“I tried to stop it, but I don’t think I was prepared.”

‘Red Captain’ Bruce Mwafe, the coach of the Zambia women’s national soccer team, stuck out his tongue. He confessed that he was beaten despite knowing the strength of Korea’s tall striker Park Eun-seon (37, Seoul City Hall). 

The women’s national soccer team, led by coach Colin Bell, recorded 10 points and 2 goals in 2 consecutive matches against Zambia, winning 2 consecutive victories. They scored 5 goals in each game, and Park Eun-sun was at the center of it. Park Eun-sun, who was called by Bell, proved her worth beyond being a ‘Joker’. Initially, coach Bell had Park Eun-sun in mind as a replacement card for the second half, but suggested that it was possible to start as well depending on the opponent. 

Park Eun-sun was substituted in the second half of the first match against Zambia on the 7th and split the net. It was the first A-match goal in nine years. After warming up, Park Eun-seon started as a forward striker in the second match held on the 11th스포츠토토. True to his nickname of ‘Park Ratan (Park Eun-sun + Zlatan Ibrahimovic)’, he overwhelmed Zambia with his superior physical condition. 

Standing tall at 1m81cm and weighing 79kg, he repeatedly gained the upper hand in air battles with opponents. He helped Geum-Min Lee (Brighton) score with his head, and in the corner kick situation at the end of the game, he showed off a ‘one shot’ with a header with a high RBI. 

He also proved that he wasn’t just a ‘header’ when the game was pushed. When Park Eun-sun scored her first goal in the 35th minute of the first half, she completely destroyed the defensive line with a momentary line-breaking, and calmly beat the goalkeeper to open the goal. It showed off its utility in various situations, not just its height. 

After two consecutive matches with Zambia, coach Bell said, “In June of last year, I took Park Eun-sun for the first time in the evaluation game in Canada. At that time, he said to Park Eun-seon, ‘All I want from you is 15 or 20 minutes’. Afterwards, he praised Park Eun-sun, saying, “I want to take her to the World Cup after cherishing her like a flower in a greenhouse.” 

Park Eun-sun has not been able to wear the Taegeuk mark since the 2015 FIFA World Cup in Canada. He was drafted by Belho last year and played an A match for the first time in 7 years. Until then, Park Eun-sun took on the role of being responsible for about 15 minutes at the end of the game. However, he gradually melted into Belho, and even at the age of 37, he raised his skills and established his place. From Coach Bell’s point of view, three months before the World Cup, the offensive options that can be used as a ‘starter’ have increased. 

Park Eun-seon, who always cited the ‘high-intensity training’ emphasized by coach Bell, as a factor for development, said, “I have a desire to go to the World Cup and score a goal, but I regret not being able to do that every time.” I will prepare hard to score.”

For 37-year-old Park Eun-sun, the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand is the ‘last dance’. Park Eun-sun had previously competed in the 2003 U.S. Championships, but since he was 17 at the time, his skills were not ripe. In the 2015 Canada Tournament, where Korea advanced to the round of 16, he could not play a big role due to an injury. This is the reason why he solidifies his will ahead of this World Cup.