Hong Myung-bo takes blame after South Korea's World Cup exit looms following loss to South Africa

South Korean national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo expressed deep frustration and took full responsibility following the team's lackluster 0-1 defeat against South Africa in their final group stage match of the 2026 World Cup. The loss, which followed earlier defeats to Mexico and a win against Czech Republic, has cast serious doubt on South Korea's chances of advancing to the knockout stage.

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Looking back, it's a game I still don't fully understand. Football doesn't always go as planned, but a coach must control even those aspects. The responsibility lies with me.

"Looking back, it's a game I still don't fully understand," Hong stated in a press conference held the day after the match. "Football doesn't always go as planned, but a coach must control even those aspects. The responsibility lies with me." He acknowledged that the team's performance against South Africa was their worst of the tournament, attributing it to various factors including adapting to a changed environment and a general dip in play.

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It's hard to pinpoint the exact reason for the poor performance when the data doesn't show a significant difference.

Despite statistical data showing similar running distances and even more high-intensity movements compared to previous games, the team appeared sluggish. Hong admitted, "It's hard to pinpoint the exact reason for the poor performance when the data doesn't show a significant difference." He also firmly dismissed rumors of internal discord within the squad, stating, "I don't believe there are any disharmonies or problems within the squad. As far as I know, there are no special issues." He added that the team atmosphere is generally good, but acknowledged that poor results can lead to speculation.

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I don't believe there are any disharmonies or problems within the squad. As far as I know, there are no special issues.

Regarding the substitution of star player Son Heung-min, Hong explained that Son's role in earlier matches focused on exploiting space behind the defense with sprints. For the South Africa game, considering the player's physical condition and the hot weather, the plan was to bring him on later. Hong maintained that Son understands his role and has been performing well. "A game doesn't always unfold as prepared," Hong concluded. "The South Africa match was a 'twisted game.'" He vowed to regroup the team and strive for a positive outcome in the potential next match, stating, "We must rebuild the team somehow. If we achieve a good result in the Round of 16, the players can receive applause."

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A game doesn't always unfold as prepared. The South Africa match was a 'twisted game.' We must rebuild the team somehow.