[Anchor]
The South Korean national football team will face South Africa in their third group stage match of the North and Central America World Cup tomorrow, June 25. While a draw would be enough to advance to the Round of 32, head coach Hong Myung-bo has expressed a strong determination to win and hinted at some changes to the starting lineup.
Reporter Ha Seong-nyong has the story.
[Reporter]
Despite the sweltering heat in Monterrey, where temperatures have exceeded 30°C (86°F) with high humidity, the players completed their final training session for the South Africa match with bright expressions and high energy.
After carefully assessing the players' physical conditions, head coach Hong Myung-bo announced that there would be some changes to the starting lineup for the final group match against South Africa.
[Hong Myung-bo/Head Coach of the National Football Team: I am thinking there will be changes in about two or three positions tomorrow.]
Changes are expected, such as Oh Hyeon-gyu or Cho Gue-sung starting as the lone striker, Son Heung-min moving to the left flank, and adjustments to the wing-backs for a more aggressive tactical approach.
The national team only needs a draw against South Africa to advance to the Round of 32. However, they are determined to win in Monterrey—the "land of promise" where South Korean football first reached the semifinals of the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship in Mexico—and pass the group stage in second place.
[Hong Myung-bo/Head Coach of the National Football Team: It would be very joyful if such an opportunity came to us (like in 1983). I believe this place will be remembered as one that holds a great gift for our squad. We will prepare for the match with the mindset that we must win.]
Kim Min-jae, the anchor of the three-back defense, stated that Lee Ki-hyuk and Lee Han-beom, who are playing in their first World Cup, are becoming increasingly stable, and that the team will focus on neutralizing South Africa's speed.
[Kim Min-jae/National Team Defender: (South Africa) has technically gifted players with speed, so the defenders have talked about preparing well for that. I think if we play just like we did in the first two matches, we can win.]
If South Korea defeats South Africa, they will advance to the Round of 32 in second place and achieve two group stage wins for the first time in 24 years, since the 2002 tournament where they reached the semifinals.
(Video coverage: Hwang In-seok, Video editing: Oh Young-taek)
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