Here is the latest update from the 2026 FIFA World Cup as of 2026-06-25 08:40:00.
MONTERREY, Mexico — A daring decision by South Korea’s coach, Hong Myung-Bo, left fans in disbelief as he omitted captain Son Heung-Min from the starting lineup during a crucial Group A match against South Africa on Wednesday. This marked the first instance in which Son was not on the pitch from the beginning in his national team journey.
The outcome was a surprising yet deserved 1-0 win for South Africa, propelling them from the bottom of the group to a historic second-place finish and securing their first-ever advancement to the knockout stage.
In contrast, South Korea now awaits the final outcomes of the group stage, hoping to qualify as one of the best-performing third-placed teams. The South Korean media was unforgiving in their critiques during Hong’s post-match press conference, labeling the performance as “dismal” and the decision to alter the starting lineup as “a failure.”
Faced with these criticisms, Hong expressed regret about his decisions. “If I had known the result, I would have chosen differently,” he admitted. “The outcome is ultimately my responsibility.” He emphasized the thought process behind his game strategy but acknowledged, “I guess I made the wrong decisions, and that was the reason we had a bad result.”
When pressed about his motives for benching Son, Hong explained that he aimed to introduce his star player when the opposing team was fatigued. It raises questions, however, why he chose to bring Son on at the start of the second half when South Africa was likely to be reinvigorated from halftime.
“We believed that Son would be more effective when the opponents were losing energy,” Hong noted. “We aimed for him to exploit spaces between the defenders at a time when South Africa would be weaker.” With Wednesday’s performance labeled their “worst game” of the tournament, Hong carries the weight of past failures, notably the winless campaign in 2014, which remains South Korea’s most disappointing World Cup showing since 1998.
FAQs
Why was Son Heung-Min benched in the match against South Africa?
Coach Hong Myung-Bo aimed to introduce him later, believing he would be more effective against a tired defense.
What impact did South Africa’s victory have on the group standings?
South Africa’s win allowed them to advance to the knockout stage for the first time, moving them to second place in Group A.
Quick Facts
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- Source: www.espn.com – SOCCER
- Published: 2026-06-25 08:40:00
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Tags: #South #Korea #brink #exit #wrong #Son #gamble
Tags: #South #Korea #brink #exit #wrong #Son #gamble
