Contrasting World Cup Fates: Hong Myung-bo vs. Moriyasu Hajime

The 2026 World Cup has starkly highlighted the contrasting fortunes and perceptions of two prominent football coaches: South Korea's Hong Myung-bo and Japan's Moriyasu Hajime. While Hong faced another disappointing outcome, Moriyasu's Japan garnered praise for their performance.

Hong Myung-bo's team failed to meet expectations, marking another setback for the coach. In contrast, Moriyasu's Japan team, despite not achieving their stated goal of winning the tournament, impressed with their play. They navigated the group stage undefeated (one win, two draws) before suffering a narrow 1-2 defeat to Brazil in the Round of 32 after a fierce battle.

The article implies a double standard in evaluating coaching success, suggesting that while Moriyasu's team fell short of their ambitious target, their performance earned plaudits. Conversely, Hong's failures seem to be met with harsher criticism, leading the author to lament what they term 'cowardly' football figures who seem to benefit from such disparities in judgment.

The piece uses the phrase 'benji' (벤버지), a portmanteau often used affectionately for a coach, in relation to Hong, contrasting it with the admiration for Moriyasu. This juxtaposition serves to underscore the perceived difference in how these coaches and their teams are viewed by the public and media, despite both falling short of ultimate victory.