Right, right! The reason why left-footed Lee Kang-in is more powerful on the right

  ‘Wing’ is an important position in soccer. It is basically placed on the side, opening up opportunities. Until the 1990s, ‘classic winger’ was considered a textbook. He uses his speed and dribbling to penetrate the opponent's flank and then throws a sharp cross to help the center forward score. This is the main mission of the ‘classic winger’.

As soccer evolved, the main position, wing, also evolved. The 'classic winger' gradually decreased and the wing forward concept took root. The so-called ‘opposite footed winger’ was dominant. For the ‘classic winger’, getting a cross was the most important thing. The right wing had to use the right foot well, and the left wing had to use the left foot well. Then, the number of wings using the opposite foot based on the direction of attack gradually increased.

Known as ‘inside cutters’ and ‘wing forwards’, they have changed the flow of soccer archetypes and tactics with their fearsome offensive power. Not satisfied with posting a cross, he turned to the center and aimed to score directly with the 'opposite foot'. It seemed very awkward at first. However, as the 'opposite wing' scored more and more goals, the mood changed. Looking back, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo also grew into the best players in this trend.

Now, there are more teams deploying ‘wing forwards’ than ‘classic wingers’. A new tactic called ‘Zero Top’, which does not have a striker in the middle, was also created. As wing strikers are versatile and have excellent scoring ability, the landscape of soccer has changed significantly. It is not difficult to see that players who cover both the sides and the center simultaneously and produce attack points dominate the game.

Now, let’s talk about Lee Kang-in of French Ligue 1 Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Lee Kang-in is a multi-player who covers left, right, and center. In particular, he has recently attracted attention by showing good performance on the right side. In both PSG and the Korean national team, he received attention by shaking up the opponent's defense from the right, creating chances, and even scoring. A left-foot specialist, he performed amazingly as an ‘opposite foot wing’.

He showed off his versatility by playing in the 2023-2024 French Ligue 1 round 17 home game against FC Metz on the 21st (Korean time). He started as a left midfielder in a 3-4-3 formation. He made several sharp passes going back and forth between the left side and the center. However, PSG's attack did not finish well, and the first half ended 0-0. In the second half of the game, coach Luis Enrique gave the order to turn right. He moved from left to right and walked around the ground.

It lived up to my belief right away. In the 4th minute of the second half, he helped Vitinya score the first goal with a sharp cross. He waved his body in front of the opposing defender on the right side, breaking his center. He broke the ball with a short left-footed dribble to open space in the center, and sent a left-footed cross, leading to Vitinya's header. He created a scene like a ‘signature move’ and laid a stepping stone to the first goal. In the end, with the help of Lee Kang-in, PSG defeated Metz 3-1, including multiple goals from Kylian Mbappe.

The reason Lee Kang-in is more powerful on the right is because he shines more aggressively. The explanation becomes easier to understand if you think of the changes from the classic winger mentioned above to the current wing forward. He, who mainly uses his left foot, sits on the right side and shakes opposing defenders with dribbling and penetration, and even connects with shots to increase his offensive power. He added value as an 'opposite foot wing' like players like Arjen Robben and Lionel Messi who dominated the game by penetrating from the right to the center. Recently, his ability to use his right foot has improved and he is pursuing more diverse attack options.

He is showing good performance after moving to PSG this season. His soccer intelligence is high, allowing him to play multiple positions. His utilization is very high as he can see all areas of the midfield, both wings, and even the shadow striker. Criticism also raised its head, but he overcame it with his skills and moved towards a higher place. ‘Shooting star’ Lee Kang-in continues to evolve.

 

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