Can 'Captain' Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham Hotspur) avenge his defeat against Mussa Al-Tamari (28, Stade Rennais) from a year ago?
The South Korean national soccer team, led by coach Hong Myung-bo, will face Jordan in the 8th match of Group B of the Asian qualification for the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup on the 25th at 8 p.m. at Suwon World Cup Stadium.
Earlier, South Korea drew 1-1 against Oman on the 20th. They were unable to protect Hwang Hee-chan's opening goal at the end of the first half. Adding just one point at home, South Korea has recorded 15 points (4 wins, 3 draws) and is precariously holding the top spot in the group, just 3 points ahead of 2nd place Jordan and 3rd place Iraq (both with 12 points).
The national team aimed for an early confirmation of their qualification for the World Cup finals for the 11th consecutive time during this two-match home series, but the draw against Oman derailed that ambition. They now risk conceding the top spot to either Jordan or Iraq. If South Korea loses to Jordan on that day, their standings could flip.
Moreover, injuries have compounded the situation. Kim Min-jae could not join due to an Achilles injury, and Jung Seung-hyun suffered a calf injury during training. Additionally, Baek Seung-ho and Lee Kang-in fell ill during the Oman match, resulting in Jung Seung-hyun, Baek Seung-ho, and Lee Kang-in all being released from the squad and unable to play against Jordan.
Desperate for a win, coach Hong Myung-bo took a bold step by placing Son Heung-min at the forefront instead of three specialized strikers (Joo Min-kyu, Oh Se-hoon, Oh Hyeon-kyu). On that day, South Korea's starting lineup will feature Son Heung-min, Lee Dong-kyung, Lee Jae-sung, Hwang Hee-chan, Park Yong-woo, Hwang In-beom, Lee Tae-seok, Seol Young-woo, Jo Yu-min, Kwon Kyung-won, and Jo Hyun-woo.
It seems Son Heung-min, who occasionally played as a central forward for his club Tottenham and the national team, will lead the attack from the front line. Alternatively, he could swap positions with Hwang Hee-chan, who can also play as a sole striker, moving between the left and center.
In the previous match against Oman, Son Heung-min started on the left wing but widened his range of movement when the game didn't go as planned. He attempted to create cracks in the opponent’s dense defense by moving to the center.
However, the results were disappointing. Son Heung-min showcased a sharp free-kick shot once, but overall, he made numerous mistakes. This included a turnover that led to a conceded goal. Son Heung-min and coach Hong Myung-bo must produce a different result this time.
Especially, there is a debt to repay against Jordan. South Korea was blocked by Jordan in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Asian Cup held in Qatar last February. While South Korea had the upper hand in terms of objective strength, the team, led by coach Jurgen Klinsmann at that time, was overwhelmed by Jordan and lost 0-2.
The star of the match was not Son Heung-min or Lee Kang-in, but Al-Tamari. Al-Tamari, with his outstanding dribbling and movement, tore apart the South Korean defense, scoring one goal and providing one assist. Although he played the full time, Son Heung-min could not prevent the team's loss and shed tears after the match.
In this match, Al-Tamari again aims for the South Korean goal. He had been dealing with thigh pain during the final training, which cast doubt on his participation, but he has been named in Jordan's starting lineup. It appears to be merely a smokescreen.
For Son Heung-min, this is a match in which the future of the national team's World Cup qualification is at stake and a chance for revenge against Al-Tamari, whom he meets again after a year. South Korea previously defeated Jordan 2-0 away in October last year, but both Son Heung-min and Al-Tamari were absent due to injuries at that time. This is the first time the two players will face off since the Qatar Asian Cup.
Meanwhile, Son Heung-min is expected to participate in his 133rd A-match through this Jordan game. This ties him for third place with goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae, who was a key player in the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup semifinal.
Currently, South Korea's record for the most A-match appearances is held by former coaches Cha Bum-kun and Hong Myung-bo with 136 matches. Son Heung-min will join their ranks with just three more matches wearing the national team jersey.
[OSEN]