South Korea coach is keen to bring his captain, Son Heung-min, back into the form for the World Cup 2026, which is now in focus.
It’s been a tough spell for Son up front. He’s been on the wrong side of the ball since he joined Los Angeles FC from Tottenham Hotspur. He has hit just two home-runs in his last season. This has raised concerns that he is not as sharp as he should be for a big competition.
Coach Hong Myung-bo doesn’t think so. He feels that it is not a question of shape, but of function. Son has been playing a little deeper at club level. This restricts his ability to play in the box. This has led to a decrease in his goal output.
It’s a different story for the national team. Impressed by Son’s performance, Hong would like to utilize him in a more challenging role. This may get him closer to the goal and enable him to play to his strengths. The quick runs, finishing and movement will be important once more.
Group A is a well-rounded challenge. South Korea will play Mexico, Czech Republic and South Africa. Here are competitive teams but not all-cone. An incisive Son might be a deciding factor in close encounters.
The team also has great assistance. Fodder can be found in the midfield, defence and attack positions from players such as Lee Kang-in, Kim Min-jae, and Hwang Hee-chan. This balance may take the strain off Son, giving him more time to concentrate on finishing.
This World Cup may be important to his legacy. It may be his last time on this stage! Bigger than that, he could yet take South Korea to a good campaign if he gets in tune rapidly and gets into a rhythm.
