By Lee Seong-min Reporter= Will ’16-year-old diva’ Casey Eugene Fair be able to start against Germany in the final match of the Women’s World Cup?
The South Korean women’s national soccer team is set to face Germany in its final Group H match at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia/New Zealand 2023 at Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane, Australia, at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
South Korea aimed for a quarterfinal finish or better before the tournament, but the bar was set high. A 0-2 loss to Colombia in their first game on Sept. 25 put the hazard lights on for the tournament. A 0-1 loss in their second group game against Morocco on Sept. 30 dropped them to last place in Group H.
South Korea’s final opponent, Germany, is ranked No. 2 in the FIFA rankings. South Korea needs to beat Germany by five goals or more and Colombia to beat Morocco to have any hope of making the round of 16. In fact, it’s fair to say that South Korea’s chances of making the round of 16 are slim.
The most troubling aspect has been their poor scoring. The national team went scoreless in their two group games. There was even a frustrating performance against Morocco where they attempted 16 shots and failed to register a single shot on target. It will be interesting to see if head coach Colin Bell decides to shake things up in the attacking third with younger players. One resource at the center of that change is Fair.
Fair made headlines when the final World Cup roster was announced because she is the first mixed-race player in the history of the women’s national team. With an American father and Korean mother, she also holds the distinction of being the youngest player from any of the 32 countries represented at the World Cup. FIFA included her on its list of “10 Teens Who Will Shock the World” on April 20.
At the time of the selection, Bell emphasized that he did not choose Fair simply for her experience. “He’s physically fit, he’s two-footed, he’s a good finisher, and he’s a good learner,” Bell said. “I picked him because he was an immediate force, just like any other player. She’s not a promotion, she’s a valuable player.”바카라
In both of the Women’s World Cup matches, Paire took the field as a substitute. Against Colombia, she became the youngest player in Women’s World Cup history (16 years, 26 days) when she came on for Choi Yuri in the 33rd minute. Against Morocco, she entered the game in the 39th minute for Hong Hye-ji. Three minutes after coming on, she threatened Morocco’s goal with a left-footed turner in the 42nd minute.
She has shown promise in her previous two matches, coming off the bench to energize the team. With Bell emphasizing the performance of the younger players, there is a chance that she could start against Germany. It will be interesting to see if Bell decides to make a bold move.
