"I simply cannot play." Czech Republic match hero Oh Hyun-kyu's condition was this serious... 'A staggering 38°C fever' overcome by 'crazy fighting spirit' [Report from Guadalajara]

*This content was translated by AI.

Behind the 38th°C fever-fueled fighting spirit of Oh Hyun-kyu (Besiktas), the decisive goal scorer who led the South Korean national football team to their first World Cup victory, was the brilliant performance of the medical team. If Oh Hyun-kyu saved South Korea on the field, the medical staff who saved Oh Hyun-kyu behind the scenes were the true hidden heroes.

The South Korean national football team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, began recovery training on the morning of the 12th (local time) at the Chivas Valle Verde training ground in Zapopan, Guadalajara, Mexico, the day after their victory against the Czech Republic.

At the training site that day, the team's chief physician, Song Jun-seop (Dr.), and head of the medical team, Baek Jeong-guk, revealed the behind-the-scenes story of Oh Hyun-kyu, who suffered from a high fever.

The day before, Oh Hyun-kyu confessed in a post-match interview, "I had a high fever after lunch and doubted whether I could even play," expressing his gratitude to the medical team.

Head of the medical team Baek Jeong-guk explained the situation at the time, stating, "When the national team moved from the United States to Mexico, some players experienced mild diarrhea symptoms. Oh Hyun-kyu also showed signs of diarrhea just before the match, which led to dehydration and was accompanied by a fever."

According to Team Leader Baek, Oh Hyun-kyu's condition was at its worst on the morning of the match. The player himself found it difficult to get out of bed, and his energy was so depleted that even going to the bathroom was a struggle. Oh Hyun-kyu, who was usually full of confidence, insisted that he simply could not play.

In this critical moment, the medical team's thorough preparation shone. Team Leader Baek stated, "We had prepared treatment plans in advance and applied them immediately. While we cannot reveal the specific treatment methods as they are a secret weapon unique to the national team, fortunately, the planned treatment fit Oh Hyun-kyu's condition perfectly. His recovery began after lunch, and by the time he arrived at the stadium, his expression had brightened and his condition had returned to normal."

Chief physician Song Joon-seop diagnosed this as dehydration fever. Dr. Song analyzed, "When the body experiences dehydration, it is accompanied by a fever. Oh Hyun-kyu likely developed a fever due to stress from the pressure and sense of responsibility he felt upon arriving in Mexico, compounded by dehydration symptoms. Team Leader Baek appropriately administered antipyretics and implemented customized hydration measures, which brought down the temporarily elevated fever, allowing him to deliver a good performance similar to yesterday's."

Dr. Song added, "This condition was not caused by severe dehydration occurring over a long period. We anticipated that it could occur at high altitude and had prepared all solutions in advance. As the players' bodies responded well, the situation is now almost problem-free."

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*This content was translated by AI.