GUADALAJARA, Mexico — South Korea has struggled to secure a victory in its opening game at the FIFA World Cup for the past 16 years, but that trend took a pivotal turn on Thursday.
In previous tournaments, such as 2014 and 2018, slow starts were detrimental, leaving the team unable to progress beyond the group stage. Although they made a dramatic leap to the last 16 in the 2022 edition, it was only thanks to a last-minute win over Portugal.
The Taegeuk Warriors faced the Czech Republic in their Group A opener at the Estadio Guadalajara, determined to break their unfortunate streak. After initially trailing in the match, South Korea staged an impressive comeback, with goals from Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyun-gyu, clinching a 2-1 victory—marking their first successful opening match since 2010.
South Korea’s performance was particularly noteworthy given their commanding 62% possession rate. Despite the eventual win, doubts lingered for a while regarding their ability to capitalize on opportunities.
The team initiated the match with a conservative 5-2-3 formation implemented by coach Hong Myung-bo, who made this tactical change in March to bolster stability following the loss of key player Park Yong-woo due to injury. However, the players displayed an aggressive approach from the outset, blending defensive caution with attacking ambition.
The wing-backs, particularly Seol Yong-woo on the right, advanced into offensive positions, effectively transforming the setup into a more dynamic 3-4-3 formation as South Korea monopolized possession early on.
Lee Kang-in operated from the flanks, seeking flexibility in his play. Frequently moving into central positions, he acted as a creative facilitator, firing off long-range attempts that set a positive tone for the match. His first significant shot came in the 14th minute from 25 yards, forcing Czech goalkeeper Maciej Kováš into a sprawling save.
Captain Son Heung-min also began asserting himself, closely following Lee’s efforts with a long-range shot in the 38th minute that failed to find the net. His confidence began to build, as evidenced by another close attempt shortly after where he evaded a defender with skill.
As halftime approached, South Korea was presented with a prime opportunity to take the lead. A composed build-up led to Son receiving the ball in the area, but a decision to pass to Lee Tae-seok rather than shoot himself thwarted the chance as the Czech defense recovered just in time.
In the second half, South Korea’s efforts appeared to pay off, yet they faced a critical moment when the Czechs seized the lead with a well-executed header from captain Ladislav Krejci following a long throw by Vladimir Coufal.
Momentum Shifts in South Korea’s Favor
With the initial momentum lost, South Korea’s midfield stepped up, crafting more opportunities as the game progressed. Just ten minutes after conceding, Hwang found space for a quick strike. Not known for his speed, he nevertheless managed to deftly navigate past defenders and lifted the ball over Kováš into the net.
Despite some shaky moments on set pieces, notably a disallowed header from Tomasz Soucek, South Korea continued to assert their dominance. In a lovely, counter-attacking move, Oh Hyun-gyu, who had recently substituted for Son, scored the decisive goal three minutes later following a precise pass from Pike Seung-ho.
This victory not only marked a significant milestone for South Korea but also brought an unexpected sense of optimism as they embarked on their World Cup journey. The triumph over the Czech Republic has re-ignited hopes for a successful campaign in the tournament.
With an exhilarating start to their World Cup participation, South Korea’s fans now have cause for celebration as they look ahead to the challenges and possibilities that lie ahead in the competition.
