'? Boos from the game'Director Hong Myung-bo"I understand the fans' feelings, what I have to endure"
Sep 05, 2024
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Hong Myung-bo, head coach of the South Korean national team, bowed his head. Hong Myung-bo's first step was graduation. South Korea's A national team, led by head coach Hong, drew 0-0 against Palestine in the first Group B match of the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup at Seoul World Cup Stadium at 8 p.m. on the 5th. Hong Myung-bo showed unstable performance from the first round, casting a dark shadow toward advancing to the finals for the 11th consecutive time. South Korea was in Group B along with Iraq, Jordan, Palestine, Oman, and Kuwait. In the third qualifying round, 18 teams will be divided into three groups of six teams and play a full league home and away. A total of six teams, ranked first and second in each group, will win tickets to the World Cup finals.
The match against Palestine was the beginning of the journey to North Korea and the U.S. and Hong Myung-bo's debut in the `Second.' Coach Hong, who left the A-team after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, took the helm of the A-team again in July 2024 for the first time in 10 years. It was more noisy than ever before. From Hong's point of view, it was necessary to turn the tables through a cool victory. Although there was an absolute lack of preparation time, coach Hong chose stability instead of young, which was the starting keyword.
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Hong Myung-bo showed a disappointing performance from the first game. It was a disappointing game, even if there was not enough time to prepare for a new football. The players were in poor physical condition, and there was no partial tactic to penetrate the opponent's dense defense. Only Lee Kang-in struggled. It lost a point in the first half, but it was fortunate that it was canceled due to offside. Lee Kang-in's decisive shot came up at the end of the first half, and it was regrettable that Son Heung-min's shot after beating the goalkeeper came out of the net at the end of the second half. The result was a 0-0 draw of shock.
Coach Hong said in a press conference after the game, `I'm sorry that I couldn't win the first match of the third qualifying round. I had to get the first button right, but I couldn't. When we watched the game, our players did their best until the end. Overall, the first half and the second half were different, but the first half was not as good as we thought. However, the second half improved a little more. There were a few chances, but it was a shame that I didn't make it work. We can continue this problem in the future. In the first half, the opposite conversion and the speed of the ball going out should have been fast. "If you want to attack in a situation where your opponent is down, you have to switch quickly, but you couldn't do that." As for the booing, "I fully understand the fans' feelings in the current situation. That's what I have to endure."
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▶I'm sorry that I couldn't win the first match of the third qualifying round. I had to get the first button right, but I couldn't. When we watched the game, our players did their best until the end. Overall, the first half and the second half were different, but the first half was not as good as we thought. However, the second half improved a little more. There were a few chances, but it was a shame that I didn't make it work. We can continue this problem in the future. In the first half, the opposite conversion and the speed of the ball going out should have been fast. If you want to attack in a situation where your opponent is down, you have to switch quickly, but you couldn't.
-How will you prepare for the next four days.
▶I had a plan in the physical part, but I couldn't score and got it twisted. You have to prepare for 4 days because you consider the physical part important. Tactically, we will prepare again from tomorrow on how to prepare for the away game. The most important thing is conditioning. European players play right after the game, so they have physical difficulties. I think we should decide on the selection based on the players' condition.
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▶Such a scene is not easy. I fully understand how the fans feel in the current situation. That's what I have to endure.
-Lee Kang-in showed good performance.
▶ In the second half, he made a tactical change at the end. A few creative passes have been made. It was a short time, but it was something I prepared for. I thought it was important to use a player who had it as a whole. Using Lee Kang-in, Son Heung-min, and Hwang Hee-chan has been important so far and will continue to be important. It is the coaching staff's homework to make better use of it. I will prepare well to find a way.
vanbasten@sportschosun.com
