'Why on earth?' Coach Hong Myung-bo throws a bold move: 'First-ever exclusion of Son Heung-min from the starting lineup' [World Cup field analysis]

*This content was translated by AI.

This is a bold move after just three World Cup matches. Hong Myung-bo, head coach of the South Korean national football team, made a bold decision to exclude captain and ace Son Heung-min (LAFC) from the starting lineup.

South Korea will play its final group stage match against South Africa on the 26th at 10 a.m. (Korea time) at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico, in the third match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup CONCACAF Group A qualifiers.

Son Heung-min remained silent in the previous two matches. While his movements to draw out the defense and his penetrations were good, he failed to register any actual attacking points, leaving him with regrets. In response, Coach Hong boldly shook up the tactical board. Son Heung-min will start the match from the bench, and his spot will be filled by Oh Hyeon-gyu (Besiktas), who boasts a recently blossoming goal-scoring touch. Oh Hyeon-gyu made a substitute appearance in the first match against the Czech Republic and, despite the short time on the field, scored a dramatic winning goal by diving to finish off Hwang In-beom's cross. In the second match against Mexico, he left a strong impression with his aggressive play that directly attacked the penalty box.

The starting lineup for the South Africa match, finalized based on the Czech Republic lineup, has been completely changed with the addition of Oh Hyeon-gyu and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

South Korea will deploy a 3-4-2-1 formation. Oh Hyeon-gyu has been selected as the lone striker at the front, while Hwang Hee-chan, who gets his first start of the tournament, and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) will be positioned in the second line to provide firepower. The midfield and wingback line will be composed of Lee Tae-seok (Austria Vienna), Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord), Baek Seung-ho (Birmingham City), and Seol Young-woo (Crvena Zvezda), serving as the link between defense and attack. The defensive line will be built with Lee Ki-hyuk (Gangwon FC), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), and Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland) in a back three, with Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo) guarding the goal. Aside from Oh Hyeon-gyu and Hwang Hee-chan, the lineup is identical to that of the Czech Republic match.

This selection by Coach Hong Myung-bo is interpreted as the result of thorough, customized analysis. The final opponent, South Africa, has an average player height of 178.8 cm, making them the second smallest in terms of physical condition among the teams that qualified for the tournament finals. Coach Hong plans to start with Oh Hyeon-gyu, who stands at 187 cm and possesses a commanding physique, to completely overwhelm South Africa's short-statured defense from the back using the strength and height that have proven effective on the European stage.

Hwang Hee-chan's first start is also a strategic move aimed at maximizing his destructive power on the flanks. Hwang Hee-chan is expected to take the left second-line position previously occupied by Lee Jae-sung (Mainz). While Lee Jae-sung excels in defensive ability and linking play based on his high work rate, Hwang Hee-chan is a type of player who showcases aggressive and direct breakthroughs. With Hwang Hee-chan starting to directly attack the opponent's backline, the attacking intensity on the left flank is expected to become even sharper.

Meanwhile, key playmakers Lee Kang-in and Hwang In-beom will hold their positions to maintain stability in both defense and attack, and the wingback line will also maintain the Lee Tae-seok and Seol Young-woo system to solidify the team's organization.

Son Heung-min, who has been moved to the bench, awaits as a fatal joker capable of changing the flow of the game. Currently sitting at the bottom of the group with one draw and one loss, South Africa has only one scenario left to advance to the Round of 32: victory. With South Africa needing goals at all costs, they are expected to push their lineup forward in the second half of the match and launch a hasty attack. The scenario is to then insert Son Heung-min, who still has stamina in reserve, to exploit the loosened space behind the opponent's defense.

Currently positioned second in the group with one win and one loss (three points), South Korea is in a favorable position, as a draw against South Africa would secure their qualification for the Round of 32 on their own merits.

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*This content was translated by AI.