Even if it's a tie, it's a betrayal... pride in one's end
Even if it's a tie, it's a betrayal... pride in one's end
Blog Article
Hong Myung-bo has regrouped for one point needed to continue the Korean soccer drama from the 1986 World Cup in Mexico to the 2026 World Cup in North Korea and China.
The South Korean national soccer team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, left the country on a chartered flight on the 2nd to advance to the World Cup finals for the 11th consecutive time. The national team will play the 9th Group B match of the 3rd World Cup qualifying round against Iraq at 3:15 a.m. on the 6th at Basra International Stadium in Iraq. It will then return to Korea and play the final match of the 3rd qualifying round against Kuwait at 8 p.m. on the 10th at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
As Korea ranks first (16 points) in Group B of the third preliminary round, while Jordan and Iraq, ranked second (13 points) and third (12 points), respectively, will face off in the 10th round, Hong will confirm his advance to the finals if he accumulates one point in the remaining two matches. It is sufficient to draw in an away match in Iraq, but he is committed to win the match at home against Kuwait to make it a celebration of his 11th consecutive finals. If he secures his advance to the finals, he will make his 12th advance to the finals, including the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland.
Twenty-one of the 26 players, including Son Heung-min (Tottenham) and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), who were returning from domestic and European leagues, boarded a chartered plane at Incheon International Airport. Players from the Middle East and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) will join from Iraq.
"We only have two more games to play and it is an important time to decide who will qualify for the World Cup. The players are not in a bad condition. Hot weather and home fans are expected to cheer for us in Iraq, but our players have a lot of experience, so we will adapt well," Hong told reporters before departing.
On the plan to use Son, who had suffered from injury recently, Hong said, "I have heard enough of his will, but I am not going to overdo it because I have two games to play." "(Hwang Hee-chan and Lee Kang-in) already had enough training until last week. After coming to Korea, I had individual training while taking a break. I don't think he will lose his stamina."
Jeon Jin-woo (Jeonbuk Hyundai), who recently ranked first in scoring (11 goals) in the K League 1 and was selected to the adult (A) national team for the first time in his life, said, "I've been studying a lot while watching the play, but I looked like a neighborhood brother in person."
Jun Jin-woo said, "It's my first time in the A-team, so I'm honestly nervous. It was my dream to become a member of the national team, and it took me a long time to come here. I want to fight together so that I can contribute to the team without being satisfied." 안전놀이터
Meanwhile, Iraq appointed Graham Arnold of Australia as its new coach last month. The match against Korea will be its debut match.