Taegeuk Warrior / 태극전사
@taegeukwarrior.bsky.social
Founder of the Tavern of the Taeguk Warriors⚽️ blog, written for New York Times, Soccer Journal and Frederick News-Post
The quality of Lee Kang-in’s cross is exquisite, the velocity and flight of the diagonal ball that floats just overhead of Ghana’s defense and into the trajectory of Lee Tae-seok at the far post…it’s breathtaking. It’s also the sole game winning goal. 🇰🇷⚽️🔥Video credit: theKFA
November 18, 2025 at 2:06 PM
The quality of Lee Kang-in’s cross is exquisite, the velocity and flight of the diagonal ball that floats just overhead of Ghana’s defense and into the trajectory of Lee Tae-seok at the far post…it’s breathtaking. It’s also the sole game winning goal. 🇰🇷⚽️🔥Video credit: theKFA
Excellent result for U17 men’s 🇰🇷⚽️Korean team, 2 wins and draw mean they are runners up in their group and advance to the round of 32 in U17 World Cup
November 10, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Excellent result for U17 men’s 🇰🇷⚽️Korean team, 2 wins and draw mean they are runners up in their group and advance to the round of 32 in U17 World Cup
Kim Min-jae started and played 68 minutes for Bayern Munich v Hoffenheim before an injury forced a substitution. Not sure how serious the injury is
September 20, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Kim Min-jae started and played 68 minutes for Bayern Munich v Hoffenheim before an injury forced a substitution. Not sure how serious the injury is
The last Korea attack vs US almost made a bit of history - following a US corner, Lee Kang-in started a counter, nearly threads a pass to Jens Castrop -the furthest & fastest charging up the field. So close for Jens, not only 1st cap, but what might have been as he was clear on goal.
September 11, 2025 at 9:21 PM
The last Korea attack vs US almost made a bit of history - following a US corner, Lee Kang-in started a counter, nearly threads a pass to Jens Castrop -the furthest & fastest charging up the field. So close for Jens, not only 1st cap, but what might have been as he was clear on goal.
Another moving part to shutout: Jo Hyun-woo. The savior of 🇰🇷 vs Germany in 2018 World Cup, his shotstopping including a double save on Balogun saved the backline blushes who were ball watching a bit too much on this particular occasion.
September 11, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Another moving part to shutout: Jo Hyun-woo. The savior of 🇰🇷 vs Germany in 2018 World Cup, his shotstopping including a double save on Balogun saved the backline blushes who were ball watching a bit too much on this particular occasion.
Several moving parts to Korea's shut out win over the US last Saturday, one of them is Bayern Munich's Kim Min-jae. In this sequence later in the game, Captain Kim (Son left/deputized Kim) helped mark Balogun, then read the situation to shut down Pulisic, and finally helped provide defensive cover.
September 11, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Several moving parts to Korea's shut out win over the US last Saturday, one of them is Bayern Munich's Kim Min-jae. In this sequence later in the game, Captain Kim (Son left/deputized Kim) helped mark Balogun, then read the situation to shut down Pulisic, and finally helped provide defensive cover.
Jens Castrop earned his 1st cap for Korea after much anticipation following FIFA approval to switch nationality last month. He subbed in the US match, in 30 mins he put on an impressive display of quickness & def contributions in the midfield. The 1st biracial Korean born outside Korea to rep 🇰🇷
September 11, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Jens Castrop earned his 1st cap for Korea after much anticipation following FIFA approval to switch nationality last month. He subbed in the US match, in 30 mins he put on an impressive display of quickness & def contributions in the midfield. The 1st biracial Korean born outside Korea to rep 🇰🇷
Risk/reward playing out the back in 2nd half vs US. An example perhaps of dubious judgement by GK Jo Hyun-woo to pass dangerously in the middle- yet Korea dealt with with the pressure, skillful (and courageous enough) to pass out of trouble, which opened up space to launch a promising attack
September 11, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Risk/reward playing out the back in 2nd half vs US. An example perhaps of dubious judgement by GK Jo Hyun-woo to pass dangerously in the middle- yet Korea dealt with with the pressure, skillful (and courageous enough) to pass out of trouble, which opened up space to launch a promising attack
Hot take: 2 things true at the same time, like 1. Son in slow decline (exhibit A Son's pass easily read to block, like watching Son with Spurs in '24-'25 season)
