'Waving Korean flags and cheering instead of 'Yayu' Director Hong Myung-bo's persistence'My role is team growth' Public sentiment changed in a month
Oct 15, 2024
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The South Korean national soccer team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, will play the fourth Group B match against Iraq in the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup at Yongin Mir Stadium in Gyeonggi Province on the 15th.
Coach Hong returned to the A national team in July for the first time in 10 years. However, the beginning of the `Hong Myung-bo 2nd period' was not very good. The first game had to be played in a chaos of boos and ridicule. Hong Myung-bo played his first match against Palestine at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 5th of last month. The fans have come under heavy fire. Eventually, after the game, Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) visited the fans and confronted them. At that time, Kim Min-jae said "We didn't do well from the beginning. But I said that because I'm a little disappointed that you're supporting us, hoping we can't do it.' At that time, Korea drew 0-0.
The 'Hong Myung-bo' won its first victory on the road. They won the away match in Oman, 3–1. However, the criticism against Hong Myung-bo did not stop. Some sarcastically said that it was a virtue to rely on Son Heung-min (Tottenham). Hong was under fire with his whole body. He attended a questionnaire from the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee held at the National Assembly on the 24th of last month and said, `As a team manager, I think it is of course my duty to take responsibility for the team and grow it into a better team," he said.
A variable occurred ahead of the October A match. 'Captain' Son Heung-min left due to an injury. Coach Hong boldly excluded Son Heung-min to protect the players. Rumors of a crisis have circulated again. Coach Hong did not shy away this time, either. On the 10th, he won a clean 2-0 away victory in Jordan.
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Hong Myung-bo ' is the leader in Group B with two wins and one draw (7 points). Iraq is right behind. Iraq, which defeated Palestine 1-0 in the third round, also has two wins and one draw. South Korea (+4) is ahead of Iraq (+2) in goal difference. Only when they win against Iraq can they resist the pursuit.
Meanwhile, South Korea came up with a 4-2-3-1 tactic. Oh Se-hoon (finishing) led the attack on the front line. Bae Joon-ho (Stoke City), Lee Jae-sung (Mines) and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) helped from the back. Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) and Park Yong-woo (Al Ain) worked together on defensive midfielders. Lee Myung-jae (Ulsan), Kim Min-jae, Cho Yoo-min (Sharja), and Seol Young-woo (Zvezda) were located in Fourback. Cho Hyun-woo (Ulsan) defended the goal.
South Korea's FIFA ranking is 23rd and Iraq 55th.
epi17@sportschosun.com
