Head Coach Hong Myung-bo After Defeating Czech Republic: "A Tough Match... Players Never Gave Up"

South Korean national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo credited his players for their refusal to give up after securing a comeback victory against the formidable Czech Republic in the opening match of Group A at the 2026 North and Central America World Cup.

The South Korean team defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 in their Group A opener held at the Akron Stadium in Zapopan, Mexico, on June 12 (Korea Standard Time).

After conceding the opening goal in the 59th minute, Hong's squad leveled the score with a goal from Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) in the 67th minute, followed by a dramatic winning goal from Oh Hyeon-gyu (Beşiktaş) in the 80th minute to complete the comeback.

Following the match, Coach Hong said in a broadcast interview, "I am pleased to have won such a very difficult game," adding, "The fact that the players did not give up during a tough process and achieved victory will have a positive effect on the national team."

Coach Hong specifically attributed the victory to his players, stating, "I want to tell the players that I congratulate them."

Regarding the message he delivered to the players during the hydration break in the first half, Hong explained, "I emphasized that we could score and that we should stick to our style of play. I also instructed them to maintain their positions and not lose possession of the ball."

When asked about his resolve for the second match against Mexico in a week, Coach Hong said, "As it is an important match for advancing to the Round of 32, we will prepare well during the remaining time."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.