South Korea's coach says aiming for a draw with South Africa would be a mistake

South Korea's national football team coach, Hong Myung-bo, has declared that his team must play for a victory against South Africa in their upcoming World Cup match, warning that settling for a draw would be a strategic error. The statement comes as South Korea faces South Africa in their final group stage game, with qualification for the knockout stages on the line. Hong stressed that a draw, while potentially enough to advance, could lead to unforeseen difficulties. "It would be imprudent to think about drawing. If we do, we could find ourselves in trouble; so we will go out to win as the only option," Hong stated during a press conference in Monterrey. Currently, South Korea holds three points from a win against the Czech Republic and a loss to Mexico. A victory would secure them four points, likely enough to advance to the round of 32. Hong expressed confidence in his players, stating they will approach the match with "confidence and faith, with the goal of earning three points." While South Korea enters the match as the favorite, Hong acknowledged the quality of the South African team, who drew with the Czechs and are in a must-win situation. He also addressed the team's recovery from a narrow 1-0 loss to Mexico, attributing it to a goalkeeper error but noting the team has since regrouped. Hong also thanked the Mexican fans for their support, anticipating a boost from the large presence of tourists and resident businesspeople in Monterrey.