well with a solid defense.

However, the cracks started to go away from the end of the first half.

Georgia Stanway’s header landed in the upper net in the 30th minute of the first half, and Alessia Russo’s mid-range shot hit the post in the 38th minute.

Korea eventually conceded the first goal through Stanway’s penalty kick in the 40th minute of the first half.

Previously, Jang Seul-gi committed a foul on Lauren James who was breaking through in the penalty area.

In the first minute of the second half, Korea conceded an additional goal before reorganizing the front line.

Chloe Kelly’s shot from the left side of the penalty kick hit Geum-Min Lee’s foot and was deflected into the net.

In the 5th minute of the second half, Russo stepped in to Alex Greenwood’s cross from the left and made it 3-0.

Korea was pushed back one-sidedly, but in the 23rd minute of the second half, Sohn Hwa-yeon’s bold mid-range shot aimed to make up for the goal.

However, in the 33rd minute of the second half, James conceded another goal with a shot from the front of the goal area.