Could he be the final puzzle piece for Hong Myung-bo's team? Jens Castrop is emerging as a new solution for the South Korea national soccer team as he grows his presence as a left wing-back on the German stage.
Borussia Mönchengladbach will play Mainz in a 2025-2026 Bundesliga round 30 home match at Borussia-Park in Mönchengladbach, Germany, at 2:30 a.m. on the 20th (Korean time).
Ahead of the match, coach Eugen Polanski spoke at a press conference, and there he gave a clear assessment of Castrop's role.
Coach Polanski said of Castrop, "He has performed almost the same role every time he played on the left side. He was either a wing-back in a five-back or had a slightly higher, more attacking role."
That means he is not simply in a temporary post but is already functioning as a left-side resource within the team.
It did not stop there. Coach Polanski went a step further. He emphasized, "Personally, Castrop looks more comfortable on the left side," and added, "Although he has shown good form on the right as well, he must be able to cut inside from the left and shoot with his right foot, as when he scored that great goal against Köln."
The coach's view was clear. The place that can maximize Castrop's strengths is the left. In fact, the trend is the same. Castrop, who joined Mönchengladbach last summer, has broadened his versatility by playing several positions such as attacking midfielder and right full-back. But recently he has been settling into the left wing-back role in a 3-4-2-1 formation.
And this change is not just an experiment. Results are following. The most symbolic scene was the match against Köln on the 21st of last month. Castrop started as a left wing-back and scored multiple goals, emerging as a focal point of the team's attack. In particular, the right-footed long-range shot traveling at 104 km/h in the 15th minute of the second half left significance beyond a simple goal.
It was a scene in which he cut inside from the left and unleashed his strengths. It showed exactly why Polanski emphasized the left. Now attention naturally turns to the South Korea national team. Coach Hong Myung-bo is continuing to refine the back three tactic ahead of the 2026 FIFA North and Central American World Cup.
When the national team has wavered recently, the wing-backs have ultimately been pointed out as the problem. The back three is not simply a system to increase defensive numbers. Its completeness depends on how wide the left and right wing-backs run, how aggressively they go forward and how quickly they transition. In other words, wing-backs are not an option but a core element.
In that regard, Castrop is clearly an interesting card. He can play on the left, cut inside using his right foot, and perform both wing-back and second-line roles. Given his defensive contribution, forward inclination and direct finishing ability, he can show a different color from existing left-side resources on the national team. He is closer to a resource that can provide tactical variation than a simple flank defender.
Of course, competing for a starting spot on the national team is not as easy as it sounds. Performance at his club does not automatically translate into a place on the senior national team. There are many factors to verify, such as tactical adaptation, defensive organization and chemistry with teammates. Still, one thing is clear: Castrop is currently the most noteworthy name.
If there really is a final puzzle piece for the back three that Hong Myung-bo is seeking, at least in Germany that candidate is becoming clearer on the left. Castrop is no longer a multi-role experiment. As the Mönchengladbach coach said, he is most comfortable and most threatening on the left.
And if that stage is the Bundesliga, there is no reason for coach Hong Myung-bo not to take notice. If the national team's left wing-back spot is not yet completely closed, a clear opportunity is opening for Castrop.
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