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Hong Myung-bo: 'Can't find answer' for South Korea's poor performance against South Africa, denies internal conflict

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • South Korea's national football team coach Hong Myung-bo is struggling to pinpoint the exact reasons for his team's poor performance in their 0-1 loss to South Africa.
  • Despite needing only a draw to advance, South Korea displayed their worst performance of the tournament, losing to the perceived weakest team in Group A.
  • Hong Myung-bo acknowledged the team's psychological pressure and environmental factors but denied any internal team conflict, expressing hope for a potential advancement to the Round of 32.

South Korean national football team coach Hong Myung-bo admitted he cannot find a clear answer for his team's dismal performance in their crucial 0-1 defeat against South Africa. The loss, which occurred in their final group stage match, left South Korea in third place in Group A, jeopardizing their chances of advancing to the Round of 32.

I am having trouble finding a clear answer for why our performance was like that yesterday.

— Hong Myung-boSouth Korean national football team coach Hong Myung-bo expressed his difficulty in diagnosing the team's poor performance after their loss to South Africa.

"I am having trouble finding a clear answer for why our performance was like that yesterday," Hong told reporters on June 26, a day after the match. "Tactically and in terms of effort, there wasn't a significant difference from previous games. That's why I haven't been able to pinpoint the exact cause of the slump."

Tactically and in terms of effort, there wasn't a significant difference from previous games. That's why I haven't been able to pinpoint the exact cause of the slump.

— Hong Myung-boCoach Hong Myung-bo elaborated on his inability to identify the specific reasons behind his team's sudden decline in performance.

South Korea had entered the match needing just a draw to secure second place in the group, having secured a win against the Czech Republic and a respectable performance against Mexico. However, they delivered their worst display of the tournament against South Africa, a team widely considered the weakest in Group A. The team struggled to contain South Africa's attacks and conceded the decisive goal in the 73rd minute.

The players seemed to want to win too badly, with immense pressure to secure the victory.

— Hong Myung-boHong Myung-bo suggested that psychological pressure might have contributed to the team's struggles on the field.

While acknowledging environmental factors like the heat might have played a role, Hong also pointed to psychological pressure. "The players seemed to want to win too badly, with immense pressure to secure the victory," he said. He dismissed speculation of internal team conflict, stating, "There was some disarray internally after the Mexico game, but there are no problems within the squad." Despite the setback, Hong remains hopeful, stating, "If we make it to the Round of 32, we have about three to four days left. I will do my best to prepare the team."

There was some disarray internally after the Mexico game, but there are no problems within the squad.

— Hong Myung-boCoach Hong Myung-bo denied rumors of internal team conflict despite the team's disappointing results.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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