'World Cup Disappointment' Cho Yu-min, Finally Tears Up: "I Will Take on the National Team's Misfortune"... Returns Home to Focus on Treatment

*This content was translated by AI.

Cho Yu-min (30, Sharjah), a defender for the South Korean national football team, who was ruled out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America due to a sudden injury, finally shed hot tears.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) revealed Cho Yu-min's farewell scene, in which he stepped down from Hong Myung-bo's squad, through a video content titled 'Inside Cam' on the 2nd.

Earlier, on the 31st of last month, Cho Yu-min started as one of the three central defenders in the friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago (5-0 victory) held in Utah, USA, but collapsed onto the field just nine minutes into the second half. While running to block an opponent's breakthrough, he twisted his right ankle, sensed something wrong with his body, stopped, and signaled to the bench. Cho Yu-min was eventually substituted for Park Jin-seop and was carried by staff to the locker room.

Medical examination results diagnosed a rupture in the plantar fascia of his right foot, with a prognosis of eight weeks. The Jo Yu-min-eun (CEO) team, whose World Cup dreams were dashed, has been released from the national team roster and will return to Korea to focus on treatment and rehabilitation.

In the video, Cho Yu-min, leaning on crutches, said goodbye to coach Hong Myung-bo and his teammates, finally breaking down in tears after holding them back. He then hugged each of his teammates one by one to ease his regrets.

He said, "I wanted to help the team in any way possible, but I couldn't, so I am sorry. I am also sorry for leaving first," conveying his heavy heart.

He continued, "I will take all the bad misfortunes that come to the team back to Korea, and leave only the sincere preparation I had made. I sincerely hope that no one else gets injured and that everyone achieves a good performance and great results at the World Cup."

Meanwhile, the gap left by Cho Yu-min in the central defense was filled by the 'young blood' Jo Wi-je (25, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), who was selected as his replacement.

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*This content was translated by AI.