"Did the Captain Disappear?" The Day After Qatar Was Thrashed 4-1... What Happened at Lee Min-sung’s Training Ground in the Pouring Rain [Nagoya Asian Games]

[Financial News] Lee Min-sung’s side is maintaining its relentless momentum after opening the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with an emphatic victory. The South Korean men’s under-23 team routed Qatar 4-1, taking a major step toward a historic fourth consecutive Asian Games title before immediately beginning recovery training and turning its attention to its next opponent.
The South Korean team, led by head coach Lee Min-sung, worked up a sweat at a training ground in Ikedacho, Handa, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on the morning of the 16th. To recover from the previous day’s match against Qatar, the squad followed a tailored schedule, splitting into a 10-player recovery group and an 11-player regular training group.
The most noticeable absence at the training ground was captain Lee Gi-hyuk of Gangwon State. He did not travel with the team and remained at the hotel for complete rest. Although the situation could have raised concerns about an injury, a team official dismissed them, saying, "Lee Gi-hyuk is not injured. He was given special rest to manage accumulated fatigue dating back to his club’s league schedule." The 21 Taegeuk Warriors other than Lee Gi-hyuk took the field.

The players who had covered every part of the pitch the previous day focused on managing their condition. The 10 key players who had logged substantial playing time—including hat-trick hero Eom Ji-sung of Swansea City, Yang Hyun-jun of Celtic, and Bae Jun-ho of Stoke City—performed stretching and basic core exercises as they calmly eased muscle fatigue.
By contrast, the 11 players who had played limited minutes or did not appear continued a high-intensity session without complaint despite the pouring rain. After warming up with light jogging and footwork drills, they sharpened their match fitness through rondo drills and shooting games while pushing their activity levels higher.

South Korea, seeking a fourth consecutive men’s football title after winning at Incheon in 2014, Jakarta and Palembang in 2018, and Hangzhou in 2022—the event was held in 2023—began its campaign smoothly by securing three points in the opening match. The men’s football tournament features 15 countries divided into four groups, followed by a quarterfinal knockout stage to determine the champion.
After changing the mood and completing its preparations, the national team will take a full day off on the 17th without training to recharge. Refreshed by the much-needed break, Lee Min-sung’s side will seek a second group-stage victory against Saudi Arabia on the 22nd.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter