The Korean women’s soccer team will have warm-up matches against the Philippines at Icheon Stadium at 7 p.m. on Saturday and 7 p.m. on Sunday. The Korean team started quenching at Icheon Stadium’s auxiliary stadium.
Casey, who was born to an American father and a Korean mother, is the first mixed-race player in the history of the Korean women’s national team, and is looking forward to the match against the Philippines in that it is the first A-match in front of domestic fans.
Casey played eight A matches (4 goals) through the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, qualifying for the Paris Olympics, and away matches in Portugal, but all matches were held overseas.
Casey said, “I’m very happy to join the national team. I’m looking forward to playing an A-match for the first time in front of Korean fans. I’ll repay them with good plays in response to the fans’ support.”
Casey continued, “Growth as a player is important, but as a team is important. I will focus on improving team performance.”
In addition, Casey was also looking forward to the match against the United States, his father’s home country and the country where he grew up, in June. “First of all, we are focusing on the match against the Philippines, which will be held first, but it will be interesting to face the United States,” he said.
Meanwhile, the women’s national team recently suffered setbacks one after another due to the failure of medals at the Hangzhou Asian Games and the failure to advance to the finals of the Paris Olympics. The Paris Olympics, which will feature the adult women’s soccer team, will be held in July, but there is no place for South Korea.
Therefore, 2024 of Korean women’s soccer is filled only with warm-up matches against the Philippines in April and the U.S. in June without major competitions.
Cheon Garam said, “I won’t let go of the present time like a waste. Time varies greatly depending on how each of us spends it. We will spend these times well to grow.”
Chen is on solid footing in the women’s national team, receiving the Korea Football Association (KFA) Young Player of the Year award in 2022 and the Player of the Year award in 2023. This is why this year is all the more regrettable since she cannot afford to participate in major competitions such as the Paris Olympics.
“When I play soccer, I am always a desperate person,” he said. “To join the national team (even if it’s not a competition) is heart-warming. I will continue to work hard until I become the best player.”
Regarding his determination to play against the Philippines, he said, “People consider the Philippines to be weak, but there is something that is definitely gaining. I will not think easily and use it as a time to maximize our strengths.”
BY: 토토
