Comedian slams coach's tactics after South Korea's loss to Mexico

South Korean comedian Lee Kyung-kyu has voiced strong criticism of national football team coach Hong Myung-bo's tactical choices during the team's 1-0 defeat against Mexico in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Lee, watching the match on his live channel 'God Kyung-kyu,' directly questioned the coach's player selection and substitution timing. He particularly focused on the early substitution of star player Son Heung-min, suggesting it was a misstep. "Perhaps because he was praised for a successful substitution in the previous match against Czechia, he took Son Heung-min out too early this time," Lee commented, adding that Son should have been utilized as a winger to leverage his dribbling and space-penetrating abilities, rather than as a lone striker.

The comedian also lamented what he perceived as unnecessary positional changes, citing the shift of Seol Young-woo from the right flank, where he had a good connection with Lee Kang-in, to the left side. "Since national team players don't gather often, they should be placed in positions where they perform best," Lee asserted.

Furthermore, Lee pointed to a lack of tactical adjustments and offensive pattern modifications when the game flow stalled. He described the substitutions as haphazard, lacking prior calculation, and contributing to a "confused" state on the field. "This match was a tactical failure," he concluded, emphasizing that the team's inability to adapt strategically led to the loss. South Korea, now with one win and one loss, faces South Africa in their final group stage match with their sights set on advancing to the Round of 32.