Suwon: South Korea entered the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Women's Football Championship this month on home soil as the third-highest ranked team among the four participants, behind Japan (No. 7) and China (No. 17), and ahead of only Chinese Taipei (No. 42). And when the competition wrapped up on this rainy Wednesday night, South Korea stood on the top of the podium as the champions.
According to Yonhap News Agency, coached by Shin Sang-woo, South Korea defeated Chinese Taipei 2-0 in Wednesday's finale at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, some 30 kilometers south of Seoul. This victory allowed South Korea to pull even with Japan and China at five points. South Korea won the three-way tiebreaker after scoring three goals in head-to-head matches among the tied teams, following a 2-2 draw against China and a 1-1 stalemate against Japan.
"I am so happy that I don't even know what to say," Shin said at his postmatch press conference. He expressed gratitude towards the players and acknowledged the unpredictability of football, stating, "I said earlier in the tournament that you don't play football on paper and the ball is round. I want to thank my players for proving me right."
Shin, who took the helm last October, admitted his team got lucky just to have the chance to win the EAFF title. Japan had been favored to beat China in the first match on Wednesday, and a single successful conversion could have sealed South Korea's fate even before their kickoff.
"During our prematch meeting, I told my coaches maybe we will have a chance to win if we want it bad enough," Shin said with a smile. He described the scenario as a 1 percent chance that turned into reality, making the victory even sweeter.
Shin highlighted that more than luck was required to lift the EAFF trophy, crediting the leadership of his veterans and the determination seen from the start of the camp. The team was a mix of seasoned veterans and younger players, exemplifying a generational shift within the squad.
"From Day 1, I could tell from the players' eyes that they were really determined to win this tournament. Our veterans especially showed a sense of urgency and younger players followed their lead," Shin commented, emphasizing the importance of this victory in steering the team towards a positive direction.
While the EAFF tournament may not be as prestigious as other international events, Shin emphasized its significance in providing competition against higher-ranked Asian teams like Japan and China. "It helps us prepare for other events coming up, and winning this tournament should help our players with their confidence," Shin added.
When asked about future plans, Shin smiled wearily and said, "We just won the trophy tonight. I want to enjoy this for now and think about what we need later."