Korea Republic – England: UEFA Friendship Cup 2026 ¦ Group A ¦ Match 10
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[music] Welcome to the UFA Friendship Cup 2026. between Korea Republic and England. Football has brought all of us together. This wonderful sport is based on respect on and off the pitch. By showing respect for the teams, referee and your fellow spectators, we make football a better game for everyone. We remind you that there is no place for but only for friendship. Foreign speech. Foreign speech. Foreign speech. That's it. [music] Smooth like bus. The bus Don't be like [music] Everything. Boom. should [music] [music] words. only on the box. What does sound >> [music] >> All is And now, please welcome the teams of Korea Republic and England. Welcome along. It's the final round of group fixtures at the UEFA Friendship Cup. Group A coming to its conclusion at the KF Sports Center here in Neon this morning where this is bottom against top coming into match day three. Korea Republic with just one point on the board so far face an England team secure in first place and aiming to complete the group with maximum points after win so far against Colombia and Egypt. So the players almost ready and we have the action on the way after we've heard the national anthems. We continue. >> [music] [music] [music] [music] [applause] >> Please remain. standing for the national anthem of Korea Republic. [music] [music] >> [music] [music] [music] [music] >> So, Korea Republic and England ready to at the same time as Colombia and Egypt face each other over on pitch six. Take your pick this morning in group A, but our focus is here in the stadium arena where Asia meets Europe. Another clash of styles and cultures with which this competition, the UEFA Friendship Cup, has become synonymous. The career republic on the wrong end of some fine margins in their opening two fixtures. Both games in which they led but lost. The first on penalties against Egypt after a two- draw was secured in stoppage time and then beaten by two goals to one on Sunday last time out against Colombia. The team that England put three past in their opening game. Well, Korea Republic make eight changes from Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Colombia, reverting to the majority of the side that started their opening game against Egypt. Only Jungha one who captains the team today has started all three group matches. The others to keep their places from the weekend are Seong Menu at right back and Bay Gon on the left wing. Kim Ji Wu and Kang Muong who scored their goals against Egypt are amongst those restored to the starting lineup for this one. in Sanley of Switzerland, the local based official taking charge from Bulle regular in both the Swiss Challenger League and a couple of games this season in the Swiss Super League. Will England continue to rotate as competition rules dictate to a certain extent. 10 changes from the weekend win over Egypt with only Ipsswitch Town defender Oliver Wilkinson has to do double duty. Gabriel Samboo at the back and midfield player Sam Alari are the only two players in the England squad who hadn't previously started a game in this competition but they both do so here. The rest who come in all began the opening victory against Colombia. Michael Mills of Newcastle has scored in both of their matches so far whilst Mensa Greenwood got two on match day one. They are both back in the starting 11 as England look to make it three wins from three. But nobody can catch them. They begin today three points clear of Colombia and having already beaten the South American side. They have the edge in the head-to-head should they finish level on points. So, England know they will be facing the winners of group B with the trophy at stake on Saturday in the finals match. But of course, everybody will play one more fixture after today's group stage conclusion. As it stands right now, Korea Republic at the bottom of this group would be in the playoff for seventh and eighth overall and would take on the team that finishes bottom of the other group. that is should they stay at the foot of the standings. Win here though for them and they could catch either Colombia or Egypt depending on what happens in the other game kicking off concurrently. So that's the story so far. Let us see what the latest chapter has for us here. It will be England all in the white to get the action underway. Match day three in group A at the Friendship Cup. Here we go then. England from right to left in this first period looking to negotiate the group stage without dropping a single point. Although both of their previous contests have been close ones, just the one goal in it against both Colombia and Egypt. 