South Korea opened their coaching camp Monday forward of two World Cup qualifying matches arising this month, as head coach Hong Myung-bo started his second tour of obligation with the lads’s nationwide group.
South Korea will host Palestine at 8 p.m. Thursday at Seoul World Cup Stadium to start Group B play within the third spherical of the Asian qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. South Korea will then go to Muscat to play Oman on Sept. 10.
These might be Hong’s first two matches in his second time period as South Korea’s bench boss. He first coached the Taegeuk Warriors for 19 matches from 2013 to 2014, and he resigned after South Korea managed one draw and two losses within the group stage of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
“As I left house in the present day, a number of ideas handed by my thoughts. It has been 10 years since I final stood at a stadium as head coach of the nationwide group,” Hong advised reporters earlier than Monday’s coaching session at Goyang Stadium, simply northwest of Seoul. “I’m excited however I even have fears that I did not have 10 years in the past, as a result of I’ve skilled failure. However once more, I feel I have been capable of make it again right here as a result of I realized from the errors I made again then. I’m grateful for this chance.”
Hong was employed for the second time in July, albeit below controversial circumstances. The Korea Soccer Affiliation (KFA) spent months reviewing candidacies of foreign-born tacticians and even interviewed a couple of of them, however made an abrupt flip to carry again Hong, who had publicly rejected the KFA’s presents. Critics of the choice have charged that the KFA and Hong have but to supply clear explanations on the method resulting in Hong’s appointment. The Ministry of Tradition, Sports activities and Tourism even launched an audit into the KFA’s operations in July.
Towards this backdrop, Hong referred to as up 26 gamers for the September matches final week, although two defenders, Kwon Kyung-won and Kim Moon-hwan, have been changed final Friday resulting from accidents.
For the primary day of camp, 19 of the 26 gamers have been readily available, with Lee Jae-sung of Mainz 05 and Eom Ji-sung of Swansea Metropolis being the one two Europe-based gamers accessible from Day 1.
Three of South Korea’s largest stars in Europe — Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur, Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain and Kim Min-jae of Bayern Munich — are scheduled to reach in South Korea on Tuesday after enjoying of their newest membership matches over the weekend.
Hong mentioned he was involved concerning the trio’s fatigue degree, contemplating their lengthy flights house and subsequent jetlag. They are going to solely have one full day of coaching with the remainder of the group, on Wednesday, earlier than enjoying Palestine.
“I’ve recognized all alongside we would have a scenario like this and it has been this fashion for fairly a while,” Hong mentioned. “I might be speaking to these gamers and see the place they’re at bodily, after which determine the perfect plan of action for the group.”
As soon as each participant is at camp, Hong mentioned he’ll attempt to emphasize the significance of enjoying as a group.
“I feel lots of people would say our gamers have actually good abilities individually, however we’re enjoying a group sport right here,” Hong mentioned. “The bottom line is to have the ability to come collectively as a group. If we’re cohesive as a group, then it should make our gamers’ particular person expertise shine that rather more.”
Requested whether or not he thought of his first match again to be further necessary, given the circumstances, Hong replied, “I feel the match is necessary for the nationwide group, not for me personally. That is the World Cup qualification.”
Throughout his first tenure, Hong famously instituted a strict costume code for gamers and mandated a swimsuit and tie for coaching camps. As soon as a charismatic captain for the nationwide group, Hong introduced the identical fame to the bench.
Hong, 55, mentioned he has mellowed over time and he would not like placing guidelines in place only for present.
When advised that gamers could also be afraid of him, Hong smiled and mentioned, “I do not assume so. However I do perceive why some guys might really feel that manner.”
“I wish to be pleasant and approachable with the gamers,” Hong mentioned. “I will not be going round and telling everybody I’m actually not that scary. I hope that gamers who’ve performed for me earlier than would inform their teammates.”
Nonetheless, notion can go a good distance. Lee, the Mainz participant, admitted Monday he had been “a bit scared” of Hong due to what he’d heard about him from teammates. Lee has by no means performed for Hong.
“I do know he has been a disciplinarian, and I personally assume guidelines are necessary, too,” Lee mentioned. “From a participant’s perspective, I discovered him a bit of intimidating. However I feel he has a delicate aspect, too.”
Days after being appointed, Hong traveled to Europe to satisfy with Korean gamers plying their commerce there. Lee mentioned Hong took him out to dinner in Germany they usually had an excellent dialog over their meal.
Lee mentioned he acquired the sense that Hong perhaps is not the stickler for guidelines that he as soon as was.
“I feel he respects gamers’ opinions in relation to guidelines,” Lee mentioned. “He has softened fairly a bit, and I feel it is as much as us gamers to maintain creating an excellent tradition.” (Yonhap)