South Korea vs. Romania, Tokyo Olympics

The 1-0 loss to New Zealand will have been tough to take but the young Taeguk Warriors have little else to do other than look ahead to Romania this Sunday night in group match two.

Nine out of the 11 who started the New Zealand match were K League-based players, four more came off the bench to add some attacking impetus including Lee Dong-jun, Lee Dong-gyeong and Song Min-kyu. The attacking trio will be hoping they did enough to earn themselves a spot in Kim Hak-bum's starting lineup. Park Ji-soo came on as a late sub for Kang Yoon-seong after joining the team late, while Jeong Seung-won replaced Kim Dong-hyun on 78 minutes. 

Speaking to the press after the match, Coach Kim said:

"First of all, it was a disappointing performance. There were a lot of expectations placed on the team and so I'm sorry. We have two more games left, and we'll prepare well for them and do our best to reach the last eight.

"I said to the players in the dressing room beforehand that we should announce to all that this is the start of history, a new beginning and we are changing the course of Korean football history. But because this was the first game, I think we put a bit too much energy into it. I think things work out better in the remaining matches."

Sunday's opponents Romania began their Olympic campaign with a 1-0 win over Honduras, a corner from the left was nodded into his own goal by Elvin Oliva in front of the goalkeeper. Romania are now unbeaten in their last four. Sixteen of Romania's 22-man squad ply their trade in their domestic league, while there likes of defensive duo Andrei Rațiu and Alex Pașcanu play in Spain with Villareal and Ponferradina respectively, and Marius Marin is in Pisa in Italy. Tudor Băluță is on the books with English Premier League side Bright & Hove Albion.

[READ: K League in Tokyo 2020: Kang Yoon-seong Q&A]

Costa Rica vs. Canada

Doneil Henry and Canada reached the knockout stages of the Concacaf Gold Cup and on Monday will take on Costa Rica. Heading into the clash, Canada have lost just once in their last nine with eight victories. The most recent meeting with Costa Rica came back in 2017 when the two sides played out a 1-1 draw in the Gold Cup group stage. The last win over Costa Rica dates back to 2007 in the Gold Cup and is one of just three wins over the Central American nation since 1957. From 18 meetings, Canada have three victories, six losses and 10 draws.

This Monday, though, Canada will be looking to make more progress than the team did in 2019 after crashing out to Haiti in the quarter finals, the current stage they have arrived at in this year's competition. Canada also reached the quarters in 2017 and even won the competition in the year 2000 and in 1985. Since 2000, Canada have come third (2002) and the semis in 2007. Suwon Bluewings defender Doneil Henry will be hoping to make his 37th cap come Monday and a ninth Concacaf Gold Cup appearance. Costa Rica versus Canada kicks off at 8 AM KST on Monday 26th July art AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas, USA.

Paul Neat
Managing Editor
Twitter: @NeatPaul