Hong Myung-bo with one point left for North Korea, China, and the U.S…The topic is "Son Heungmin's management."
Hong Myung-bo with one point left for North Korea, China, and the U.S…The topic is "Son Heungmin's management."
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"Son Heung-min is still important, but his condition and physical aspects are also important."
Coach Hong Myung-bo's special management of Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham), the "captain" of the Korean men's national soccer team and a key striker, will continue.
Hong Myung-bo will play the ninth match of the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA North-China World Cup against Iraq at 3:15 a.m. on the 6th (Korea time) at Basra International Stadium in Iraq.
Korea, which is leading Group B with four wins and four draws (16 points) as of Thursday, can achieve the tremendous feat of advancing to the World Cup finals for 11 consecutive times if it wins a draw against Iraq.
There are variables such as the fact that Korean soccer was weak in the Middle East and the high temperature of more than 40 degrees, but head coach Hong left the country with a determination, saying, "It is an important time to determine the World Cup ticket," adding, "There will be environmental difficulties, but we will prepare to play well for two days."
Coach Hong emphasized that he would "prepare well" despite the European players' variables that ended early or too late, but he responded somewhat cautiously to Son Heung-min, who has a "foot injury" issue.
Son Heung-min succeeded in escaping after 15 years since his professional debut by winning the UEFA Europa League (UEL) in the 2024-2025 season, but he was out of the lineup due to a foot injury at the end of the season and could not play several games.
In the UEL final against Manchester United (England) on the 22nd of last month, he was substituted in the middle of the second half, and missed the 38th round of the English Premier League (EPL) in 2024-2025 season against Brighton, Tottenham's last game of the season on the 26th.
In response, head coach Hong said, "We haven't talked about that exactly yet (not long after the call)," but explained, "We've heard enough of his will to play."
In other words, he suggested that if the injury is not serious, the player himself has expressed his intention to play.
Nevertheless, head coach Hong said, "I don't want to overdo it because we have to play two games," adding, "I'm going to talk more about which game I'm going to focus on when I go there."
As head coach Hong said, South Korea will not only play against Iraq, but also play the 10th game against Kuwait at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 10th.
This shows Hong's intention to come up with a plan suitable for the situation and environment rather than an unreasonable operation to confirm the World Cup finals early in Game 9.
Son Heung-min also had an injury issue during the A match in October last year.
At the time, Hong said, "Son Heung-min will want to play even if he has difficulties. That's what he has shown so far," revealing why he picked Son, who was not in good condition.
"Son Heung-min is still important, but his condition and physical aspects are also important," he said. "And his performance when he goes to the World Cup finals is also important. In that regard, I will find a way for the players to do well while the club, players and soccer association continue to communicate and not overdo it."
Continuing that trend again this time, he once again pointed out the 'big picture' of considering the World Cup finals.
It is Hong Myung-bo who has selected enough alternative resources.
Moon Sun-min (33, FC Seoul), a "fast veteran," was also selected, including Jeon Jin-woo (26, Jeonbuk Hyundai), who was selected for the A national team for the first time in his career by leading the K-League 1 scoring (11 goals).
In addition, "young blood" Yang Hyun-joon (23, Celtic) and "another key" Hwang Hee-chan (29, Wolverhampton) are also waiting. 메이저놀이터
In addition, it may be an option to take out a strategy and tactic centered on midfielder Lee Kang-in (24) of the French professional football league Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), who defeated Italian professional football Serie A Inter Milan on the 1st to win the UEFA Champions League (UCL) in the 2024-2025 season.