3-2 and 2-1 victories so far for Will Anto's under 18 side today up against Korea Republic. effectively the same group of players that reached the quarterfinals of the under 17 Asian Cup in May in Saudi Arabia. Here is Michael Mills and goal scorer in both matches so far for England. One as a starter, the other off the bench. Heavily involved straight away, but just running out of room. the 17-year-old of Newcastle United. He signed his first professional contract there back in February and a week before this competition started was on the bench in the Premier League for Newcastle's game with whole city just prior to the international window. Here's one that has certainly enhanced his reputation already at this friendship cup. One of four Newcastle players in the 22 player England squad. They all start today. By the way, Karen Thompson and Roman Da coming back in >> and Samali starting for the first time in the competition having been brought off the bench in in the first two matches. Competition regulation state by the way that every player in the squad must get at least 90 minutes on the field over the course of the four fixtures. So rotation is not entirely optional at the friendship cup. Oliver Wilkinson on the ball there, the only one that also started for England against Egypt at the weekend. He was the only outfield player that went the distance and played the 490 in that game. He did so at left back. Wilkinson stepping into the center of defense today, his preferred position. He was a late caller actually just a couple of days before this tournament started. He has seen plenty of of game time and he sees the ball here just stepping in to deal with that one. Got the call up after Jacob Howard of leads United withdrew late through injury. Here's Little Touch for Deit as well, but it was an errant one. >> Looking to pick up the pieces is Lee. referee's pulled it back. I think for the earlier one here, he had just let it go to see if Vinwan Lee was able to make anything of that. >> Jun Ha Wong is the captain of Korea Republic. The only player as I mentioned to start all three games in the group for them. >> He's already made his first team debut for FC Soul in the Asian Champions League 2 just a couple of weeks ago. He scored against Colombia at the weekend >> put them in front in that game late in the first half, but despite the goal coming only two minutes before the halftime whistle, they still went in all square after a first half stoppage time concession and then lost the game late having been beaten on penalties by Egypt in their opener game in which they led and then equalized. this right at the end. >> Mills back trying to do his defensive duties against Lean Wu. Here is Mensy Greenwood. >> Just about kept that in play. Mu was snapping at his heels though. Little didn't have any room in which to work either. Kim Ji Wu then taking over. had support from Yang as well, but it didn't quite work as intended for Kim Hyun Jun's team who will be determined to try and get their first win on the board. at this competition and that's what it's all about at the Friendship Cup. Experience rather than the amount of minutes on the pitch being prioritized. It's why every team will be guaranteed a full four fixtures over the four match days regardless of where they end up in the group. There's no knockout element in that respect. England though will win this group and effectively contest the final >> and we already know that will be against Spain who are in the same situation in group B having won their opening two games before that section concludes later today here in Neon. >> So it will be an all European final. >> This is Lee touching it wider. had made the run. [screaming] >> Quite comfort Jung the captain was the initial target for that. Troyman Jung's effort charged down as soon as it left his boot really forces career republic back into their own territory. Kang Muong, the center back, was the scorer of the dramatic equalizing goal in stoppage time against Egypt in their opener nearly a week ago now last Thursday when this competition got underway. So all the competing countries have been based here in Switzerland for at least a week now, becoming part of the local communities where they train, tours of the local area as well. All part of the experience of the UEFA Friendship Cup as well as educational sessions laid on by UEFA. It's about developing them as people as well as players is this tournament becoming an annual event, the third year in a row in which it's been staged. The second here opposite UEFA HQ. >> So, England will try and build from the back. It will be a free kick. Experienced referee in Hussein Sanley, top flight official in Switzerland. Of course, it's a development opportunity for the officials and the coaches as well as the players. Is this tournament locally based officials taking charge? Thompson snapping at the heels there of Bet Gillon, giving him very little room in which to work. Now Sam Larby, another of the Newcastle contingent. >> He was on Newcastle's bench on four occasions at first team level last season before he even signed professionally, which he did in the summer. Now that he's turned 17, he's been featuring fairly frequently for Newcastle at under 21 level in the opening