Will Hong Myung-bo's top striker be a 'surprise card'? Statistical media predicts 'South Korea vs. Czech Republic expected starting lineup'

*This content was translated by AI.

Expectations have emerged that South Korean national team players Son Heung-min (LAFC), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) will form the attacking lineup for the Group A first match against the Czech Republic in the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup finals.

On the 9th (Korean time), the football statistics media outlet Squawka predicted the starting lineup for the Group A first match between South Korea and the Czech Republic, foreseeing an attacking formation centered on Hwang Hee-chan, with Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in positioned on the left and right flanks.

While the simultaneous starting selection of these key attackers under coach Hong Myung-bo is within the realm of expectation, the prediction that Hwang Hee-chan, not Son Heung-min, will start as the lone striker is notable. This is because Son Heung-min has primarily played as the central striker, while Hwang Hee-chan has been more frequently deployed as a wide attacker.

Predicting Hwang Hee-chan to start as the lone striker, rather than Son Heung-min or Oh Hyeon-gyu (Besiktas) or Cho Gue-sung (Midtjylland), who have essentially been in a competition for the top striker role, could indeed be a surprise card.

Squawka stated, "Hwang Hee-chan, who recovered from an ankle injury late in the season and joined the national team, is expected to lead the attack, with Cho Gue-sung and Oh Hyeon-gyu serving as his backups." It further added, "In the second line, Son Heung-min, the core of the South Korean national team's attack, and Lee Kang-in, who possesses unpredictable movement and skills capable of dismantling the opponent's defense, are expected to play."

The media further predicted that Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) and Lee Jae-sung (Mainz 05) would work together in midfield. This is a midfield pairing that coach Hong Myung-bo has tested in the two final friendly matches against Trinidad and Tobago and El Salvador ahead of the World Cup. Squawka expressed hope that "Hwang In-beom and Lee Jae-sung will complement each other well."

Additionally, it was predicted that Lee Tae-seok (Austria Vienna) and Seol Young-woo (Crvena Zvezda) would play as left and right wing-backs, respectively, while Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) and Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland) would form the back three. Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon Hana Citizen) was also listed for the back three, but it appears to be a mistake for Kim Tae-hyun (Kashima Antlers).

The predicted starting goalkeeper was Cho Hyun-woo (Ulsan HD), not Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo). Squawka noted, "While Kim Seung-gyu has the most experience, Cho Hyun-woo has shown outstanding performances in the K-League, making it highly likely he will start," but added that "the goalkeeper position is one of the few selection dilemmas for coach Hong Myung-bo."

The opposing team, the Czech Republic, was also expected to use a 3-4-2-1 formation, similar to South Korea. Unlike South Korea, which has several high-stakes matches, the Czech Republic's predicted starting lineup was made without much difficulty.

Squawka predicted that Patrik Schick (Bayer Leverkusen) would lead the attack, with Adam Hložek (Hoffenheim) and Pavel Šulc (Olympique Lyonnais) positioned in the second line.

It also placed weight on Tomas Soucek (West Ham United) and Vladimir Darida (Hradec Králové) playing in midfield, and Vladimir Coufal (Hoffenheim) and David Jurásek (Slavia Prague) as wide wing-backs.

The back three was predicted to be built by Ladislav Krejčí (Wolverhampton), Robin Hranáč (Hoffenheim), and Tomáš Holeš (Slavia Prague), with Matej Kovar (PSG Eindhoven) expected to guard the goal.

As of April, the FIFA ranking placed South Korea at 25th and the Czech Republic at 41st, with South Korea 16 positions higher. The all-time record stands at one win, two draws, and two losses for South Korea, putting them at a disadvantage. The last meeting was a friendly match held in Prague, Czech Republic, in 2016, where South Korea won 2-1. This will be the first World Cup meeting between South Korea and the Czech Republic. The Group A first match between South Korea and the Czech Republic in the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup will be held at 11 a.m. on the 12th at the Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico.

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*This content was translated by AI.