"Don't Hang Your Head"... Son Heung-min and Others Return Home Amidst Comfort After World Cup Elimination

Captain Son Heung-min (LAFC) and several other players from the national football team, which failed to advance to the round of 32 in the World Cup, returned home amidst the encouragement of fans.
Son and eight other players, having finished their tournament schedule, arrived at Incheon International Airport early this morning (July 1).
The national team departed for home in several groups after concluding their World Cup campaign.
Previously, head coach Hong Myung-bo, Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord), and four others returned first on the morning of June 30. Today, Son Heung-min, along with Lee Dong-gyeong (Ulsan), Kim Jin-kyu (Jeonbuk), Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland), Lee Tae-seok (Wien), Lee Gi-hyuk (Gangwon), Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City), Jo Wi-je, and Kang Sang-yoon (both Jeonbuk) arrived.
The flight carrying the players today was scheduled to arrive around 4:00 a.m., but fans wearing national team uniforms had already gathered at the airport starting at 2:00 a.m. to wait for the players.
By the time the plane arrived, about 50 people, including fans and curious citizens, had filled the area around the gate.
Son Heung-min, Eom Ji-sung, Kim Seung-gyu, and Song Bum-keun appeared in the arrivals hall first, with the remaining players following in groups at approximately 20-minute intervals.
As Son Heung-min exited the arrivals hall, fans who had stayed up all night cheered him on with messages such as "You worked hard," "Fighting," and "Don't hang your head."
The players left the arrivals hall and headed straight to the gate without making any comments.
When asked by reporters about his feelings and if he had any words for the fans, Son briefly replied, "I am sorry."
The atmosphere at the airport today stood in stark contrast to the previous day, when about 300 fans gathered to jeer at coach Hong and his group upon their arrival.
Fans wore jerseys of their favorite players and held banners with messages like "Cheer up, Jae-sung" and "We're with you forever, Son Heung-min," silently offering comfort to the players.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.