couple of months or so of the new season. Played in their recent Football League trophy victory against York City. He's had to be more patient than most for a chance to start this competition. and Tyrese Nubisi had captained England in that defensive midfield role in the first two games. He's the one that Elabi has replaced today. Oscar Sanderford, the Spurs, the right back has taken over the armband. The 16-year-old Leon just being pulled back right in front of the referee. That was always likely to be given. It's >> with a lobby that the referee wanted a word there. >> Really highly rated prospect. >> That's a good ball. >> Lee was the recipient. But he wasn't far away from reaching it, was he? Michael Mills though for England instead. Dakit to Oliver Wilkinson. A year into his career with Ipsswitch Town after a move from Barnsley. He's still only 17. He made a senior debut for Barnsley. Actually, his only appearance in senior club football so far as a 15year-old in the Football League trophy. Second youngest player in their history. Korea Republic go back to Yang in their goal of the Pohhang Steelers Club. >> He was a regular at the under 17 Asian Cup earlier in the year. He started on match day one at this competition as well against Egypt. Unable to save any of the the four penalties that he faced in the shootout though Egypt scored all four to take the extra point. Here is little. Good ball forward. Mensa Greenwood and support from Farass. Wider is Thompson. Sanderford outside of him in support. But Karen Thompson as he loves to do cuts back infield. Dit couldn't quite make that stick. But he has done well to win the ball back against Yang Siong. Now with Calvin Dia Gay, he's with Chelsea's under 21 squad this season. and he went actually on tour with the first team in preeason to Australia and Asia signed professionally with them back in April. >> A lobby, but that's cut out and striding forward with intent is H. And now Lee to bend one goal and force Roman Dal into action for the first time today. Goalkeeper right behind it to make the stop 10 minutes in. Well worked though this by Core Republic. >> Lean Woo with the sight of goal. >> Relatively comfortable for this 16year-old in that England goal. Roman Dais return to the position today. He also started their opener against Colombia. >> Here goes Yang. Now Junk >> not quite for Hansion Min. Had a bit of a a swipe at that. >> Max Little was coming under pressure. He wins the free kick. A little bit of rest spike for England. >> Certainly not had it all their own way in the opening exchanges. The group leaders have tended to start matches strongly at this competition. the Koreans without quite being able to sustain it and see the job through. >> Played well in both games though for long spells. >> Really high standard across this section. >> They have qualified for the under 17 World Cup again later this year of Career Republic. It will be their fourth in a row in that tournament. >> Here goes Mills. >> Usually spells trouble from what we've seen. Picking out little didn't really open up for him to have the shot. >> Sanderford to Kairen Thompson. >> Nby again. And he's playing that Lubishi role at the heart of midfield today. Dit falls back a pace or two. Mills to Little Neatly done trying to get away from Jungha one the Korean captain. That's that important defensive role in their midfield in protecting the back four >> as I mentioned chipping in with a goal as well against Colombia. to open the scoring on Sunday. >> Down goes Dakit. No free kick this time. They go to Jen. >> Little flick from Little. Karen Thompson, >> more recent addition to the Newcastle United ranks after a summer signing. He delivers an excellent ball and Mensa Greenwood in the middle. Didn't miss that by much. He was close to getting a touch to it. As was Thompson's intention when sending it in. Excellent delivery. >> He's playing in his preferred role. Wide on the right is Karan Thompson. Has occupied at times more central areas during his fledgling club career, but both he and his dad have gone on record recently as saying they believe his best position is wider on the right. Options here though for Republic. Kim Ji Wu covering really good ground and he still has it. And the shot when it comes is straight at Roman Dao. Not extended by that, but further evidence of the attacking intent from the Koreans. No surprise really that it was Kim Ji Wu leading the charge. Expect him to be the focal point up front, the main danger. Scored the opening goal of the game against Egypt, their first of the competition on match day one. Here he goes again. Scorer for them at the under 17 Asian Cup in May as well. in a group win against Vietnam. >> No venom behind that one. >> Roman Dow again right behind that one as he's tended to be early on. But he's certainly been the busier goalkeeper yet to see an attempt from England. Four of them at the other end and three of those have been on target even if D hasn't yet been called into