The South Korean national soccer team is facing a major crisis ahead of the 8th match in Group B of the Asian third round qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America. With injuries sidelining ace Lee Kang-in (24, Paris Saint-Germain) and several key midfielders, head coach Hong Myung-bo must face the formidable opponent Jordan.

South Korea will face Jordan in the 8th match of the group stage at the Suwon World Cup Stadium at 8 p.m. on the 25th. Currently, Korea holds first place in Group B with 4 wins and 3 draws (15 points), but the 1-1 draw against Oman in the 7th match squandered an early chance to advance to the finals. Losing to Jordan could result in dropping to a lower rank.

The problem lies in the injuries. The team's "playmaker" Lee Kang-in, along with Baek Seung-ho (Birmingham City) and Jung Seung-hyun (Al Wasl), have all dropped out due to injuries. Notably, Lee was forced to leave the pitch after sustaining an ankle injury shortly after creating the opening goal for Hwang Hee-chan in the Oman match. The absence of Lee, who played as a "multi-player" filling in roles from the defensive midfielder position, is critical for the team.

Head coach Hong Myung-bo explained, "Fortunately, the tests showed no serious injuries, but after discussions with the players' clubs, it was decided to release Lee Kang-in and the other two players from the national team. We will not call up additional substitute players and are preparing for the match against Jordan with the existing squad of 25 players."

The injury to Lee Kang-in means that the central axis of the team's attack has disappeared. Lee has played a key role by starting in six consecutive matches under coach Hong and has led the offensive buildup with his passing and de-pressuring ability. Evidence of this is seen as there was not a single shot until his insertion in the Oman match.

In Lee's absence, the responsibility in the midfield will shift to Hwang In-beom (29, Feyenoord). He missed the Oman match as a precautionary measure and while he is a possibility to play against Jordan, he is not in 100% condition.

If Hwang In-beom's performance does not meet expectations due to his less-than-optimal condition, the team will face even greater challenges in midfield composition. With both Lee Kang-in and Baek Seung-ho already out, the ball movement and transition speed will inevitably decrease.

Jordan is on the rise, having recently defeated Palestine 3-1, and it is expected that powerful attackers such as Musa Al-Tamari (Stade Rennais) and Yazan Al-Naimat (Al Arabi) will come out in force, making defensive pressure daunting.

The injury to Lee Kang-in has also reduced the tactical flexibility of the national team. Lee played a crucial puzzle role in team tactics, filling various positions including wide, central, and deep-lying playmaker according to the situation. His absence means coach Hong must consider either the double pivot strategy with Park Yong-woo and Won Du-jae or a plan B that involves moving Lee Jae-sung one position higher.

Additionally, there is a concern over the performance of captain Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham), who has not been at his best. In the Oman match, he was responsible for a goal due to a passing error and struggled, losing possession of the ball 19 times. Even though he publicly stated on the 19th before the game that he was feeling better than ever, his performance remained disappointing.

Nevertheless, with Lee Kang-in absent, the expectations placed on Son Heung-min have increased. As he stated, "I feel sorry for the team. I will use this as an opportunity to improve," he must show his qualities as an ace in the match against Jordan for a chance at redemption.

The upcoming match against Jordan is expected to be a watershed moment, transcending a simple World Cup qualifier, testing coach Hong Myung-bo's tactical capabilities and crisis response skills. It remains to be seen whether the team can maintain the top spot in the group based on just one match, and if they can regain the flow of attack without Lee Kang-in.

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