'Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in, what should we do...' Hong Myung-bo's World Cup opponent Czech Republic trembles, "Critical variable emerges for match against Korea"

*This content was translated by AI.

Ahead of the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup group stage opener, the Czech Republic has identified long-range shooting affected by the high-altitude environment of Guadalajara as the biggest variable in the upcoming matchup.

Czech media outlet 'Sport' reported on the 10th (Korea time), stating, "While we have already conducted extensive research on Mexico's high-altitude environment, complex logistics, and climate adaptation, the movement of the soccer ball at an altitude of 1,566 meters is an area that cannot be artificially controlled." The report added, "This will be an extreme challenge for Czech goalkeepers, one that is nearly impossible to prepare for."

The thin air density and low atmospheric pressure in Guadalajara are well-known for completely altering the trajectory and speed of the soccer ball. Radek Cerny, the Czech national team's goalkeeping coach, explained, "The high-altitude environment is almost impossible for goalkeepers to overcome through training. Due to reduced air resistance, the ball comes flying much faster than usual and does not spin well."

Furthermore, according to media reports, Lubos Kubik, who played in a World Cup in Mexico in the past, warned, "A shot taken from about 40 meters away did not drop at all and came straight at the goalkeeper, resulting in a goal that the keeper could not stop. The ball moves in such an abnormally unpredictable manner."

Jaromir Blazek, a former national team goalkeeper who experienced Mexico during the youth World Cup, also added, "The ball flies faster and shakes in an unpredictable way, making it an extremely difficult condition for goalkeepers."

The characteristics of the official match ball, Trionda, also present a variable. Lukas Hornicek of the Czech national team noted, "This official ball is much faster, and it becomes even harder to predict when humidity is high or when it rains. However, if struck accurately, it will travel a very long distance. The destructive power of the shots will be significantly stronger."

Dominik Bokubka, a physics researcher for the Czech team, also analyzed, "Due to low atmospheric pressure and humidity, the ball's bounce can theoretically be higher."

Such powerful long-range shots that come in unpredictably could be a definite opportunity for the South Korean national team. It is an environment where the sharp shooting abilities of the attacking lineup, including Son Heung-min (LAFC) and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), should be actively utilized.

In addition, Baek Seung-ho (Birmingham City), who scored a formidable long-range goal against Brazil in the Round of 16 at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, and Jens Castrof (Borussia Mönchengladbach), who scored with a sharp right-footed long-range shot in the German Bundesliga, possess powerful weapons that could be fully replicated in this match against the Czech Republic.

Earlier, the same media outlet conducted a detailed analysis of the South Korean national team, stating, "It is a team filled with European league players such as Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, and Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich)." The report further cautioned, "In particular, Son Heung-min is a legend of Tottenham Hotspur and continues to play as a key attacker even after moving to Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States."

While Hong Myung-bo's squad has already spent six days in Guadalajara, the Czech Republic established its base camp in Dallas, a low-altitude city in the United States, and has been staying there for a week. Arriving in Guadalajara just one day before the match leaves insufficient time to adapt to the changes in the ball's trajectory.

Consequently, the media added, "The Czech Republic is likely to field Matej Kovar (PSV Eindhoven), the hero of the March World Cup final qualifiers, as the starting goalkeeper. However, they must be wary of the unfamiliar environment where long-range shots may rise or wobble right in front of the goal."

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*This content was translated by AI.