South Korea's Kim confident in defense for World Cup qualifier

South Korea defender Min Jae Kim is confident in his team's defensive capabilities as they prepare for a pivotal 2026 World Cup match against South Africa. The experienced player acknowledged the African team's physical prowess and speed, stressing the need for intense focus throughout the game.

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They are very physical and fast, we have to prepare for that.

Kim highlighted South Korea's preparation for opponents with similar characteristics, noting their efforts to defend against technically skilled and fast players. He believes a strong performance, similar to recent matches, could lead to a positive outcome.

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We have many opponents with great technique and they are fast, we have been trying to defend against that and if we play as well as we did in the last few games we can have a very good result.

Despite being a key figure, Kim downplayed his leadership role, preferring to support his teammates and contribute to the team's best effort on the field. He also commended the development of the team's central defenders, observing their increasing confidence and potential as the tournament progresses. Kim expressed hope that the team can collectively support the younger players to achieve an excellent result.

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We have a lot of confidence, instead of feeling like a leader I feel like someone who supports the team and we give our best on the field.