GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Captain Heung-min Son is set to make his debut in his fourth FIFA World Cup when South Korea faces the Czech Republic at Estadio Guadalajara this Thursday night. With a decade of experience under his belt, Son has become the nation’s key player, boasting 144 international caps—39 more than his closest teammate, Lee Jae-sung.
As he nears his 34th birthday next month, Son continues to be the linchpin of the South Korean team, poised to play a crucial role in determining their success in the tournament.
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Despite his impressive track record on football’s grandest stage, Son remains enthusiastic and motivated as he looks forward to once again showcasing his talents during the World Cup. “I’m very happy to be back on the World Cup pitch, which I’ve dreamed of since I was a child,” he expressed during the pre-match press conference leading up to Wednesday’s Group A opener.
Son highlighted the emotional weight of the occasion, stating, “Whether it’s my first World Cup or my fourth, I feel like a boy again. This is the stage of my dreams.” He also reflected on lessons learned from earlier tournaments, acknowledging, “In Qatar, we showed strength but also faced losses. Those are lessons for moving forward.”
He emphasized the team’s growth, saying, “While we are a little more experienced now and have made some personnel changes, our mindset on the world stage remains unchanged. The atmosphere has been positive from the start. When I see my teammates work hard for Korea, it sometimes requires me to calm them down.”
As South Korea prepares for the match, the stakes are high. The team has struggled in opening games at recent World Cups, failing to secure a win in their first match over the past three tournaments. This trend has often led to significant hurdles early on; they did not advance past the group stage in 2014 and 2018, though they reached the Round of 16 in 2022 after a dramatic victory over Portugal, thanks in large part to Son’s last-minute goal.
Despite these challenges, Son downplayed the pressure to rectify the team’s past performances, focusing instead on a day-by-day approach. “Today is the most important day for me, and I need to improve myself. Tomorrow we can think about tomorrow,” he stated. “With three games in the group stage, each match is crucial. We will play for our lives and perform to the best of our abilities.”
Meanwhile, South Korea’s coach, Hong Myung-bo, is eager for his second World Cup outing, following a disappointing tenure in 2014 when the team managed only a single point in the group stage—their worst result since 1998. “I am honored to be participating in the World Cup for the second time as head coach,” Hong remarked. He expressed hope for a better outcome this time, saying, “We have learned a lot since then, and we are well-prepared for this World Cup. While I cannot predict the results, I just hope the players enjoy the game tomorrow.”
