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| The match between South Korea and Palestine in the third qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup was held at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 5th. Son Heung-min is making a dribble breakthrough.Sangam = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.09.04/ |
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Hong Myung-bo's first step was graduation.
South Korea's A national team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, 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. Coach Hong, who was writing the era of success in Ulsan HD, once again grabbed 'poisoned Holy Grail'. It is the first time in six years that a domestic leader has led the A national team since Shin Tae-yong, the current Indonesian coach at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Coach Hong's contract period is until the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia in January 2027.
After the appointment of Hong, public opinion was infested. In the non-smooth appointment process, there was even a controversy over Hong's lies. Following the internal revelation of Park Joo-ho, who was a member of the power reinforcement committee, there were even bitter comments from Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo. The 'noise' continued. Hong immediately went on a business trip to Europe. He met with foreign coach candidates to assist him in person. In the meantime, he also met with European Taegeuk Warriors, including Son Heung-min (Tottenham) and Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich).
A coaching team to assist coach Hong has been completed. Former Suwon Samsung coach Park Kun-ha (53), Kitch FC acting coach Kim Dong-jin (42), and FC Seoul head of the power reinforcement office Kim Jin-kyu (39) were appointed as national team coaches. João Arroso (52) from Portugal then joined as the head coach and tactical coach, and Thiago Maia (40) joined as the tactical analysis coach. Coach Aroso spent four years with former national team coach Paulo Bento in Sporting Lisbon, four years with the Portuguese national team, a total of eight years. Coach Maia played for Benfica.
On the 26th, Hong Myung-bo also announced the list of the 21st season. Change and generational change were the keywords. Four people were selected for the first time, including Yang Min-hyuk, Hwang Moon-ki (Gangwon), Lee Han-beom (Mit Willan), and Choi Woo-jin (Incheon). Starting with Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), the number of people born in the 2000s increased to seven. Hong plans to continue to operate as stable and future-oriented players. Competitiveness in the finals is also an important part." There were also variables. Kwon Kyung-won (Corpacan Club) and Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon) were injured, and Cho Yoo-min (Sharja FC) and Hwang Jae-won (Daegu) were named instead.
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| The inauguration ceremony of Hong Myung-bo, the new coach of the national soccer team, was held in the multipurpose conference room of the Korea Football Association in Sinmun-ro, Seoul, on the 29th. Director Hong Myung-bo answers questions from reporters. Sinmun-ro =Song Jeong-heon, Reporter Song@sportschosun.com/2024.07.29/ |
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The preparation period was short. The European team, the core of the national team, joined on the 3rd, and became a complete group on the second day. Coach Hong originally planned to conduct training after the meeting, but he made great efforts to manage his condition to the extent that the meeting was held only on the 4th, considering the players' condition. In fact, he only prepared for one day, and Hong said, `It's the first game. I think there will be many people's expectations. Of course, I'm hoping for a lot of points, and I'm going to train like that. Basically, the focus is on winning. The most important thing is to win the first game."
The opposing Palestinians are a very strange team. I've never had a fight with national team A. The Korean men's and women's teams clashed only once. In terms of objective power, South Korea has the upper hand. In the FIFA rankings, South Korea is ranked 23rd and Palestine 96th. However, naturalized Palestinian players are on alert. Striker Wessam Abu Ali (Al-Ahli) played for Denmark's 17, 18 and under-19 national teams. He made his debut for the Palestinian national team in the second World Cup qualifying match against Lebanon in June after being called by the Palestinian Football Association in March. In addition, Omar Farai (AIK) and Mustafa Jaidan (Rosenburg), who also played in Sweden's A national team, are expected to change to the Palestinian national team uniform and play in the match against Korea.
Coach Hong played his first game as the best lineup. All three European leaders came forward. Joo Min-kyu (Ulsan) is at the forefront, and Son Heung-min and Lee Jae-sung (Mines) Lee Kang-in are at the second line. Hwang In-beom and Jung Woo-young (Ulsan), who confirmed Feyenoord's transfer, were in the midfield. Seol Young-woo (Zvezda), Kim Young-kwon (Ulsan), Kim Min-jae and Hwang Moon-ki (Gangwon) made the four-back. This is Hwang Moon-ki's A-match debut. Cho Hyun-woo (Ulsan) defended the goal. Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), Um Ji-sung (Swansea City), and Oh Se-hoon (Machida) started from the bench. Yang Min-hyuk, Choi Woo-jin, and Lee Han-beom were excluded from the entry.
There was a dark atmosphere even before the game. The Red Devil's Place was infested with 'Anti-Attention'. The hanger, which symbolizes the red devil, has already been hung upside down. Then 'The Dark Age of Korean Football', 'Pinokihong', 'I hate them', 'A player is first class, and the chairman is =?!' Placards on the back were placed throughout the stands. After the national anthem, "Jung Mong-gyu Naga" and the so-called 'Anti Call" rang out. Whenever director Hong Myung-bo appeared on a large electronic board, boos came out. It contrasted with the enormous shouts that came out when the players' faces were reflected.
