Until when will the grass be used as an "excuse for poor performance"?

The South Korea national team, led by coach Hong Myung-bo, recorded a draw against Jordan in the 8th match of Group B in the 3rd round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup, held on the 25th at 8 p.m. at Suwon World Cup Stadium. Since the match against Palestine in November last year, it has been three consecutive 1-1 draws against Oman and Jordan.

With only 1 point gained, South Korea maintains 1st place in Group B with 16 points (4 wins, 4 draws), but the gap is not large with 2nd place Jordan (13 points) and 3rd place Iraq (12 points), making it a precarious situation for maintaining first place.

South Korea lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Son Heung-min started at the front, with Hwang Hee-chan, Lee Jae-sung, and Lee Dong-kyung in the second line of attack. Park Yong-woo and Hwang In-beom filled the midfield, while Lee Tae-seok, Kwon Kyung-won, Jo Yu-min, and Seol Young-woo formed the back four. Jo Hyun-woo guarded the goal.

In the match, South Korea took the lead with a goal from Lee Jae-sung following Son Heung-min's corner kick in the 5th minute. However, they conceded an equalizer in the 30th minute due to a mistake by Park Yong-woo, allowing a counterattack.

In the second half, Lee Jae-sung and Yang Hyun-jun connected with a header from Seol Young-woo's cross, but they failed to capitalize, ending the match without additional goals.

Coach Hong Myung-bo introduced Yang Min-hyeok, Yang Hyun-jun, Oh Se-hoon, and Oh Hyun-kyu in the second half for an all-out attack, but ultimately could not secure 3 points. South Korea showed a generally dominant flow throughout the match, but lost another victory due to one critical mistake.

Once again, a poor performance unfolded, resulting in a 1-1 draw at home, following the draw against Oman. Including the away match against Palestine in November last year, it marks three consecutive 1-1 draws.

The grass condition was also an issue on that day. In a match held on the 20th at Goyang Stadium against Oman, the poor grass condition caused players Baek Seung-ho and Lee Kang-in to collapse. In the first half, Baek Seung-ho fell due to a left thigh hamstring injury, and Lee Kang-in, who replaced him, suffered an injury to his left ankle. Lee Kang-in could not walk independently and had to be supported by staff to leave the field.

The match against Jordan, which was the second game in March, was held at Suwon World Cup Stadium.

Following the grass replacement project that started at the end of last year, Suwon Samsung, which utilizes Suwon World Cup Stadium as its home ground, temporarily used Yongin Mir Stadium for some time. The opening date coincided with the March A match, leading grass management for the match against Jordan to become a key task.

Although the stadium management foundation attempted to maintain the grass in optimal condition, the drop in temperature delayed root establishment, creating difficulties. In response, the Korea Football Association adjusted the Korea Cup schedule to secure time for grass recovery.

Although this match was the 500th held at Suwon World Cup Stadium, the symbolic moment was deferred, causing dissatisfaction among Suwon Samsung fans. Thanks to the adjustments to the schedule, the result was not bad. The grass condition was better than in the match against Oman at Goyang Stadium, and no grass-related issues occurred during the match.

However, the players were not satisfied with the grass condition. Captain Son Heung-min said after the match, "When playing at home, if the grass holds us back, I wonder where we can gain any advantage. From the perspective of the listeners, it may sound like an excuse, but for the players, the outcome can hinge on one tiny detail."

He added, "It’s truly frustrating not being able to play my game in a good environment. You may not see how hard the players work, but we prepared very diligently. I want to play on good grass."

Lee Jae-sung also noted, "After the match against Oman, I mentioned the grass condition, and I still feel some disappointment this time. While it's true that the players did not perform well for the results, I hope there can be some assistance with the environmental factors as well. Our players, having played in good environments, have some expectations. If those expectations are not met here, it leaves a disappointment."

South Korea exhibited several disappointing performances in both attack and defense that day. In particular, Son Heung-min, who played at the front, and Hwang Hee-chan, who played as the left winger, did not perform well.

Son Heung-min, who played not as a wide attacker but as a front striker, recorded a total of 44 touches but only attempted 1 shot. There were no accurate shots. He achieved a passing success rate of 89% (17/19) with 5 key passes, but had zero successful dribbles (1 attempt). He made 5 attempts at duels with defenders, winning 2. He participated in one aerial duel, but did not win that one as well.

The most shocking statistic is the 'possession lost.' Son Heung-min lost possession a staggering 14 times on that day.

Hwang Hee-chan, who was substituted after playing for about 68 minutes, was not much different. He recorded a total of 49 touches, with a passing success rate of 85% (28/35). He made no key passes, had 1 accurate shot, and achieved 1 successful dribble (5 attempts), also recording 14 possessions lost, just like Son Heung-min.

Lee Jae-sung also had 13 turnovers.

It's not the first time players have been dissatisfied with the grass condition. In reality, there have been situations where injuries were caused by grass issues, so their complaints are entirely understandable. However, the fact that neither Oman nor Jordan was able to use the grass as an excuse is clearly a problem.

Both Oman and Jordan left for the Korean expedition during the Ramadan period. They had to overcome not only the long flight time but also physical challenges due to Ramadan. Additionally, both teams played under the same grass conditions as the Korean players. There can be no justification for poor performances using the grass as an excuse any longer.

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