2. Son still super effective and impactful for Korea as seen in int'l Sept window (exhibit B & C Son's run behind into valuable space)
2. Son still super effective and impactful for Korea as seen in int'l Sept window (exhibit B & C Son's run behind into valuable space)
September 11, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Hot take: 2 things true at the same time, like 1. Son in slow decline (exhibit A Son's pass easily read to block, like watching Son with Spurs in '24-'25 season)
2. Son still super effective and impactful for Korea as seen in int'l Sept window (exhibit B & C Son's run behind into valuable space)
2. Son still super effective and impactful for Korea as seen in int'l Sept window (exhibit B & C Son's run behind into valuable space)
Revisiting game vs US, Seol Young-woo press resistance not only keeps the ball, this sequence before HT illustrated the new look incisive🇰🇷⚽️ that not only was attacking, they did it with Barcelona-esque swagger to link intelligently (ironically Son would be the one to “drop the ball” so to speak)
September 10, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Revisiting game vs US, Seol Young-woo press resistance not only keeps the ball, this sequence before HT illustrated the new look incisive🇰🇷⚽️ that not only was attacking, they did it with Barcelona-esque swagger to link intelligently (ironically Son would be the one to “drop the ball” so to speak)
Whoa, now this is an interesting XI! Jens Castrop’s first start for the KNT! 🔥 Lee Kang-in, Bae Jun-ho, Oh Hyeon-gyu on the attacking line🔥Though there is some kryptonite with Park Yong-woo in the mid, but otherwise to see Hong Myung-bo tinkering shows he has some capital built from the win vs US
September 10, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Whoa, now this is an interesting XI! Jens Castrop’s first start for the KNT! 🔥 Lee Kang-in, Bae Jun-ho, Oh Hyeon-gyu on the attacking line🔥Though there is some kryptonite with Park Yong-woo in the mid, but otherwise to see Hong Myung-bo tinkering shows he has some capital built from the win vs US
Lee Dong-gyeong starts the progression leading to his goal, passes centrally➡️Kim Jin-gyu then drifts towards goal. Couple moving parts as Kim launches it long, knocked down by Lee Jae-sung, and Kim quietly moves further up. Meanwhile the ball goes from Son➡️LTS➡️PSH➡️back to Kim Jin-gyu…
September 9, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Lee Dong-gyeong starts the progression leading to his goal, passes centrally➡️Kim Jin-gyu then drifts towards goal. Couple moving parts as Kim launches it long, knocked down by Lee Jae-sung, and Kim quietly moves further up. Meanwhile the ball goes from Son➡️LTS➡️PSH➡️back to Kim Jin-gyu…
Observations from minutes before 2nd goal. Clip1: When Jo can distribute the well, good things happen, including seeing Son play hybrid 10, get ball in pocket of space, & run forward. Clip2: Lee Dong-gyeong with the Def Con (FPL slang). Clip3: Lee Tae-seok having trouble with Dest =trouble for 🇰🇷
September 9, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Observations from minutes before 2nd goal. Clip1: When Jo can distribute the well, good things happen, including seeing Son play hybrid 10, get ball in pocket of space, & run forward. Clip2: Lee Dong-gyeong with the Def Con (FPL slang). Clip3: Lee Tae-seok having trouble with Dest =trouble for 🇰🇷
Before Lee Dong-gyeong’s goal, Korea kept winning ball back and causing problems for US. 1st clip, THAT Lee Han-beom pass🔥and LDG picking ball up to keep attack alive. Middle clip shows LDG driving the ball dangerously but didn’t pick the right option to slip the ball to Son. 3rd clip: long ball ✅
September 9, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Before Lee Dong-gyeong’s goal, Korea kept winning ball back and causing problems for US. 1st clip, THAT Lee Han-beom pass🔥and LDG picking ball up to keep attack alive. Middle clip shows LDG driving the ball dangerously but didn’t pick the right option to slip the ball to Son. 3rd clip: long ball ✅
Korean attacks varied. Route 1 long pass by Lee Han-beom or-in this case-Jo Hyun-woo-Lee Jae-sung knocked down to Son, he teed off to underlapping run by Lee Tae-seok. Route 2 go thru US centrally. Kim Min-jae➡️Kim Jin-gyu➡️Paik Seung-ho ➡️Lee Dong-gyeong ➡️shot on target
September 9, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Korean attacks varied. Route 1 long pass by Lee Han-beom or-in this case-Jo Hyun-woo-Lee Jae-sung knocked down to Son, he teed off to underlapping run by Lee Tae-seok. Route 2 go thru US centrally. Kim Min-jae➡️Kim Jin-gyu➡️Paik Seung-ho ➡️Lee Dong-gyeong ➡️shot on target
