Although the Saudi team showed better form than the South Korean team for most of the time, in the end, the Klinsmann-led "Taiji Tigers" had the last laugh with a stronger determination to win and more resolute tactical execution. While penalty shoot-outs have always been considered a clash on another level, the battle between the two managers has been decided from the moment Roberto Mancini left early. Although Roberto Mancini led Manchester City to their first Premier League title in 2011-12 and led his home country Italy to a strong title at Euro 2020 in 2021, Mancini's heart still doesn't seem to be strong enough.
Control, individual skills, the ability to create chances, the Saudi team has the advantage across the board
Although the score was 0-0 in the first half, the Saudi team was clearly superior to South Korea in terms of control, individual skill of the players, and the team's ability to create chances. If it weren't for the goal frame helping the Koreans, I'm afraid the Saudi team would have taken an early 2-0 lead, and the result of the game would have been very different. In the second half, the Saudi team took advantage of the slow heat of the South Korean team in the opening stage and made mistakes to take the lead, which was Mancini's success on the one hand, and on the other hand, the obvious technical superiority of the Saudi team over the South Korean team was also an important factor.
Score 1 goal and retreat, South Korea have the easiest way to score
After taking the lead, the Saudi team could have comfortably continued to possess the ball and continue to play counter-attacks. However, Mancini's several substitutions eventually put the team in a situation where the whole team was dead and gave up on counter-attacking. In fact, the South Korean team's attack at the last moment has no good way, except for the 45-degree angle of the cross, Klinsmann's team has no other offensive routine, but the South Korean team recognized one point, on the one hand, after the physical critical point arrives, the bounce will inevitably decline, on the other hand, the header has always been the biggest shortcoming of the Saudis. The Saudi Arabian team's stubborn strategy finally failed at the last minute of the game, and the South Korean team equalized while completely overwhelming the opponent in spirit.
In the 2011-12 Premier League season, Mancini squatted on the sidelines of Manchester City 1-2 behind Queens Park Rangers and looked frustrated, in fact, he had "surrendered" in his heart, but Aguero and Balotelli saved him, only this time, God did not give Mancini and the Saudis good luck, for the Saudi team, replacing Mancini as soon as possible, may be able to avoid encountering in the subsequent world preliminaries" The danger of capsizing in the gutter".