Korea Republic women’s national team have warmed up for the Women’s World Cup with a series of friendlies at the Arnold Clark Cup.

Colin Bell’s side lost 2-1 against Italy in their third and final match of the four-nation competition that took place at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol, United Kingdom on Wednesday. Arianna Caruso opened the scoring for Italy after six minutes, before the Taegeuk Nangja restored parity through Ji Soyun on 69 minutes. However, substitute Martina Rosucci scored a last-gasp winner to inflict a third defeat on the Koreans following the reverses against England (0-4) and Belgium (1-2) last week.

The Arnold Clark Cup is an international friendly tournament hosted by the Football Association of England. In the second edition of the competition this year, hosts England, Belgium, Italy and Korea Republic took part in.

Bell has experimented various tactics and combinations in this tournament, deploying back three against England before switching to back four against Belgium and Italy. Kim Yunji, Jang Chang and Park Yeeun stepped up to fill the gap left by some of the key players such as Cho Sohyun, Lee Youngju and Lee Mina. Versatile fullback Jang Selgi also operated as a winger during the tournament.

The tournament might as well be regarded as a sort of vaccination before the World Cup finals, as the players had a taste of what to expect against European sides in terms of physique whilst realising the importance of recovery in such a short period of time between the games. It is fair to say that they were not fully fit for competitive games during the wintertime, whereas their opponents had already been in the middle of the season.

Arnold Clark Cup 2023

Matchday 3

Korea Republic 1-2 Italy

Scorers: Arianna Caruso 6’, Martina Rosucci 90’+5; Ji Soyun 69’

KOR: Kim Jungmi, Jang Selgi, Lim Seonjoo, Kim Hyeri, Choo Hyojoo, Choe Yuri (Park Eunsun 90’+3), Kim Yunji, Lee Geummin, Ji Soyun, Son Hwayeon, Kang Chaerim (Shim Seoyeon 46’)

Matchday 2

Korea Republic 1-2 Belgium

Scorers: Lee Geummin 10’; Tessa Wullaert 45’+1, Tine de Caigny 68’

KOR: Kim Jungmi, Shim Seoyeon, Lim Seonjoo, Kim Hyeri, Choo Hyojoo, Ji Soyun, Jang Selgi, Jang Chang (Kang Chaerim 46’), Lee Geummin, Choe Yuri, Son Hwayeon (Park Eunsun 84’)

Matchday 1

Korea Republic 0-4 England

Scorers: Georgia Stanway 40’, Chloe Kelly 46’, Alessia Russo 50’, Lauren James 78’

KOR: Kim Jungmi, Lim Seonjoo, Hong Hyeji (Chun Garam 86’), Kim Hyeri, Choo Hyojoo, Kim Yunji (Park Yeeun 56’), Lee Geummin, Jang Selgi, Choe Yuri, Son Hwayeon (Jang Youbeen 86’), Kang Chaerim (Shim Seoyeon 57’)