Can South Korea win against Jordan without Lee Kang-in (24, Paris Saint-Germain)?
The football national team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo (56), will face Jordan in the '2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup Asian Zone 3rd qualifying round Group B match' on the evening of the 25th at 8 p.m. at Suwon World Cup Stadium.
South Korea drew 1-1 against Oman on the 20th, failing to protect Hwang Hee-chan's opening goal. South Korea has recorded 15 points (5 wins, 3 draws) and is maintaining a somewhat uneasy first place in Group B, just 3 points ahead of second-place Jordan.
Ahead of the match, an official press conference was held on the 24th in Suwon. Lee Jae-sung attended as the representative player.
Lee Jae-sung said, “I recovered my body and mind through rest in the last match. After returning, I watched the video of the last game and discussed the areas we were lacking with the coach. We trained well on those areas for two days. I’m happy that all the players can meet in better condition than the first match. We’ve come to Suwon, and since many fans are here, we will definitely bring joy with a victory.”
It's important to contain Jordan's ace, Al-Tamari. Lee Jae-sung analyzed, “He was a player who caused us pain (in the Asian Cup). Rather than relying on an individual, the whole team needs to work together to stop him. We must not give him any threatening chances.”
With the draw against Oman, South Korea must win against Jordan. Lee Jae-sung stated, “We are still in first place. Naturally, I feel responsible for the Oman match. I am confident that we can definitely win against Jordan tomorrow. I’m not too worried. We need to familiarize ourselves with the shortcomings from the last match and move forward. We need to perform in the match tomorrow to grow.”
Last October, South Korea returned from the away match against Jordan with a 2-0 victory, thanks to Lee Jae-sung's opening goal and Oh Hyun-kyu's additional goal. Lee Jae-sung expressed, “I was happy to score in the last match. I want to carry on the good momentum into the next game. I am focusing on my role on the team. Whether I score or a teammate does, I will do my best to focus on achieving victory.”
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