Korean coach hopes team surpasses 2002 semifinal run
After beating the Czech Republic in their opener, Korea face co-host Mexico in a crucial World Cup group match with knockout qualification within reach.
Korean national football team's head coach Hong Myung-bo speaks during a press event in Mexico on June 17.NEWS1
During his illustrious playing career, Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo captained the country to an unlikely semifinal berth at the 2002 FIFA World Cup that Korea co-hosted with Japan.
No Asian country has gone that deep into a World Cup since.
More than two decades later, Hong now hopes his current squad will go beyond the final four this time.
Having defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 in their first Group A match of this year's tournament, Korea will take on co-host Mexico for the second match at Guadalajara Stadium in western Mexico at 7 p.m. Thursday. The winner will be all but assured of a spot in the knockout phase.
"We beat the Czech Republic because our players didn't give up until the end, and all did their part really well. Their confidence is running high, and I hope it shows on the pitch tomorrow," Hong said at his prematch press conference at Guadalajara Stadium. "We reached the semifinals in 2002, and I hope the players here will break that record."
Mexico, which beat South Africa 2-0 to begin their home World Cup, will present a much different challenge than the Czech Republic. At No. 14 in the last FIFA rankings before the tournament, Mexico are the highest-ranked team in Group A and are widely considered the favorites to win the group.
Korean national footballers stand in a circle before their training session in Mexico on June 17.YONHAP
"Mexico and the Czech Republic are different in many aspects, including their style of play. And we've discussed that as a team," Hong said. "The opponents will come out with all guns blazing, and we have to be prepared for that."
Korea have not defeated Mexico since 2006, but that drought nearly ended in a friendly last September, when Korea gave up a late equalizer to take a 2-2 draw. Son Heung-min and Oh Hyeong-gyu, both of them on the World Cup squad, were the goal scorers for Korea then.
"I think that match will help us immensely," Hong said. "We gained a few things from that game."
As for playing in front of a partisan and hostile Mexican crowd, Hong said: "Our players know about the home team's advantage, and they have played before big crowds. The key is to grab the momentum of the match."
Up against a skilled Mexican attacking corps, Hong's back three will be anchored by Kim Min-jae of Bayern Munich, who will be asked to do the heavy lifting with less-experienced teammates flanking him.
As important as Kim is to the team, Hong, a former defender himself, said coherence among defenders as a unit is also crucial.
"Their forwards can be really quick, and we may lose them with a momentary lapse," Hong said. "In those situations, defensive organization and chemistry between players will be important."
With the tournament expanding from 32 to 48 nations, teams have a little more time between group-stage matches to rest and train. Korea will have had six days off between their first and second matches, for instance. The third match, against South Africa, will come after five days' rest.
"We've had enough time to have players recover and prepare for this match," Hong said. "Matches are all relative. We don't always get to execute everything we've prepared, and it's important to manage variables that emerge over the course of a match."
