In the end, it is Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham). With Lee Kang-in (24, Paris Saint-Germain) missing, the burden of captaincy has increased.
The South Korean national football team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo (56), will face Jordan in the 8th match of Group B in the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers, held at the Suwon World Cup Stadium on the 25th.
South Korea drew 1-1 against Oman on the 20th, failing to hold onto Hwang Hee-chan's opening goal. South Korea maintains a somewhat precarious first place in Group B with 15 points (5 wins, 3 draws).
If South Korea had defeated Oman and Jordan, they could have confirmed their advancement to the World Cup finals early. However, the shocking draw against Oman has delayed their qualification.
Moreover, it is not my full strength. Injuries are piling up. Kim Min-jae, who had already been called up, was replaced by Kim Joo-sung due to a serious hamstring injury at Bayern Munich. Furthermore, Jeong Seung-hyun could not play in the Oman match due to a thigh injury.
In particular, the problem lies in the midfield. Hwang In-beom, a key player in the midfield, was selected but is not in good shape. Additionally, many injuries occurred in the previous Oman match.
In fact, even Lee Kang-in and Baek Seung-ho, who had participated in the match, were injured. In the 38th minute of the first half of the Oman match, Baek Seung-ho was substituted due to a left hamstring injury. Lee Kang-in, who was brought on as a substitute, also sustained an ankle injury in the 34th minute of the second half.
Lee Kang-in and Baek Seung-ho were released from the national team on the 22nd. Both players are expected to return to their respective clubs after receiving treatment domestically. The Hong Myung-bo team conducted recovery and tactical training at Yongin Mir Stadium on the 22nd. Despite the shocking draw against Oman, the mood among the squad was bright. With two home games in a row, they are determined to achieve victory against Jordan.
Head coach Hong Myung-bo noted, "I thought Lee Kang-in's injury would be serious, but the examination results yesterday showed it is not as severe as expected. After discussing today, I confirmed his attitude and mindset toward the national team. From our perspective, he is an important player for his club, so we decided to release all three players. We will prepare for the match against Jordan with the remaining 25 players. There will be no substitutions made."
The players came out to the field at 4 p.m. Players who had played a lot in the Oman match, including Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan, walked lightly around the field to manage their condition. Afterward, they began stretching. The remaining 14 players engaged in high-intensity stretching from the beginning and then immediately touched the ball. Head coach Hong Myung-bo trained those who played a lot against Oman primarily in recovery, while players who did not play much were in good shape to start immediately against Jordan.
A representative from the Korea Football Association stated, "Lee Kang-in, Baek Seung-ho, and Jeong Seung-hyun plan to return home and focus on treatment domestically. Their plans for departure will be freely decided in agreement with their respective clubs. All three players are not seriously injured, with around two weeks of recovery expected."
Head coach Hong Myung-bo said, "I expected new players to participate in the last Oman match. However, the sudden injury to Baek Seung-ho and Lee Kang-in's quick substitution disrupted my plans. The new young players have faced difficulties coming from Europe to Korea, including issues related to jet lag and various institutional sectors. I am always ready to bring in new players whenever needed."
The release of Baek Seung-ho and Jeong Seung-hyun from the squad is a significant blow, but the absence of Lee Kang-in is felt even more acutely. Lee Kang-in made an immediate impact in the Oman match after his substitution, creating Hwang Hee-chan's opening goal with a long pass, showcasing his great performance. Nevertheless, he disappointingly collapsed with an injury at the end of the match.
Without a doubt, the most consistently good player on the national team recently is Lee Kang-in. His absence, known for his sharp kicks and presence against Asian teams, is likely to be a considerable disadvantage in the match against Jordan. Due to Lee Kang-in's absence, Hong Myung-bo's team has been put on high alert regarding midfield combinations.
With Lee Kang-in's injury, expectations for Son Heung-min, the 'captain,' have increased even more. Recently, Son Heung-min has been having a tough season and showed disappointing performance in the prior Oman match. While offensive points are important, he also exhibited shortcomings defensively.
The pass that went astray was left in front of Son Heung-min, who quickly attempted a forward pass. However, this pass went towards Al Busaidi instead of a teammate, and he immediately scored after receiving the ball from a teammate.
Feeling worse is the fact that the goal conceded came from the feet of South Korea's captain Son Heung-min. There is more disappointment that he observed the situation without taking active action after making the passing mistake. Additionally, according to various statistical sources, Son Heung-min relinquished possession of the ball 19 times in this single match.
After the match, Son Heung-min told reporters, "Overall, we brought back disappointing results. I am very disappointed in myself and feel sorry for my teammates on this day," adding, "This is not just a one-off game. We have been working hard for a long time to create good situations. We are short on time for disappointment. I hope this becomes a game that sparks development."
In the absence of Lee Kang-in, Son Heung-min's performance is crucial for the national team. Despite recent struggles, Son Heung-min is a player who can showcase a standout moment for Korea at any time. It remains to be seen whether he can overcome his mistakes and rescue the national team from this critical situation without Lee Kang-in.
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