If Korea and Japan compete for the best 11, who will win?
Korea and Japan are so typical rivals that they are called the Korea-Japan match, but the Korea-Japan match is a match with the pride of the two countries, and the atmosphere in the country varies depending on the outcome of the match.
Based on the adult national team, South Korea is leading the Korea-Japan match with 26 wins, 16 draws and 16 losses, but South Korea is trailing with 3 wins, 2 draws and 5 losses in the last 10 games, which is due to the recent rise in Japanese soccer and the majority of players entering Europe.
However, as Japan and South Korea have not yet done their best in recent years, many fans are looking forward to this game. With the Qatar Asian Cup less than a year away, we looked at the top lineups of both teams to see which teams have the upper hand in each position, and compared them based on their 2022/23 season records and 2021/22 season records.
# Goalkeeper (draw)
Korea: Jo Hyeon-woo – After joining Ulsan Hyundai, Cho Hyeon-woo has been active as the starting goalkeeper until now. Last season, Jo Hyun-woo contributed to Ulsan’s league championship by recording 33 goals in 36 matches in the K-League 1. He had 10 scoreless games. In recognition of this performance, he was named in the Hana One Q K League 1 2022 Best 11.
Japan: Kosuke Nakamura – Portimonense’s first-choice goalkeeper in the Portuguese league, started 30 games in 2022/23 and kept six clean sheets. He led the team with an xG runs (expected runs) of 54.10, but fewer than that, while allowing 46 runs. He also led the Portuguese league in saves per 90 minutes last season.
Cho Hyun-woo conceded few goals, but Ulsan is the top team in the K-League and Portimonense is a relegation zone team, so it was considered a draw with some consideration.
# Left/Right fullback (Japanese advantage)
Korea: Kim Jin-soo – He is currently a member of Jeonbuk Hyundai in the K-League 1. Last season, Kim Jin-soo recorded 2 goals and 3 assists in 31 matches in the league. The cross success rate was 36% based on the K League 1 regular season, and the tackle success rate was 47%. According to the football statistics site ‘FotMob’, the rating was 7.11 points.
Kim Moon-hwan – He currently belongs to Al Duhail in Qatar. He scored 1 goal and 3 assists in 28 matches in the K League 1 last season. The cross success rate was 33% in the regular season, excluding the K League 1 final round, and the tackle success rate was 59%. The rating given by ‘FotMob’ was 6.95.
Japan: Takehiro Tomiyasu – Plays for Arsenal in the Premier League and plays right-back at Arsenal. He came out as a starter in the 2021/22 season and started 20 games. He had a 42% cross completion rate and 49% tackle completion rate. He had a total of 0 goals and 1 assist for a 7.04 overall rating.
Sugawara Yukinari – He plays for AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch league and plays as right fullback for his team. In the 2022/23 season, he played as a starting pitcher in 26 matches, showing a 27% cross success rate and 61% tackle success rate. He recorded a total of 3 goals and 8 assists for a 7.29 overall rating.
Since Kim Jin-soo and Kim Moon-hwan played in the K-League and did not win the championship, it was decided that the Japanese fullback, who performed well in the Netherlands and England, should win.
# Center back (draw)
Korea: Kim Young-gwon – belongs to Ulsan in the K-League 1. Last season, he appeared in 36 league games and became a key player in Ulsan’s K-League 1 championship. His tackle success rate was 71% and the number of kicks was 71. Kim Young-kwon was named in the best 11 in the Hana One Q K League 1 2022 defender category. ‘FotMob’ gave him a rating of 7.10.
Kim Min-jae – Currently, he is the core of the defense of the Korean national team. This summer he moved from SSC Napoli to Bayern Munich for €50 million. Last season, Kim Min-jae scored 2 goals and 2 assists in 35 games. According to ‘FotMob’, his tackle success rate was 55% and the number of kicks was 122. As SSC Napoli won the Serie A title, Kim Min-jae won the league’s best defender award.
Japan: Itakurako – German Bundesliga belongs to Borussia Mönchengladbach and is coming out as a center back in his team. In the 2022/23 season he played as a starter in 22 starts, recording a 59% tackle success rate, 92 kicks and 27 interceptions. He had a total of 0 goals and 2 assists for a 6.96 overall rating.
Hiroki Ito – He belongs to VFB Stuttgart in the German Bundesliga and plays as a center back in his team. He played as a starter in 2022/23 season, starting in 29 games, recording a 73% tackle success rate, 84 kicks and 40 interceptions. He recorded a total of 1 goal and 1 assist for a 7.13 overall rating.
Since Kim Min-jae is the best defender in Asia and Kim Young-kwon also won the championship with a key factor in the previous season, it was considered a draw with Japan, a duo of center backs in the Bundesliga.
# Midfielder (Japan’s advantage)
Korea: Lee Kang-in – A midfielder who is regarded as the future of the Korean national team. He left Mallorca this summer to join Paris Saint-Germain. Lee Kang-in recorded 6 goals and 6 assists in 36 matches in La Liga last season. The pass success rate was 80% and the dribble success rate was 73%. The rating given by ‘FotMob’ was 7.19.
