"If we can't win without Kim Min-jae (29, Bayern Munich), we have no qualification to participate in the World Cup."

The key point noted by a local German media outlet was ultimately the tactics of Hong Myung-bo, head coach of the South Korean national football team.

Under Coach Hong, South Korea drew 1-1 against Oman in the home match of the 7th round of Group B in the third round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, held on the 20th at Goyang Sports Complex.

With this, South Korea recorded 15 points (4 wins, 3 draws) and maintained first place in Group B. However, by drawing this match, South Korea's plan to secure a place in the World Cup finals against Jordan on the 25th was derailed.

Now, South Korea will only be able to know the status of securing a place in the World Cup finals for the 11th consecutive time when June arrives, with away matches against Iraq and a home game against Kuwait. It has become a rather deflating situation.

In the meantime, 'Bavarian Football Works' stated on the 21st that "Coach Hong blamed Bayern Munich for the reason why key center-back Kim Min-jae could not join the national team," pointing out Coach Hong's complaints about Kim Min-jae's injury ahead of the Oman match.

Kim Min-jae was released from the national team due to the need for treatment and recovery for left Achilles tendonitis during the A-match period. Earlier, Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany stated that Kim Min-jae would not be able to participate in matches for the time being. Coach Hong instead selected FC Seoul defender Kim Ju-sung as a substitute.

On the 17th, when selected, Coach Hong expressed disappointment, saying, "Kim Min-jae is a very important player for our team. However, I can't help but wish that Bayern Munich had taken preventive measures to protect the player."

He added, "There have been ongoing signals regarding Kim Min-jae's injury risk. The national team was fully aware of (the injury risk)."

'Bavarian Football Works' emphasized that "it is understandable for a national team coach to feel frustrated for not being able to utilize the best players, but Coach Hong has no grounds to complain."

Furthermore, they pointed out that "Kim Min-jae's Achilles issue dates back to October of last year. Despite numerous reports and statements about Kim Min-jae playing through pain, Coach Hong continually summoned him to the national team. The thousands of kilometers traveled among Germany, Korea, and the Middle East, along with the flight time and physical stress, were added."

Additionally, they noted that "considering all the travel Kim Min-jae had to endure during the international match periods in October and November, it was only a matter of time before he eventually hit his limit," and added that "without the intervention of Manager Kompany, knowing Coach Hong's tendencies, it is highly likely that Kim Min-jae would have suffered a serious injury playing the full 90 minutes in both matches."

In particular, this outlet raised its voice, stating, "Currently, South Korea is in the easiest group. If South Korea cannot win against teams like Oman, Iraq, and Palestine without Kim Min-jae, and even struggles in a group where securing first place is not necessary, then there is no qualification to participate in the World Cup."

Moreover, they pointed out that "if Kim Min-jae is in a painful situation, Coach Hong should have looked for other talents to fill his absence for the World Cup," adding that "instead, Coach Hong kept repeating the use of top players, resulting in exhaustion for Korea's top players like Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan throughout the season."

Lastly, the outlet questioned, "It's not just Kim Min-jae who has been suffering under Hong Myung-bo's curse; Hwang In-beom, who plays for Feyenoord, was also mysteriously called up despite missing several weeks due to injury."

The points raised by the media can be viewed largely in two aspects. First, it pertains to Coach Hong's tactics. While it is true that Kim Min-jae is an irreplaceable defender, it also raises the question of what Coach Hong's 'Plan B' is when Kim Min-jae is absent.

South Korea's attack against Oman was lethargic. From the start, South Korea was blocked by Oman's compact defense and did not manage a single shot until Hwang Hee-chan's (Wolverhampton) opening goal in the 41st minute of the first half. Without Lee Kang-in's (Paris Saint-Germain) exquisite pass, a goal might have been hard to expect.

South Korea failed to produce an additional goal. Attackers Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), and Hwang Hee-chan were positioned in the second line but did not pose any significant threat against Oman's defense. Subsequently, substitutions of Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City), Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic), and Oh Hyun-kyu (Genk) were made, but the team remained silent.

In other words, this implies that there is no solution to break through such a compact defense. If players cannot solve it themselves, tactical solutions should be proposed; however, that was not the case. In the past, Lee Kang-in and Hwang In-beom managed to alleviate the situation in midfield, but when both were absent, the team had to witness a stiff and unimaginative national team. If Lee Kang-in and Hwang In-beom are absent, a corresponding tactic should have emerged.

The same applies to defense. If Kim Min-jae is absent, it is necessary to fill that gap with a player and tactics that can minimize the impact. The national team's complaints about the absence of Kim Min-jae ultimately sound like excuses. While a player's skill is undeniably crucial in football, the ability to organize the 11 members more organically is ultimately the coach's responsibility.

The media also questions what the goal of the South Korean national team is. The likelihood of South Korea not reaching the World Cup finals in this qualifier is virtually zero. While the ball is round, there is clearly a power gap between South Korea and the other countries in the same group. The 11th consecutive trip to the World Cup finals is seen as a foregone conclusion, just delayed.

The criticism from the German media is not simply about questioning Coach Hong Myung-bo's statements. It emphasizes the necessity for the South Korean national team to enhance tactical flexibility and utilization of alternative resources to be competitive in the World Cup finals. Being overwhelmed because a key player is absent against lower-tier countries, especially in unfavorable conditions such as Ramadan and cold weather, on an away match, is unacceptable.

The World Cup finals cannot simply rely on the individual skills of players. There must be organization and tactical flexibility, and an alternative plan must be ready to minimize the impact of key players' absences. Whether or not Kim Min-jae is present, Coach Hong's regime must grapple with how to effectively fill the 'absence.'

[OSEN]