Twenty years after her first appearance at a FIFA World Cup, veteran forward Park Eun-sun (Seoul Metropolitan Government) 바카라 said she has seen progress in women’s soccer around the world.
“Whether it’s women’s or men’s soccer, it’s improved a lot,” Park told reporters after the team’s training session at Campbelltown Sports Stadium outside Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on Saturday.
“I think we’ve gotten better, but I think the other teams have stepped up a few notches,” he added.
Colleen Bell’s women’s soccer team lost 0-2 to Colombia in their opening Group H match of the Australia-New Zealand 2023 World Cup at Sydney Football Stadium the day before.
After conceding two goals in the first half, Bell brought on Park Eun-sun in the 23rd minute to try and turn things around, but no further goals were forthcoming.
Park, who made her World Cup debut at the 2003 USA tournament, is a veteran of the 2015 Canada tournament, but she was unable to crack the Colombian defense.
“I’m very disappointed with the outcome of the first game,” Park said, “I was put in a rush yesterday. The coach told me to do what I’ve been doing in practice, which is to connect the kicks when they come to me.”
‘Time to talk’
(CAMPBELLTOWN [Australia], Aug. 26 (Yonhap) — Colleen Bell, head coach of the Australia-New Zealand women’s team at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, calls out to Lee Geum-min during a recovery session at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, on the morning of Aug. 26 (local time). The team lost 0-2 in their first group game against Colombia the day before. 2023.7.26 utzza@yna.co.kr
“When I watched the game from the outside, I thought we didn’t play too badly in the first half, but soccer is about taking chances when they come,” he said. “I think the result would have been better if we were a little more focused. I’m sure (the coach) wanted me to come in and change the flow, but I didn’t do enough.”
The loss to Colombia also significantly hurt Belo Horizonte’s chances of reaching the round of 16.
With Germany’s 6-0 win over Morocco securing their place at the top of the group, they were thrashed in their ‘second fight’ against Colombia.
However, Park believes they can still make it to the round of 16.
“We’re still aiming for the round of 16,” Park said, “and we’re not wavering. Personally, I think we can still make it to the round of 16. We have to think we can,” Park said.
She also supported Bell’s statement that the team will move forward regardless of defeat.
“There’s no need to be depressed when (the World Cup) isn’t over,” Park said, adding, “I think all the players agree with the coach that we need to move forward. The next two games are important, so we will focus on them,” Park said.
“We will focus on the next game against Morocco. That’s what the players are saying,” he added.
The match between South Korea and Morocco kicks off at 1:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 30 at Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide, southern Australia.