Hwang In-beom – Hwang In-beom, who was trusted by former coach Paulo Bento, is being selected for the national team under the Jurgen Klinsmann system. A member of Greek Olympiacos, he recorded 3 goals and 4 assists in 32 matches in the Greek Super League. The pass success rate was 88% and the dribble success rate was 73%. The rating of ‘FotMob’ was 7.63 points.
Lee Jae-seong – After playing for Jeonbuk Hyundai and Holstein Kiel, he currently belongs to Mainz 05. He scored 7 goals and 4 assists in 34 matches in the Bundesliga last season. The pass success rate was 74% and the dribble success rate was 81%. ‘FotMob’ gave Lee Jae-seong a rating of 7.06.
Japan: Hidemasa Morita – belongs to Sporting Lisbon in the Portuguese League and is coming out as a central midfielder in his team. In the 2022/23 season, he played as a starting player, starting in 21 matches, recording 87% pass success rate and 45% dribble success rate. He recorded a total of 6 goals and 3 assists for a 7.32 overall rating.
Endo Wataru – He belongs to VFB Stuttgart in the German Bundesliga, and he plays as a central and defensive midfielder in his team. He is a starter and captain, starting 33 games in the 2022/23 season. He had an 80% pass success rate and a 58% dribble success rate. He recorded a total of 5 goals and 4 assists for a 7.36 overall rating.
Daichi Kamada – He belongs to Lazio in Serie A, Italy, and can play as an attacking midfielder, central midfielder, and center forward in his team. In the 2022/23 season, he played as a starting pitcher in 25 matches, recording a pass success rate of 83% and a dribble success rate of 44%. He recorded a total of 9 goals and 6 assists for a 7.21 ERA.
As for the midfield, both teams have good members comparable to the top teams in Europe. However, Japan is a bit ahead because their midfield is more structured and has good stats from higher teams.
# Striker (Korea Dominance)
Korea: Son Heung-min – The symbol of Korean football and the ace of the national team. He is also the main gun for his team, Tottenham Hotspur. Last season, it was disappointing in the EPL with 10 goals and 6 assists in 36 games, but in the 2021/22 season, with 23 goals in 35 games, he became the first Asian to become the EPL scorer. Son Heung-min has scored double digits in the EPL for 7 consecutive seasons since the 2016/17 season.
Hwang Hee-chan – Currently playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers. In the 2022/23 season, he scored 3 goals and 1 assist in 27 league matches. The shooting accuracy was 39%, the dribble success rate was 50%, and the cross success rate was 20%. The rating of ‘FotMob’ was 6.45 points.
Cho Kyu-seong – Joined Mittjylland in the Danish Super League this summer. Having played for Jeonbuk with Sangmu Kim Cheon last season, he won the K-League 1 top scorer with 17 goals and 5 assists in 31 K-League 1 matches. Thanks to this, he was included in the best 11 in the K League 1 striker category. Currently, Kyu-Sung Cho has set a new club record by scoring goals in three consecutive matches since the opening of the Danish league.
Japan: Kaoru Mitoma – He plays for Brighton in the English Premier League and plays as a left winger for his team. In the 2022/23 season, he played as a starting player in 24 matches, showing 50% effective shooting, 52% dribble success rate, and 7% cross success rate. He totaled 7 goals and 5 assists for a 7.32 ERA.
Takefusa Kubo – belongs to Real Sociedad in Spanish La Liga, and plays as a right winger and right midfielder in his team. In the 2022/23 season, he played as a starting player in 29 games, showing 53% effective shooting, 49% dribbling success, and 25% cross success rate. He recorded a total of 9 goals and 4 assists for a 7.14 ERA.
Daizen Maeda – belongs to Celtic in the Scottish League and plays as a left winger for his team. In the 2022/23 season, he played as a starting player in 23 matches, showing 47% effective shooting, 42% dribble success, and 15% cross success rate. He totaled 8 goals and 5 assists for a 7.14 ERA.
Both teams have offensive power comparable to the top European teams, but Son Heung-min has overwhelming stats, and Cho Kyu-seong was also the top scorer in the 2022 season. Since Japan is always evaluated as lacking in decisiveness, Korea is ahead.
# So,
when looking at each position, Korea is inferior with 1 win, 2 draws and 2 losses. Considering the overall stats and the difference in level in the league, Japan showed strength in the defense and midfield. On the other hand, Korea has a strong offensive team with Son Heung-min and Cho Kyu-seong holding out. If you look at the overall analysis, Korea has fewer players playing in Europe than Japan. This part is especially noticeable in defense. In Japan, all players play in Europe, but in Korea, there are three K-League players.
Both countries have enough golden generations to advance to the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In Korea, there are many players who perform well at the top of Europe, such as Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, and Kim Min-jae. On the other hand, Japan maintains a good balance, with all players playing key roles in the top European leagues. Korea, where Son Heung-min participated, and Japan, where the legendary first team participated, have not yet faced each other. Looking forward to next year’s Asian Cup final match between Korea and Japan.
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