Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham) said that his mindset is not the same when playing for his club Tottenham Hotspur and the national team.
The South Korean national football team, led by coach Hong Myung-bo, will face Oman in the 7th match of Group B in the final Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup at 8 p.m. on the 20th at Goyang Sports Complex. Following that, they will play the 8th match against Jordan at 8 p.m. on the 25th at Suwon Sports Complex.
Currently, the South Korean national team has recorded 14 points (4 wins, 2 draws) and is maintaining the lead in Group B. Iraq is in second with 11 points, Jordan in third with 9 points, Oman in fourth with 6 points, Kuwait in fifth with 4 points, and Palestine in sixth with 3 points. The top two teams in each group secure direct qualification for the finals.
If South Korea wins both matches in March and adds 6 points, they will secure their spot in the finals for the 11th consecutive time, regardless of the results of the Iraq and Kuwait match in June.
Meanwhile, on the eve of the match, at 5:30 p.m. on the 19th, coach Hong Myung-bo (56) and captain Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham) held an official press conference at Goyang Sports Complex to discuss their preparations for the game and their determination.
A question was asked regarding Son Heung-min and his club Tottenham. Tottenham is currently going through the most challenging time since Son joined the team in 2015.
Tottenham has repeatedly struggled, falling to 14th place in the league. They have also been eliminated early from the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup, failing to meet the expectations of fans.
As a result, there are growing doubts about Son Heung-min's leadership in the UK, or criticism that his skills have already entered a decline.
When asked about Tottenham, Son Heung-min opened up by saying, "I believe that the club and the national team are completely different affiliations."
He said, "In some ways, I have a lot of affection for Tottenham, and playing in the same team for 10 years feels like pursuing a single goal, but the national team has always been a place that feels like a dream for me, so I approach the convocations with that in mind. That is why my feelings remain unchanged every time I come to the national team, and I always keep the thought that I need to do well."
He continued, "Although I am the same player, the two (club and national team) feel a bit different. It seems a bit different, but I cannot explain how. In some ways, playing in the Premier League has been a childhood dream, but representing my country is a dream even bigger, something I have always imagined, so the national team has always been that kind of place for me."
Son Heung-min added, "I have always thought of the national team as a precious place. I will focus on doing my best and performing well in this precious position as well."
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