"Qualifying for the Round of 32 is a given; if we're lucky, we can go further." Unexpected assessment of first opponent Czech Republic... Not only Son, but also a "surprise name" emerged

*This content was translated by AI.

Local media in Czech Republic, South Korea's opponent in the 2026 FIFA World Cup North America group stage, has focused intensely on the South Korean national team's strength.

Europort, a Czech football specialist outlet, on the 3rd (Korean time) published an in-depth analysis of the South Korean national team under the headline "Tenacity is the trademark, defense is a question mark." The outlet noted that South Korea has qualified for the World Cup finals for 11 consecutive tournaments, including their debut at the 1954 Switzerland World Cup, calling it "a record that Portugal, Uruguay, and Australia do not possess."

South Korea has been drawn into Group A along with host nation Mexico, Czech Republic, and South Africa. South Korea and Czech Republic will face each other in the group stage's opening match. The two teams will clash on the 12th at Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Mexico. Given that the result of the first match could significantly influence the overall flow of the group stage, it is expected to be a crucial turning point for both teams.

Among these, the outlet made an unexpected prediction. It identified South Korea and Mexico as the two teams most likely to advance from Group A, ahead of Czech Republic.

The first player South Korea drew attention to was undoubtedly Son Heung-min (LAFC). Europort introduced Son Heung-min, stating, "He began his European career in Germany before moving to England. He is best known to football fans as an icon of Tottenham." It further added, "He is currently spending the latter part of his career wearing the LAFC (USA) jersey. In his debut season in Major League Soccer (MLS), he recorded 12 goals and 4 assists."

The outlet also touched upon his recent scoring form. While noting that "Son Heung-min recorded 8 assists this season but has not scored a goal since February," it relayed Son Heung-min's interview. Previously, Son Heung-min stated, "I feel physically excellent," and "I am saving my goals for the World Cup."

The outlet also highlighted his World Cup experience. Europort reported, "Son Heung-min scored 3 goals in his first two World Cup appearances and recorded 1 assist at the previous Qatar World Cup." It then emphasized, "Son Heung-min's performance will be very important for the entire South Korean team. He needs to add experience to his numbers."

In addition to Son Heung-min, players active in Europe's top leagues were mentioned as key assets. Europort highlighted Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), and Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) as core resources.

A surprise asset was also mentioned. The protagonist was German-born midfielder Jens Castro (Borussia Mönchengladbach). Europort introduced him, stating, "Castro, born in Germany, decided to play for the Seong In (CEO) team in his mother's homeland." It further predicted, "While it is unlikely he will be selected for the North America World Cup squad, his aggressive playing style and high work rate could earn him significant playing time."

Regarding South Korea's overall playing style, the outlet cited "diligence" and "tenacity." Using the Qatar World Cup as a representative example, it evaluated, "Even under coach Paulo Bento, South Korea was a team that fought until the final moment. Thanks to this characteristic, they were able to defeat Portugal and surpass Uruguay to reach the Round of 16."

However, it raised questions about their defense. Europort pointed out scenes such as South Korea's heavy defeat to Brazil in the Round of 16 at the Qatar World Cup, as well as their losses to Côte d'Ivoire in March and Austria in April, stating, "They exposed defensive instability. Their attack was also not sharp." However, South Korea successfully turned the tide by defeating Trinidad and Tobago and El Salvador in two friendly matches held on the 31st of last month and the 4th of this month in Salt Lake City, USA.

The outlet also focused on defensive tactics. It reported that while coach Hong Myung-bo primarily used a back four during the World Cup qualifiers, he has recently experimented with a back three. It further predicted, "There is no way to rule out the possibility of utilizing a back three at the World Cup."

Acclimatization to high altitude was also mentioned as an important variable. South Korea's group stage matches against Czech Republic (1st) and Mexico (2nd) will both be held in Guadalajara, Mexico, at an altitude exceeding 1,500 meters. To prepare for this, coach Hong Myung-bo set up a camp in Salt Lake City, USA, at an altitude of around 1,400 meters since the 18th of last month, focusing on high-altitude acclimatization. Europort also explained, "The reason South Korea set up a camp here is due to the similar altitude to Guadalajara, where the first match will be held."

Amid various assessments, the outlet's prediction for South Korea's final result was qualification for the Round of 32. Europort stated, "Qualifying from the group stage should be a given for South Korea," but also noted, "In the tournament phase, it depends on the opponents. If they draw a favorable bracket, the Round of 32 may not be the end." However, it drew a line on the possibility of South Korea causing an unexpected storm beyond expectations, adding, "The dark horse of this tournament should be looked for elsewhere."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.