Saudi Arabia national soccer team coach Roberto Mancini (Italy) apologized for leaving before the penalty shootout against Korea was over.
In the round of 16 of the ‘2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup’ held at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar on the 31st (Korean time), Korea and Saudi Arabia went to overtime, but finished 120 minutes without being able to decide the winner at 1-1.
After a penalty shootout, Korea won 4-2. Both Korea and Saudi Arabia succeeded in the second kicker, and the joy and sorrow were mixed from the third.
Korean goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo blocked the shots of Saudi Arabia’s third and fourth kickers. Korea won with Son Heung-min, Kim Young-kwon, Cho Kyu-sung, and Hwang Hee-chan all scoring goals.
When the fourth kicker missed in the penalty shootout, Coach Mancini left the bench and went into the tunnel.
At the press conference, a question was asked demanding an explanation for this act.
Director Mancini said, “I apologize. I thought the game was over. “I didn’t want to ignore anyone,” he explained.
He continued, “I want to say thank you to all Saudi players. “They have made a lot of progress,” he said, but “it is clear that they need to improve further.”
When asked about the factors leading to defeat, he said, “In soccer, you can either win or lose. “We played well, but the opponent was strong.” 스포츠토토