significant action to stop any of them. Gabriel Samboo on the ball. His first start of this competition. Saw him briefly off the bench at the weekend for the first time at the Friendship Cup. The 16year-old from Chelsea. One of the later callups after Marley Salmon of Arsenal player with first team experience withdrew through injury. He had been initially named in Will Anre's party for this tournament. So to Jeremy Monger of Manchester City on loan at Swansea City pulled out before it started. England pressing here and taken on by Thompson. And it was dipping just not quite quickly enough. >> Rand's on the roof of the net. That one from Ka Thompson. Caught it pretty sweetly. We saw his colleague Ryan Kavuma McQueen score an excellent goal here against Egypt at the weekend from not dissimilar territory. Spectacular effort from range. Thompson not too far away from matching him. with England's first shot at goal of the game. >> Wilkinson finding Dakit. Quickly closed down by Seion who comes away with it. Finds Leon Wu another of the Suan Blue Wings player. There are a number of them in this squad. The club mates >> representing their under 18 side at club level. >> Many Pohhang Steelers with more representatives in this site. >> It's a good switch of play. Here is Lee once more. Seeing plenty of it. Deflection on the cross though. Wilkinson underneath there. Chung was there quickly. Dit has to guide it back to Dao. >> England defense. They have conceded in both games. >> Three goals across the two matches. >> They've scored five up the other end. Mills here has got two of them. So two is Mensa Greenwood. We're back to goal on that occasion. Now a lobby for Little Max Little back in red to shut the door as Tom Korea Republic win the free kick. >> Chance to relieve the pressure. did take a penalty shootout to put Korea Republic out of the under 17 Asian Cup back in the the middle of May when they lost to Beckistan in a shootout after a two- draw. They come through their group stage unbeaten at that competition. Held in Saudi Arabia. Never gone further than the the quarterfinals of the under 17 World Cup. most recently in the last eight in 2019. They were eliminated by England in the round of 32 late last year in November in Kata. >> None of this England under 18 team though were actually part of Neil Ryan's squad that day. >> Rican Hesky got the goal that settled it for England on that occasion. Jungho one. >> Now Yang Siang Dit got back to him, got in front of him and wins the free kick as a result. He was just clipped there from behind was the Chelsea player. >> He's had a good tournament so far. Calvin Deit >> certainly not the only one where this England squad is concerned. A fair few enhancing their reputations as well as broadening their horizons on and off the field. >> There goes Mills. >> Said that before already, haven't we? Sambu who's also represented Poland at under 17 level qualifies through his mom. Bit too much on that for Mensa Greenwood. Mills trying to get there. >> Still work for the Koreans to do here and that's been taken away from Yang by Dakit. Lari just losing out. Credit there to Lean Woo. >> He started the game strongly. >> He only started once actually at the under 17 Asian Cup in May in the group stage win against Vietnam. But seven appearances already in the K League under 18 championship this season in his second campaign with Suan Blue Wings under 18s. Already got a goal to his name five times by the under 17 side at international level. >> Thompson taking a tumble. didn't get what he was looking for from the referee there. He's given the goal kick is Hussein Stanley, >> official of dual Turkish citizenship as as well as Swiss. >> That's almost fitting really at this friendship cup, isn't it? all about fostering links between countries and continents and federations. It's a big part of the plan for the UEFA Friendship Cup when it was introduced a couple of years ago. Part of the UEFA Together development, sharing the experiences and knowledge of UEFA and its member associations with FIFA's five other confederations to contribute to the global development of the game. There's Max Little for England providing the cross. A midway point of this first half. A >> reminder, should you need one, if the game were to end all square, it would go straight to penalties with an extra point at stake. >> Could still be important for Korea Republic as they are to avoid bottom spot in the group. England having already sewn up top spot. There is Sanderford. It's on Saturday, the 3rd of October, the final round of playoff fixtures. Every team involved for one last game. Mills space to search into here. went for power with the finish. >> Not quite the accuracy though and we know that Michael Mills is capable having scored in each of England's opening two games got their first goal of the tournament actually to put them in front against Colombia and then the winner against Egypt at the weekend having come off the bench only four minutes actua