[Anchor]
On the night of yesterday (October 6), when national team captain Son Heung-min set a new record for the most goals in history, the atmosphere within the national team was far from celebratory. This was due to a "retirement controversy" involving three players born in 1996: Hwang In-beom, Kim Min-jae, and Hwang Hee-chan. It appears to reflect long-standing conflicts within the squad surfacing all at once.
Reporter Ha Seong-nyong has the details.
[Reporter]
Even after scoring his 59th career goal to set a new record for the most goals by a South Korean male player, Son Heung-min could not smile brightly.
[Son Heung-min / National Football Team Captain: It is true that the atmosphere (within the team) was heavy. But personally, I think it is a good sign. It shows how much affection everyone has for this team.]
His remarks were an indirect reflection of the recent poor team atmosphere.
In fact, even after securing a 2-0 victory, Hwang In-beom collapsed onto the pitch and shed tears for a while. Shortly afterward, rumors spread that Kim Min-jae and Hwang Hee-chan, along with Hwang In-beom as part of a trio of players born in 1996, were considering "joint retirement" from the national team.
[Hwang In-beom / National Football Team Midfielder: Sometimes knowing when to let go is the wise choice. I think (selection for the national team in November) is now a matter for the coach to decide.]
Regarding the sudden "retirement controversy" involving key players, multiple sources told SBS that "long-standing conflicts have finally erupted."
From the private treatment room controversy ahead of the Qatar World Cup four years ago and the physical altercation between players during the 2024 Asian Cup, to the recent boycott of interviews ahead of the North and Central America World Cup qualifiers, repeated conflicts and temporary patch-up processes led to differing opinions between captain Son Heung-min and certain players. The 1996-born players, who have grown into senior figures, repeatedly demanded a "change in leadership," but with nothing changing, their grievances reportedly piled up.
The actions and remarks shown by Kim Min-jae immediately after the match against Venezuela can be interpreted in the same context.
[Kim Min-jae / National Football Team Defender (October 2): Everyone needs to fight together, contest, and defend, but those parts are not working well. Honestly, looking at the defensive players, I feel sorry for them.]
In the end, after National Team Committee Chairman Hyun Young-min talked with the three players past midnight, the "retirement controversy" was temporarily settled. However, Hwang Hee-chan and Hwang In-beom departed today without providing clear explanations regarding the matter.
[Hwang Hee-chan / National Football Team Midfielder: (Is there anything decided regarding your retirement from the national team?) Nothing has been decided...]
With the issues patched up rather than truly resolved, the national team is left walking on thin ice, carrying a time bomb that could go off at any moment.
(Video Journalist: Yoo Dong-hyuk, Hwang In-seok | Video Editor: Ha Seong-won | Designer: Byun Da-young | Video Source: YouTube channel 'Donghyun kldh')
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