'Great humiliation' World Cup' criticized the weakest team, 'Hong Myung-bo is a one-win sacrifice'... Hong Myung-bo Team "A golden opportunity in South Africa"

*This content was translated by AI.

It is a humiliating look at Korean soccer. South Africa's local media criticized Hong Myung-bo Team, which is in crisis, while analyzing the power of its rivals in Group A of the 2026 FIFA North-China World Cup group stage.

South African media 'Daily News' highlighted the results of the South African national team's World Cup match in March on the 2nd (Korea time). In particular, the media criticized Korea's recent moves, saying, "It is a report card with deep concern."

In this analysis, "Daily News" called the two consecutive away matches in Europe in March led by head coach Hong Myung-bo "sad story," adding, "South Korea fell to Austria 0-1 after losing 0-4 to Ivory Coast." He pointed out, "I lost all games without scoring a single goal while allowing five runs in two games."

In particular, the details of Korea's game were delivered. "Korea showed limitations in physical conditions and defense in the match against Ivory Coast, failing to handle the speed and power of its opponents at all," Daily News said. "There was no flexibility and sharpness of the offense against Austria even though it strengthened its defense."

"Korea, which has traditionally boasted high tempo and threatening attack power, is now helpless against an opponent who has lost both balance and confidence and is physically overwhelmed," he said.

Even the media predicted that Korea's sluggishness would be a decisive opportunity for South Africa. "Korea's sluggishness seems serious," Daily News said. "For South Africa, against South Korea / vs. Korea could be an important turning point in this group stage. South Korea is unstable and has not been able to find a solution," he added.

It is a humiliating evaluation. South Africa (60th), which has the lowest FIFA ranking in Group A, was initially considered the weakest, but the recent fall of Hong Myung-bo Team has created an atmosphere in which local media underestimated South Korea as a one-win sacrifice.

Despite such cold eyes in the region, coach Hong Myung-bo expressed confidence in the team's tactical perfection. Coach Hong Myung-bo said in an interview back home on the 2nd, "It was a precious time to check what and how we should prepare on the main stage," adding, "Many factors, including tactical parts, have risen to the level where they can play in the finals."

Asked about the tactical completeness, head coach Hong Myung-bo said, "The composition of the squad has already been laid to a large extent, and although we are careful to express it in specific figures, there has been a lot of progress," adding, "However, as fierce competition continues in some positions, we plan to closely watch until the final list is confirmed." From now on, it is more important than anything else to select the optimal number of people and start a precise analysis of the opposing team," he stressed.

However, regarding the massive loss, he said, "The most painful thing is that you shouldn't score first under any circumstances. If you allow the first run, it will be very difficult to lead the game," he said, acknowledging to some extent the defensive failure of the warm-up match.

South Korea's previous FIFA ranking has fallen from 22nd to 25th since the A-match in March. The national team under coach Hong Myung-bo will now enter Mexico in early June after pre-camp in the U.S., play its first match against the Czech Republic on June 12, and then face Mexico and South Africa in turn.

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*This content was translated by AI.