'How much pain must he have been in?' Oh Hyun-kyu: "Severe stress... almost couldn't play against Czech Republic" [Guadalajara on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

The weight of the World Cup stage was beyond imagination. Even Oh Hyun-kyu (Besiktas), a striker known for his bold and fearless play, faced significant mental pressure, to the point where he developed serious physical symptoms just before the match.

The South Korean national football team conducted recovery training at the Chivas Verde Valle training ground in Zapopan, Guadalajara, Mexico, on the morning of the 13th (local time) in preparation for their second group stage match.

After the light training session concluded, the team's chief physician and Baek Jeong-guk, head of the medical team, met with Song Jun-seop (CEO) at the training ground and recalled the tense situation Oh Hyun-kyu had faced just before the match after scoring the winning goal the previous day.

Baek Jeong-guk, head of the medical team, explained Oh Hyun-kyu's sudden high fever of 38 degrees and diarrhea symptoms, stating, "Some players experienced mild diarrhea after traveling from the United States to Mexico," and added, "Oh Hyun-kyu also suffered from diarrhea just before the match, leading to dehydration, which then triggered a fever."

At the time, Oh Hyun-kyu was in such a weakened state that he struggled to get out of bed and found it difficult even to go to the bathroom. Fortunately, the medical team's timely hydration measures and fever-reducing medication helped restore his condition to normal by the time he arrived at the stadium.

In particular, Song Jun-seop, the chief physician, focused on the immense pressure underlying Oh Hyun-kyu's sudden symptoms. Dr. Song analyzed, "Oh Hyun-kyu had been excluded from training during the Salt Lake Camp in the U.S. due to lingering effects from a hamstring injury sustained when he first joined the squad," and added, "The pressure and burden he felt while adapting to the high altitude after just recovering from injury led to stress, which, combined with dehydration, caused a temporary fever."

Overcoming physical pain and pressure, Oh Hyun-kyu stepped onto the field and sealed the dramatic comeback in the 35th minute of the second half by connecting with Hwang In-beom's (Feyenoord) cross with a diving shot.

Oh Hyun-kyu, who converted the pressure into a winning goal, was so fully immersed in the match that he couldn't even clearly remember the moment he scored. After the game, Oh Hyun-kyu met with reporters in the mixed zone and said, "I have no clear memory of how I played or how I scored the goal. I only found out after watching the video." He added, "I am truly happy and delighted to have scored in the first match, just as I dreamed of during the Qatar World Cup."

Regarding the worst condition he experienced before the match, Oh Hyun-kyu calmly smiled and said, "I think I got sick while trying to 'ward off bad luck' by scoring against the Czech Republic."

His experiences on the rough European stage also became a major asset in building his own confidence. When asked about the differences compared to four years ago, Oh Hyun-kyu replied, "Playing in Europe gave me the confidence to physically confront Czech players. I was certain that once I got into position, I could definitely score."

Coach Hong Myung-bo's advice also provided great strength. Oh Hyun-kyu added, "Before I entered the field, the coach really boosted my confidence and told me, 'Go in and take many shots,' which allowed me to play without trembling."

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*This content was translated by AI.