Son Heung-min Left Out of Starting Lineup? Foreign Media Call It "Hong Myung-bo's Failed Gamble"

[Anchor]

Foreign media have harshly criticized head coach Hong Myung-bo’s decision to leave Son Heung-min out of the starting lineup, calling it a "failed gamble." Analysts also pointed out that the difference in tactical management between the South Korean and South African coaches determined the outcome of the match.

Reporter Sim Useop has the story.

[Reporter]

Defying the expectations of most media outlets that South Korea would have the upper hand, the U.S. FOX broadcast crew erupted with excitement the moment South Africa scored the winning goal.

[U.S. FOX Broadcast Crew: They are looking for a way forward. The ball finds Maseko again, and it's a goal! They created chance after chance, and finally, they find the back of the net.]

After the final whistle blew, they showered praise on South Africa.

[U.S. FOX Broadcast Crew: For the first time in South African history, they advance to the knockout stage. The farewell party has been postponed, and head coach Hugo Broos will stand on the touchline once again.]

When the cameras turned to the South Korean players, they addressed the shocking defeat.

[U.S. FOX Broadcast Crew: It is a heartbreaking moment for South Korea.]

Many foreign media outlets assessed that the difference in tactical management between the two coaches decided the match.

ESPN criticized coach Hong Myung-bo’s decision to bring Son Heung-min on in the second half as a "failed gamble," while praising coach Broos’s tactical acumen, noting that Moremi assisted the winning goal immediately after being substituted into the game.

[Costa Rican Broadcast Crew: The substitution of Moremi was truly a masterstroke. His first pass after entering the pitch was an assist.]

Coach Broos, who wrote a new chapter in South African football history, stated that his thorough understanding of South Korea’s strengths and weaknesses was key to the victory.

[Hugo Broos/South Africa Head Coach: The South Korean team was exactly as I expected. I knew they were fast, ran a lot, and had a tendency to look for space behind the defense. But at the same time, I also knew that we could find space and counterattack...]

Japanese media reported that "South Korea has fallen to third place with a disappointing performance," and analyzed that if Japan wins by a large margin against Sweden in their final Group F match tomorrow (June 26), South Korea's chances of advancing to the Round of 32 could significantly increase.

Reported by Sim Useop | Video by Lee Seung-yeol | Graphics by Kim Ye-ji
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.