With South Korea having notched their first win within the ongoing Asian World Cup qualification spherical, head coach Hong Myung-bo on Thursday pushed again towards the notion that he’s relying too closely on a number of star gamers with out doing a lot tactical work.
Hong returned residence Thursday night after teaching South Korea to a 3-1 victory over Oman in a Group B match of the third Asian World Cup qualification spherical in Muscat on Tuesday. It got here on the heels of a goalless draw towards Palestine in Seoul.
Within the victory, Son Heung-min, captain for each South Korea and Tottenham Hotspur, scored the go-ahead aim and assisted the group’s two different targets. Two different Europe-based stars, Hwang Hee-chan of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain, additionally performed important roles on offense.
When advised that followers suppose he’s solely letting expert gamers do their factor and hasn’t given them any tactical framework, Hong responded, “These views are utterly totally different from mine.”
“I feel we made tactical adjustments at a essential juncture within the match and it labored very well,” Hong advised reporters gathered at Incheon Worldwide Airport, simply west of Seoul. “So I do not agree with that notion, however I additionally do not plan on attempting to alter that. I simply imagine that my gamers executed our ways to perfection with about half-hour left within the second half.”
The newest little bit of criticism towards Hong is yet one more indication of his standing among the many disgruntled South Korean fan base. He was an unpopular alternative from the second he was employed in July, with the Korea Soccer Affiliation additionally dealing with warmth for giving Hong the job with out placing him by means of a vetting course of. Hong was lustily booed earlier than, throughout and after the Palestine match at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Hong stated it could have been higher if South Korea had received each matches, however he was nonetheless happy with the way in which South Korea opened the third spherical.
“This begin gave us a chance to consider how we should always put together for remaining matches,” Hong stated. “I’ve spoken with my coaches and gamers about the right way to develop the group going ahead. We have been in a position to share our concepts and slim our variations in ideas.”
Hong stated South Korea should shore up their protection.
“Over the course of a match, you’ll run into some difficulties. You possibly can’t play excellent soccer for 90 minutes,” Hong stated. “And while you concede a aim in these conditions, it may make life further troublesome. We have now to get higher in that regard.”
The opposite groups in Group B are Iraq, Jordan and Kuwait. The highest two groups from every of the three teams within the third spherical will qualify for the 2026 World Cup, whereas groups ranked third and fourth from these teams will transfer on to the fourth spherical.
Iraq and Jordan are anticipated to offer stiffer challenges for South Korea than Palestine, Oman and Kuwait. In February this 12 months, South Korea misplaced to Jordan 2-0 within the semifinals of the Asian Soccer Confederation Asian Cup, a end result that price then head coach Jurgen Klinsmann his job.
South Korea’s subsequent match is towards Jordan on Oct. 10, adopted by Iraq on Oct. 15.
“We have already began breaking down Iraq and Jordan, although it is nonetheless too early to inform how we’ll strategy them,” Hong stated. “We will not afford to present factors away in matches towards these rivals.” (Yonhap)