"I'm sorry." Park Yong-woo, who was beaten by Jordan again, encouraged Hong Myung-bo to "Hey, raise your head." Will a 'team-level' solution come out
"I'm sorry." Park Yong-woo, who was beaten by Jordan again, encouraged Hong Myung-bo to "Hey, raise your head." Will a 'team-level' solution come out
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The nightmare was repeated one year ago. Park Yong-woo (32, Al Ain) shook his head in front of Jordan, where he met again. However, Hong Myung-bo is unwavering in his belief.
The South Korean national soccer team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, drew 1-1 with Jordan in the eighth Group B match of the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA North-China World Cup at Suwon World Cup Stadium at 8 p.m. on the 25th.
Korea got off to a good start with Lee Jae-sung's first goal in the fifth minute of the first half. However, it allowed Mahmoud Almardi to score the equalizer with a single counterattack at the 30th minute of the first half. Park's one mistake directly contributed to the loss.
As a result, Korea had a draw in all three games from the match against Palestine in November last year to the match against Oman on the 20th and the match against Jordan on the day. Notably, the team failed to win both games on its home turf, leaving deep regret.
Now, Korea is ranking first in its group with 16 points (4 wins, 4 draws). Depending on the outcome of the A-match in June, Korea could potentially be overturned by Jordan or Iraq. Korea had pledged to secure early advancement to the World Cup finals for the 11th consecutive time by winning two consecutive home matches, but failed to do so as it only added two more points.
It was a night I wanted to forget once again for Park. Working with Hwang In-beom, who returned from injury, he took charge of Hong's midfield. It was a natural choice for Park as he had been the mainstay in the waist of the national team.
However, Park made a fatal mistake. He provided an excuse for allowing a run in the 30th minute of the first half when his team was leading 1-0. When Park hesitated for a moment in the midfield, Jordanian players rushed in and cut the ball off. Jordan's only counterattack shot from the scene became the only goal for Jordan.
It was the moment that reminded me of the Jordanian nightmare a year ago. In the semi-finals of the 2023 Asian Cup held in Qatar in January last year, Park lowered his head by providing an excuse for a run against Jordan. Back then, Park's pass miss from the midfield was a cause of concern. Korea lost the first point and was eliminated from the competition, losing 0-2.
This time, Park dropped his head due to a mistake that directly led to the equalizer. He could hardly raise his head even after the game, and was consoled by the coaching staff and coach Hong Myung-bo. Park kept his head down when the team greeted the fans with applause.
Nevertheless, coach Hong Myung-bo still expressed his trust in Park Yong-woo. "We have yet to find a replacement (for Hwang In-beom and Park Yong-woo). Park made mistakes in the past, but it is too much to say just one mistake," he said in a press conference.
Coach Hong Myung-bo also said, "Of course, it is important to find new players for the future. However, Park Yong-woo made a mistake today, but there is no big problem with the combination. You need to focus more. Overall, I think balance and teamwork are the best combination considering that you trained for a day or two."
In fact, Park Yong-woo showed good performance except for one mistake on the day. Not only defense protection but also conversion passes that were sprayed from left to right were not bad. He also had good chemistry with Hwang.
Above all, it is not easy for Hong to find a midfielder to replace Park Yong-woo immediately. It would be a gamble for Hong, who has to play two final qualifying games in June, to suddenly select a new player and use him as his main player.
In the end, Park Yong-woo has no choice but to learn from this mistake and become stronger. "The players did really well in the first half, but I think I lost the flow due to my mistake. I feel sorry for the team and everyone," he said at the mixed zone. "That one mistake has too much impact on the team. "I am reflecting on myself and reflecting on myself. I must try not to make such a mistake again."
Coach Hong Myung-bo also comforted Park once again. As he was exiting the stadium, he shouted, "Hey, raise your head, dude," while watching Park Yong-woo during an interview. Those were words of heartless encouragement to his student, who would feel worse than anyone else. They are Park Yong-woo and Hong Myung-bo, who have to face a happy ending in the upcoming match against Iraq and Kuwait in June.
However, what is more urgent than Park Yong-woo's self-reflection is a tactical solution. Until now, there have been many cases where mistakes have been made in the position of a third-term midfielder in the national team, whether Park Yong-woo or anyone else. At the team level, preparations are needed, such as reducing the burden on the one-volanch or devising a completely different tactic. 메이저놀이터
Of course, Park's play on the day should be seen as an individual's mistake. However, it is also true that the team should display performances that cover the weaknesses of players as much as possible and take advantage of their strengths. If mistakes continue, it is skills. And if mistakes continue in the same position even if players change, it is skills of the team rather than individuals.