South Korea's national soccer team goalkeeper Kim Seung-kyu expressed disappointment over the late goal that led to a 1-0 loss against Mexico in their second group stage match of the tournament, held at Estadio Guadalajara in Zapopan.
Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone after the match on June 19, Kim acknowledged the challenges of the goalkeeper position, stating, "As a goalkeeper, you can perform well but still receive negative evaluations due to a single goal conceded."
He added, "Ultimately, the result was not favorable today. I should have been more focused during the goal-scoring situation, and my lack of concentration led to this outcome."
Regarding the goal, Kim explained, "The ball was in the air, and I thought I could safely go out and catch it since there were only our teammates around. Unfortunately, it turned out this way."
He also noted the importance of quick decision-making in such situations, saying, "My call may not have been heard clearly, and various factors contributed to the situation."
During the hydration break in the second half, Kim comforted teammate Lee Gi-hyeok, saying, "We need to forget this match quickly since we have to keep playing. I told him that as long as we perform well, the attackers will deliver at least one goal for us."
Kim emphasized the need to maintain team morale, stating, "We agreed not to let the atmosphere drop. There is still one match left, and I believe we are in a more advantageous position. We can qualify for the Round of 32 on our own merit, so we need to come together as a team and perform well in the next match."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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