'The greatest turnaround under Hong Myung-bo' received 'Son Heung-min's glowing praise' just three games later. 'New star' Lee Ki-hyeok: "I was moved just by making it to the World Cup..." [Report from Guadalajara]

*This content was translated by AI.

He is the greatest turnaround card under Hong Myung-bo. Lee Ki-hyeok (Kangwon FC), who dramatically made the final World Cup squad, delivered a dazzling performance on his first-ever World Cup final stage.

The South Korean national football team (ranked 25th), led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, overcame an early second-half goal against the Czech Republic (ranked 41st) in the opening Group A match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, held at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico, on the morning of the 12th (Korea time). Thanks to consecutive goals from Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) and Oh Hyeon-gyu (Besiktas), they secured a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory.

Originally classified as a backup player, Lee Ki-hyeok was unexpectedly handed a starting spot two days before the match when central defender Kim Tae-hyun (Kashiwa Reysol) withdrew due to injury. Concerns also arose that Lee, a former midfielder, might struggle against the Czech Republic's overwhelming aerial dominance in a back-three formation.

However, Lee erased those concerns with his skill. With remarkable concentration, he won no fewer than four headers in aerial duels, controlling the Czechs' high-altitude attacks. Relying on his signature sharp kicking power, he successfully executed his trademark long passes four times. In particular, a sharp through pass aimed at the space behind the front-line Son Heung-min (LAFC) early in the first half sent shivers down the Czechs' spines.

After the match, Lee Ki-hyeok met with reporters in the mixed zone and said, "Before the game, the senior players told me to prepare well because they would be nervous." He added, "I wasn't as nervous as I thought, which may have led to some early mistakes. There were tough moments, but thinking of the seniors who were knocked out due to injury and the teammates who prepared with us, we ran with one heart and were able to turn the game around."

At the time of his final squad selection, starting in the first match seemed unimaginable. Lee Ki-hyeok revealed, "I was already moved just by appearing on the World Cup stage, but after experiencing it firsthand, I started to crave more. I had imagined how great it would be to play in the first match, and when Tae-hyun got injured, the opportunity came to me unexpectedly."

He continued, "I felt I had to seize this opportunity and show a good performance. I'm glad that my efforts to play a major role in the team's victory led to a good result."

The overwhelming atmosphere of the World Cup, which he stepped onto for the first time, was deeply moving. He said, "When the game started, there were so many spectators that I was overwhelmed. The South Korean fans cheered loudly, which gave me a lot of strength. Their support was so moving that my heart felt touched. I was grateful to have played the match fueled by the fans' cheers."

Regarding the first-half mistake and the second-half goal conceded, he showed a broad-minded attitude. Lee Ki-hyeok said, "The coach said that making mistakes in big games is natural. What matters is how you recover after a mistake." He added, "I thought that if I showed a weak mental state, the Czechs would dig in even more, so I tried to forget it quickly. I first thought about how to make up for the mistake and play steadily. I want to focus on the fact that I finished the game well without major errors."

He recalled that when Hwang In-beom's equalizing goal came in the 22nd minute of the second half, he was beyond words in joy. He said, "I was truly so happy. It was meaningful to see such a classically great goal from a teammate right in front of me, and In-beom's goal was truly precious." He added, "Once the score was tied, I developed an unyielding determination to win this match. I think the players were well united, which allowed us to turn the game around."

After the match, warm praise from world-class players awaited him in the locker room. Lee Ki-hyeok said, "Many of the players were experiencing the World Cup for the first time. After the game, the coach, coaching staff, Son Heung-min, and In-beom told us, 'This was your first match, and you played really well. We're glad you did so well.' Being praised by world-class players was truly meaningful and made me very happy," as he smiled brightly.

He also expressed satisfaction with the early high-altitude acclimatization training. Lee Ki-hyeok said, "During the first week of the pre-camp, I struggled with high-altitude acclimatization and it was very hard, but I firmly decided that to beat the opponent, I had to endure even more difficult conditions." He added, "From the second week, I gradually adapted and believe my physical preparation was well done. The training we did beforehand was a big help, and I'm glad I ran with the mindset of needing to be one step ahead of the Czech Republic, which allowed me to perform well in the match."

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*This content was translated by AI.