🇰🇷dictated tempo 1st half, absorbing pressure w/ 3back system (5 back in def phase/compact middle)+Son tracking back (he won it there 3X). Strategic moments to advance press gave US little time & space. Middle clip shows Lee Han-beom pinging it long to Son or Lee Jae-Sung (repeated that effectively)
September 9, 2025 at 8:55 PM
🇰🇷dictated tempo 1st half, absorbing pressure w/ 3back system (5 back in def phase/compact middle)+Son tracking back (he won it there 3X). Strategic moments to advance press gave US little time & space. Middle clip shows Lee Han-beom pinging it long to Son or Lee Jae-Sung (repeated that effectively)
First couple of minutes won’t be very flattering of Son, squandering golden chance to score in 3rd min (replay showed he was onsides) credit to Lee Jae-sung for winning ball & remarkable off balance pass. Shortly after, Son took several touches too many. Learning curve was fairly quick in this game
September 9, 2025 at 8:33 PM
First couple of minutes won’t be very flattering of Son, squandering golden chance to score in 3rd min (replay showed he was onsides) credit to Lee Jae-sung for winning ball & remarkable off balance pass. Shortly after, Son took several touches too many. Learning curve was fairly quick in this game
Thread deconstructing how🇰🇷beat🇺🇸. (Posts out of order)Son’s goal from open play exactly 50 seconds after US attack fizzled. Playing out back, risky but rewarding as they advance smartly to US’s half. Lee Jae-sung key here, starting centrally then drifting wide, his through ball to Son brilliant ⚽️🔥
September 9, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Thread deconstructing how🇰🇷beat🇺🇸. (Posts out of order)Son’s goal from open play exactly 50 seconds after US attack fizzled. Playing out back, risky but rewarding as they advance smartly to US’s half. Lee Jae-sung key here, starting centrally then drifting wide, his through ball to Son brilliant ⚽️🔥
Jens Castrop just made history: 1st biracial Korean to represent the Korean national men’s team today in a 0:2 win vs United States. Video credit to Jinseok Yang w/ Tavern of the Taeguk Warriors
September 7, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Jens Castrop just made history: 1st biracial Korean to represent the Korean national men’s team today in a 0:2 win vs United States. Video credit to Jinseok Yang w/ Tavern of the Taeguk Warriors
Jinseok is there at the game, says it’s 90% Korean supporters in attendance, kind of making it a quasi Korea home game. Here’s some of his pics there
September 6, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Jinseok is there at the game, says it’s 90% Korean supporters in attendance, kind of making it a quasi Korea home game. Here’s some of his pics there
Interesting XI🇰🇷with Son leading the line and Lee Kang-in not starting but on the bench nursing a minor injury. Hong usually picks Park Yong-woo but opts for Paik Seung-ho. Jen Catrop on the bench -history in making if he plays-1st biracial Korean to get on the pitch for KMNT. Kickoff 5pm US EST
September 6, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Interesting XI🇰🇷with Son leading the line and Lee Kang-in not starting but on the bench nursing a minor injury. Hong usually picks Park Yong-woo but opts for Paik Seung-ho. Jen Catrop on the bench -history in making if he plays-1st biracial Korean to get on the pitch for KMNT. Kickoff 5pm US EST
Ulsan 0:0 Jeonbuk -game in progress in 53rd minute- great atmosphere, not sure but it looks like a full stadium 🏟️ I’m watching live on US east coast via KLeagueTV. ☕️ x ⚽️
August 30, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Ulsan 0:0 Jeonbuk -game in progress in 53rd minute- great atmosphere, not sure but it looks like a full stadium 🏟️ I’m watching live on US east coast via KLeagueTV. ☕️ x ⚽️
Might be the last time Son plays for Spurs. Tottenham v Newcastle preseason friendly in Seoul kicks off in less than 20 mins. In the US, CBS Sports will air this live, Spursplay for other parts of the globe.
August 3, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Might be the last time Son plays for Spurs. Tottenham v Newcastle preseason friendly in Seoul kicks off in less than 20 mins. In the US, CBS Sports will air this live, Spursplay for other parts of the globe.
And DCU loses 0:3
August 3, 2025 at 1:01 AM
And DCU loses 0:3
As per @neatpaul.bsky.social : “Barcelona's friendlies with FC Seoul and Daegu FC will be streamed for free on the club's official YouTube. This comes after there were problems with the Vissel Kobe match stream.”
July 30, 2025 at 12:50 PM
As per @neatpaul.bsky.social : “Barcelona's friendlies with FC Seoul and Daegu FC will be streamed for free on the club's official YouTube. This comes after there were problems with the Vissel Kobe match stream.”