South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo is dealing with calls to step down following the nation’s disastrous World Cup marketing campaign, which noticed them lose 1-0 to Group A weak-links South Africa.
It wasn’t simply the consequence, which leaves their World Cup marketing campaign hanging within the stability, that had South Korean followers elevating their fists – however the method wherein they misplaced, dominating the ball however failing to create any clear-cut possibilities in a recreation which was removed from eye-catching.
Solely a tame Oh Hyeon-gyu header and an early Lee Kang-in strike had been amongst their uncommon possibilities, and a petition calling for Hong to be sacked referred to as it ‘lifeless’ and ‘one of many worst shows by a Korean group’ of their World Cup historical past – which leaves them anxious to see outcomes go of their favour to e-book one of many eight third-place spots to progress to the knockout rounds.
Probably the most controversial second truly arrived earlier than the sport, with captain Son Heung-min dropped from the beginning line-up for the primary ever time within the former Spurs midfielder’s profession.
Regardless of being unable to search out the again of the web in South Korea’s first match victory in opposition to Czech Republic, after which failing to file a shot of their defeat to Mexico of their second, dropping their talisman was all the time a raffle which might backfire disproportionately if it failed.
On condition that South Korea solely wanted to keep away from defeat in opposition to the Group A underdogs to ensure second place within the desk, this actually seems to be the place that we now discover ourselves in, with Hong dealing with widespread calls from the nation’s soccer fan base and media to step down.
Probably the most controversial second truly arrived earlier than the sport, with captain Son Heung-min dropped from the beginning line-up for the primary ever time within the former Spurs midfielder’s profession
A petition from followers within the wake of the defeat argued that Hong’s appointment had been tainted by procedural flaws from the outset and that it was ‘essentially illegitimate’
Such has been the backlash that, within the post-match press convention, journalists described the South Korean efficiency as ‘dismal’; one other recommended that the one clarification for such a poor show was a case of ‘mass meals poisoning throughout the squad’, and Hong’s decision-making was labelled a ‘failure’.
A petition from followers within the wake of the defeat argued that Hong’s appointment had been tainted by procedural flaws from the outset.
It learn: ‘The Korea Soccer Affiliation’s official choice course of was successfully ignored, making it tough to keep away from criticism that the appointment was essentially illegitimate.’
It continued: ‘Regardless of fielding what many thought-about the strongest squad in Korea’s World Cup historical past, the group completed with one win and two losses, inserting third within the group.
‘The efficiency in opposition to South Africa was so lifeless that it might be considered one of many worst shows by a Korean group in World Cup historical past.’
Other than Hong’s removing, the petition additionally urged sweeping reforms to the governance of the Korea Soccer Affiliation (KFA).
Hong himself, who many imagine wouldn’t have stayed past the tip of this marketing campaign, accepted ‘full duty’ within the wake of the defeat – and can due to this fact seemingly go quietly if requested to take action.
‘When it comes to the method and making ready for this recreation, and the way we’d play on the sphere, that’s one thing I put a lot thought into,’ mentioned the previous South Korea captain, who led the group to its well-known semifinal end in 2002 throughout his enjoying days. ‘In fact, if we knew what the consequence was going to be, I in all probability would have made completely different decisions.
‘However I had a technique in thoughts. Each time such a foul consequence occurs, everybody has their very own opinion. The result’s actually the duty of the top coach. In the end, it comes right down to my palms.
‘I assume I made the unsuitable choices and that was the rationale we had a foul consequence. Nothing extra, nothing much less.’
As for his decision-making behind the exclusion of Son, Hong argued that he believed within the build-up to the match that the 33-year-old can be most ruthless when deployed in opposition to a tiring South African aspect – though he truly introduced him on at first of the second half, proper after each groups had benefited from a break, and he had little affect on the sport.
‘We thought that Son can be higher positioned (to make an affect) when the opponents had been shedding their vitality, not after they had quite a lot of vitality,’ Hong added. ‘And when there have been extra areas to take advantage of between the opponents’ line of defense, that is after we wished Son to be at his strongest – when the opponents had been a bit weaker.’
South Korea may nonetheless squeeze into the Spherical of 32 given they at the moment sit sixth within the standings. Because it stands, they may face Mo Salah’s Egypt aspect subsequent.
Even so, the nation’s soccer media are predicting that whatever the end result of the third-place standings, Hong’s destiny may already be sealed.
