'Son Heung-min vs. Krejci' · 'Kim Min-jae vs. Schick'... 'Unconditional First Goal' Decides Victory Over Czech Republic [On-site LINE-up Analysis]

*This content was translated by AI.

Two teams with the same formation but completely different styles will clash. A full-scale battle unfolds between the South Korean national football team, which has adapted to the high-altitude climate unique to Guadalajara, Mexico, and the Czech Republic, which possesses overwhelming physical strength.

The South Korean national football team (ranked 25th), led by coach Hong Myung-bo, and the Czech Republic (ranked 41st), led by coach Miroslav Koubek, will play the first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup CONCACAF Qualifiers Group A at Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Guadalajara, Mexico, at 11 a.m. (Korean time) on the 12th.

The most striking aspect of the LINE-up released ahead of the match is that both teams are using the same 3-4-2-1 formation.

However, the two teams are expected to strictly adhere to completely different styles during the match.

First, coach Hong Myung-bo selected Lee Gi-hyeok (Gangwon FC) as a surprise pick to partner with Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) in the center-back LINE for the Czech Republic match, following the sudden injury of Kim Tae-hyun (Kashiwa Reysol) just two days before the game.

Lee Gi-hyeok, a former midfielder, demonstrated his sophisticated backline build-up ability by recording high passing accuracy in previous friendly matches. If Kim Min-jae takes the center and Lee Gi-hyeok supplies precise passing lines as the left stopper, South Korea can smoothly develop the ball to the flanks and behind spaces, avoiding the Czech Republic's forest of tall players.

At the forefront, captain Son Heung-min (LAFC), participating in his fourth World Cup, will start as the lone striker, supported by Lee Jae-sung (Mainz) and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) behind him. The key lies in an organic attacking combination where the highly active Lee Jae-sung shakes up the Czech defense and creative passes initiated by Lee Kang-in's sharp left foot connect with Son Heung-min's runs. In the midfield, Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) and Baek Seung-ho (Birmingham City) will coordinate to manage both offense and defense and serve as the first line of defense.

In contrast, the Czech Republic's 3-4-2-1 is a formation optimized strictly for height and robust football. The Czech Republic has shown strong capabilities in dead-ball situations, having scored three of their four goals in dramatic matches such as the European qualifiers playoffs through precise set pieces.

Especially Patrik Schick (Bayer Leverkusen) at the forefront possesses powerful aerial ability, having headed three of his five goals in the European qualifiers. Supporting Schick from the second line are Pavel Šulc (Lyon), named Czech Republic's Player of the Year, and Lukáš Provod (Slavia Prague).

The Czech Republic's midfield, built by veteran Tomas Soucek (West Ham United) and Aleksandar Sotirov (Viktoria Plzen) from the English Premier League (EPL), is expected to create a powerful clash with South Korea's midfield. Led by Radislav Krejci (Wolverhampton Wanderers), whose tactical understanding is acknowledged even by Hwang Hee-chan, Stefan Halovpek (Slavia Prague) and Robin Hranjac (Hoffenheim) are holding their ground.

The biggest key to determining the outcome of the match is the first goal. The Hong Myung-bo-led team has historically controlled matches proactively and employed passing football, whereas the Czech Republic has a strong tendency to defend first and counter-attack.

If South Korea is blocked by the Czech Republic's signature weapon—a precise set piece—and concedes the first goal, they will face a fatal situation where they must break through a dense defense. Conversely, if South Korea scores the first goal first and seizes the initiative, they can completely take tactical control. This is because they can induce a situation where the Czech Republic is forced to raise their LINE, then calmly defend against the opponent's somewhat monotonous aerial attacks and long-pass-oriented offensives, allowing them to operate the match steadily.

The build-up ability of both teams' goalkeepers and their adaptation to high altitude are also dividing lines. Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo), who is responsible for South Korea's rearmost defense, and Matej Kovar (PSV Eindhoven), the Czech Republic's hero, are both goalkeepers who can freely use both feet and serve as the starting point for backline build-up.

Especially, due to the high-altitude characteristics of Guadalajara, which exceeds 1,500 meters, air resistance is low, causing the ball's speed to increase and its trajectory to change drastically. According to Czech media such as 'Sport', the Czech side also showed confidence after completing thorough adaptation training, but South Korea, which spent a total of six days adapting after arriving locally and has perfectly pulled up its data and condition, may have a slight advantage.

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*This content was translated by AI.