Will he return like a hero to the national team?

On the 6th (Korean time), Feyenoord faced Inter Milan in the first leg of the round of 16 of the 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League at the Feyenoord Stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands, but suffered a 0-2 defeat, clouding their hopes of advancing to the quarterfinals.

Feyenoord showed aggressive movements from the start, but could not break through Inter Milan's strong defense. Rather, in the 38th minute of the first half, Barella, who received a pass from Dumfries, delivered a cross which Turan calmly finished in front of the goal, marking the first goal for Inter Milan.

In the 5th minute of the second half, Inter Milan scored an additional goal, gaining the upper hand. Zielinski, who received a pass from Bastoni, attempted a shot, and while Feyenoord goalkeeper Belenroiter saved it, Lautaro did not miss the ball that flowed and pushed it in to make it 0-2.

Feyenoord attempted a counterattack in the 10th minute of the second half when Moder hit the crossbar, but ultimately failed to score.

The most disappointing aspect of the match was that Feyenoord's midfield struggled. This is not unrelated to the fact that key player Hwang In-beom has yet to return from injury. Hwang In-beom has not returned to the field since being injured in a match against Sparta Rotterdam on Feb. 8.

Hwang In-beom quickly established himself as a core player at Feyenoord this season. He possesses game management skills, ball distribution, and defensive support ability, playing a central role in Feyenoord's midfield. However, due to his absence, the team struggled to effectively deal with Inter Milan's strong pressing in this match and faced difficulties in consolidation between offense and defense.

Hwang In-beom, who has not played since his injury, noted in a recent interview, "It's very disappointing to be unable to participate in important matches due to injury. It's even more regrettable not to be with the team during a difficult situation." Hwang In-beom, who has been consistently participating to the extent of being called 'the steel king' while juggling between his club and the national team, feels a greater sense of regret over this injury.

Feyenoord showed potential by putting up a competitive fight in the group stage against Manchester City this season. They also created miracles in tough situations in the round of 16 playoff against AC Milan. However, such miracles did not happen in the first leg against Inter Milan.

In particular, the situation is difficult for managing the squad due to injuries among key players. In addition to Hwang In-beom, Ramiz Cherouki, Quinten Timber, Facundo Gonzales, and Calvin Stengs are currently sidelined due to injuries. Although Japanese forward Ueda Ayase was brought in during the second half, it was insufficient to change the flow of the match.

Feyenoord will face Inter Milan in the second leg of the round of 16 on the 12th at Inter Milan's home stadium, San Siro. After suffering a two-goal defeat at home, they face the challenging task of needing to secure a win away. However, without the return of key players, it may be difficult to expect a turnaround.

Inter Milan's manager Simone Inzaghi expressed in a post-match interview, "I am glad we won even after rotating the squad. This is meaningful as we are still competing with various teams." He added, "The management of the players is entirely my responsibility. I am satisfied with our team players. The opponent was strong, but we did well."

"Feyenoord is a high-level team. However, they brought a relatively different system by allowing four attackers, so it was manageable. Honestly, we were a bit sluggish at first, but Feyenoord's pressing weakened. Unlike right after the start, Feyenoord's pressing disappeared. So, it was easier for us to play comfortably," he mentioned regarding the midfield issues that began with the absence of Hwang In-beom.

However, coach Van Persie expressed ahead of the UCL second leg, "There is still a chance." He said, "It is true that a two-goal difference on the road against Inter is not easy. Still, we will prepare for the second leg with a focus and not be shaken by external expectations," adding, "The likelihood of returning injured players is also high."

In fact, Feyenoord still has many injured players. Van Persie remarked, "Important players on our team have missed many games. If he can play, he will return," reinforcing his determination, "If he returns from injury, it is definitely possible to make a comeback."

In fact, Hwang In-beom was included in the 28-player call-up list for the two matches of the third round of qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup, announced on March 10 at the Korea Football Association headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul. It is worth noting whether Hwang In-beom can return from injury and save the struggling team.

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