• Ji Soyun is heading to her third FIFA Women’s World Cup

• She is Korea Republic’s all-time top scorer

• The Taegeuk Ladies star speaks about Women's World Cup hopes and inspiring the next generation

In the twilight of a career laden with titles, honours and accolades, Ji Soyun knows that this could well be her last chance to make a mark at the FIFA Women’s World Cup™.

She is not alone. Coach Colin Bell has selected a vastly experienced Korea Republic squad, with more than half of the 23-players pool aged 30 or older. While the upside of that is cool heads in the heat of battle, the reality for many is that the end is drawing nearer - a fact that is not lost on the team's all-time leading scorer.

“I can’t explain it easily but, whenever we get together, every moment is precious to us," she told FIFA. "The World Cup is not an opportunity that comes to every player and so it’s a very important time as well.

“As a player I always approach a World Cup with a sense of responsibility. I’ve played for the national team since I was 15 years old and I want to give hopes and dreams to younger players that they too can reach the World Cup. That really means a lot to me.”

The former Chelsea midfielder has dedicated more than half her life to the national cause and heads to her third Women’s World Cup having been through the highs and lows as Korea Republic went from defeating Spain on the way to a Round of 16 finish at Canada 2015 to then losing all three group stages matches four years ago in France.

The appointment of English coach Colin Bell in late 2019 and then a run to the final of last year’s AFC Asian Cup, where Ji finished as the tournament’s second-highest goalscorer have, though, given her confidence that the team is back on course.

“That was the moment that we’d been waiting for," she said. "We had struggled to make the final of the Asian Cup because we would always lose to Australia, Japan or China but we really took full advantage of the opportunity, we didn’t give up and I feel that the Korean team has become much stronger as a result.

“Our coach is very passionate about football; he has a real enthusiasm and coaches us not just to strengthen our condition physically but also mentally. And he leads us to feel more patriotic. He makes us believe in ourselves and encourages us that we can achieve results.”

That belief will be put to the test in a tough group where every nation - Colombia, Morocco and Germany - repeated Korea Republic’s feat of finishing as runners-up in their respective continental tournaments.

Ji is now not only her nation’s all-time top goalscorer (either female or male) but also its most-capped player and, if this is to be her final Women’s World Cup, she wants to end on a real high.

She said: “I know that our team didn’t perform well four years and both as a team and as an individual we are working hard and preparing to change that and get better results this time.

“Of course the group is tough and Colombia, Morocco and Germany are no pushovers but we believe we can advance to the Round of 16 and are preparing to do so. We want to go as far as we can in the tournament.

“There are tough opponents in the group and then tough opponents after that but we are ready to beat any team we face, in any situation. No-one knows what happens in big tournaments and we’re doing our best to be prepared.”

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