"A casual thought about just tying? That could lead to big trouble." Hong Myung-bo's team vows to win... Final preparation for the South Africa match under scorching heat [World Cup on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

As the day of the decisive match draws nearer, the national team's steps grow faster. With the final hurdle to reach the Round of 32 looming, Hong Myung-bo's squad has begun serious preparation on the ground of the decisive battle.

The South Korean national football team, led by coach Hong Myung-bo, conducted its first public training session in Mexico on the morning of the 23rd (local time) at the Estadio Universitario in Monterrey, ahead of their final Group Stage match against South Africa.

South Korea and South Africa will face off in the final Group A match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North, Central America and the Caribbean at the Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico, at 10 a.m. on the 25th (Korean time).

Currently holding one win and one loss, South Korea can secure second place in the group and advance to the Round of 32 on its own by simply tying South Africa, thanks to the head-to-head tiebreaker rule. Meanwhile, South Africa, sitting at the bottom of the group with one draw and one loss, must defeat South Korea to have any chance of reaching the Round of 32 and is expected to go all out. If South Africa defeats South Korea, it will guarantee at least third place in the group under the head-to-head rule; if Czech Republic draws or loses to Mexico, South Africa could even finish second and advance directly to the Round of 32.

Upon arriving in Monterrey, the Jeon Nal (CEO) team conducted thorough fully closed-door training. A Korea Football Association official stated that the Jeon Nal (CEO) team refined set pieces and key tactics. The training session on the 23rd that followed was arranged as the team's first public training, with only the first 15 minutes, used to gauge early-game atmosphere, opened to the media.

The players were greeted by Monterrey's notorious scorching heat. Even though training began at 10 a.m., the temperature had already approached 27 degrees Celsius. The day's forecast for Monterrey predicted a high of 32 degrees and a low of 23 degrees.

Fortunately, the team continues to adapt in an optimal environment. According to a Korea Football Association official, the training ground for the Ma Ryeon-doen (CEO) team this time was equipped with Bermuda grass, the same type used at the battle-hardened Estadio BBVA. This allows the players to acclimate to the turf under conditions identical to the main stadium's ground, perfectly enhancing their grass adaptation.

All 28 members of the squad, including two training partners, joined the session without any injuries. Before the main training began, Coach Hong Myung-bo gathered the players in a circle near the center circle and engaged in a serious conversation for some time.

During the press conference on this day, Coach Hong Myung-bo said, "If we approach this match with the casual mindset that a tie is enough to advance, we could face serious difficulties," and vowed, "We will approach the game with the mindset of not giving up and striving for victory."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.