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| The match between South Korea and Palestine in the third qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup was held at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 5th. Son Heung-min is making a dribble breakthrough.Sangam = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.09.04/ |
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The kickoff whistle went off. Son Heung-min seemed to start fresh with a corner kick in the first minute of the first half, but soon faced a crisis. In the third minute of the first half, Albatat broke through the center and the ball was connected to Seyam. Seyam blew himself up and connected with a shot, but fortunately, it didn't fit properly. South Korea tried to attack Son Heung-min on the left, but there were too many pass-misses. He failed to develop the ball properly and could not find a clue to the attack. 17 minutes South Korea's first shot came out. Joo Min-kyu flew back and hit the cross that Son Heung-min put up with his right foot from the left. I crossed the crossbar.
Twenty-two minutes of heart-wrenching footage. Cantyana's free-kick hit Hamed's head and headed for Seyam. Seyam pushed it in, but fortunately Hamed's position was offside. 26 min Another free kick hit Hamed's head, but Cho headed straight to Cho Hyun-woo. South Korea's corner kick from the right side of the 39th minute led to Joo Min-kyu's header. But it went off the post. 40 min South Korea created the best chance of the first half. Lee Kang-in received a 2-1 pass with Hwang In-beom and beat the defense with an exquisite individual skill, before heading to the front of the goal. The right foot shot was unfortunately saved by the goalkeeper.
It created a decisive chance for Hwang In-beom in the 42nd minute. He received Lee Kang-in's wonderful lobbing pass and beat one defense with exquisite trapping. He immediately tried to shoot with his left foot, but unfortunately, he hit the side net. The first half ended 0-0.
Coach Hong made changes at the beginning of the second half. Oh Se-hoon was added without Joo Min-gyu. South Korea took possession of the ball in the early stages and caught a glimpse of the opportunity. In the fifth minute of the second half, Hwang In-beom received a pass from Lee Kang-in and fired a left-footed shot. It's off the mark. Six minutes the Palestinians fought back. Abuili attempted a threatening mid-range shot. In the 10th minute, Jabeur's left footed shot went straight to Cho Hyun-woo. South Korea, which rarely found a clue to the attack, made a second change. In the 12th minute, Lee Jae-sung came out and Hwang Hee-chan went in. There was no change in position.
14 min South Korea missed a critical chance. Seol Young-woo gave it to Oh Se-hoon, who was turning his back on the left. Oh Se-hoon's return pass went to Son Heung-min, and as soon as Son Heung-min caught it, it hit the defense and flowed. Lee Kang-in, who was a no-mark on the right, was caught on the left foot, but the shot unfortunately went up. In the 17th minute, Hwang In-beom stabbed Son Heung-min after the interception. Son Heung-min tried to curl his right foot from the left, but he came out after hitting the defense. 18 min Another good chance was created. Lee Kang-in moved to the center and floated an exquisite left-footed kick to the door. Oh Se-hoon connected with a header, but was blocked by the Palestinian goalkeeper's super save.
There is a variable. Seol Young-woo, who was showing good movements, went out due to injury. Coach Hong completely changed both left and right fullbacks. Lee Myung-jae (Ulsan) and Hwang Jae-won (Daegu) were put in. In the 25th minute, Hwang Hee-chan broke down the back space and tried to cut back from the right side of the box. Unfortunately, however, it was not connected to the player who was jumping in.
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| The match between South Korea and Palestine in the third qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup was held at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 5th. Lee Kang-in is breaking through dribbling.Sangam = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.09.04/ |
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In the 27th minute, Lee Kang-in broke through and got a free kick opportunity in front of the arc. Lee Kang-in handled it himself, but he was blocked by the opponent's goalkeeper's super save despite his cool trajectory. In the 34th minute, Lee Kang-in connected to Son Heung-min from the back. However, the last trapping was long just before shooting against the goalkeeper. He then faced a run-scoring crisis. 36 min A cross from the right hit Davag on the head. Fortunately, it went over the net.
In the 38th minute, Lee Kang-in's exquisite cross from the right led to Oh Se-hoon's header, but the goalkeeper was saved. Coach Hong, who is in a hurry, put Lee Dong-kyung (Kim Chun) without Hwang In-beom. I didn't even follow my luck. A pass from behind in the 42nd minute was connected to Son Heung-min. Son Heung-min tried to shoot at an empty goal after beating the goalkeeper, but unfortunately, he came out after hitting the post. South Korea has launched a general offensive. However, it almost collapsed due to counterattack. Abuili had a chance to face Cho Hyun-woo, but fortunately, the shot went straight to Cho Hyun-woo.
South Korea did everything in its power until the very end. In the 47th minute, Lee Kang-in's left foot shot that broke through went straight to the goalkeeper. South Korea kept knocking on the Palestinian goal, but the finish was disappointing. Even Oh Se-hoon's diving header, which received Hwang Jae-won's cross, missed, and the game ended 0-0. Hong Myung-bo, who had a shock draw against Palestine, will play the second game against Oman at 11 p.m. on the 10th (Korea time) at the Sultan Qaboos Stadium in Muscat, Oman.
vanbasten@sportschosun.com
