'Hong Myung-bo's final opponent' South Africa bursts with confidence: "We can beat Korea if we play like this" [World Cup Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

South Africa, Korea's final Group Stage opponent, is brimming with confidence following their dramatic draw against Czechia.

Under Hong Myung-bo, Korea and South Africa will face off in the final Group A match of the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup at Monterrey Stadium in Monterrey, Mexico, at 10 a.m. Korean time on the 25th.

After defeating Czechia in their opening match, Korea lost 0-1 to Mexico in their second game, holding a record of one win and one loss. South Africa, after losing their opener against Mexico (0-2), bounced back with a 1-1 draw against Czechia.

Korea currently holds a favorable position for advancing to the Round of 32. A draw against South Africa would secure second place in the group on their own. If South Africa defeats Korea, they can at least guarantee third place in the group.

Having demonstrated their strength against Czechia, South Africa is full of confidence ahead of the match against Korea. According to a report by South African media outlet 'SABC Sports', Hugo Broos, head coach of the South African national team, stated, "If we can maintain the same level of performance as in the second half of the Czechia match during our final game against Korea, our chances of advancing to the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup Round of 32 are very high."

South Africa faced a potential defeat after conceding an early first-half goal against Czechia but managed to secure a draw thanks to a late equalizing penalty kick by Teboho Mokoena in the final moments of the match.

Coach Broos identified the lack of pressing and fighting spirit as the main issues in the first half of the Czechia match. He explained, "We were not aggressive enough when we lost possession in the first half. I strongly emphasized this point to the players before the second half began, and bringing on Lelohile Mopoken to exploit space proved highly effective."

Broos further added, "The players are eager to win. Even in the Czechia match, the squad showed incredible patience and strong will, which greatly pleased me," praising the players' determination.

Of course, Korea still has its own opportunities. South Africa will be unable to utilize their key midfielder, Mokoena, in the match against Korea. Having received his second caution of the tournament in the Czechia game, Mokoena is suspended for the final match against Korea due to accumulated yellow cards.

Broos, who hails from Belgium, also expressed regret over the loss of key resources. He stated, "It is very unfortunate that we had to pay the price due to accumulated yellow cards during the tournament. They are by no means weak players in our team; they are our top core players, so this is undoubtedly a challenge we must overcome."

Nevertheless, Coach Broos maintained strong confidence ahead of the match against Korea, asserting that sufficient alternatives exist. He emphasized that there are no shortages of options to fill Mokoena's absence. "The team has matured beyond recognition compared to when I took charge five years ago," he stressed, expressing his determination to carry forward the momentum from the second half of the Czechia match and ultimately secure a ticket to the Round of 32.

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*This content was translated by AI.