Kim Min-jae and Hwang Hee-chan, among the '96LINE' national team members, face sudden retirement rumors; Hwang In-beom initially "denies" [Yongin On-Site]

*This content was translated by AI.

The football world is in an uproar after news emerged that key members of the South Korean national football team, the same-year-born (1996) Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Hwang Hee-chan (Schalke 04), and Hwang In-beom (Porto), have expressed their intent to retire from the national team. Rumors swelled after Hwang In-beom previously made deliberate remarks about Korean football as a whole, and images were captured of them taking commemorative photos together immediately after the final match of the four-match A-match series. While Hwang In-beom shared his recent mental struggles, he initially drew a clear line regarding the national team retirement rumors.

Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone after the 2-0 victory over Uzbekistan in the national team friendly held on the 6th at Yongin Mireu Stadium, Hwang In-beom said, "I played with the mindset of doing my best and showing something to the younger players, so I talked a lot while playing. I was very happy playing today." However, he added, "Whenever I come to the national team, I think this match could be my last. Since I am now almost at a veteran age, I approach matches with that mindset."

On this day, Hwang In-beom came on as a substitute and played for 45 minutes in the second half, including setting up Oh Se-hoon's (Shimizu S-Pulse) decisive goal. After the final whistle blew, he was captured shedding tears before heading to the locker room. He later returned to the field with Hwang Hee-chan and Kim Min-jae to take commemorative photos. The atmosphere seemed unusual, as the match did not hold particular symbolic significance, and just four days earlier, Hwang In-beom had tearfully expressed frustration over the state of Korean football, citing the absence of a head coach and the temporary coaching setup. This was followed by a media report claiming that the three players had expressed their intent to retire from the national team.

Standing before the reporters, Hwang In-beom first explained the meaning behind his tears: "Since the last World Cup, we have failed to achieve the results we wanted and have shown poor performances. I felt deep regret over those aspects; everyone prepared well together for four years, but the results were too disappointing, and I felt a great sense of apology and responsibility. That brought with it an enormous burden." He continued, "I was worried about entering this camp as well, and I thought a lot about how Korean football could move in a good direction, so I had many mixed thoughts."

He added, "When I entered this camp, my physical condition was good at my club. Until I boarded the plane, there were no problems at all, but starting from the flight, my calf began to swell and I experienced pain, so I could not play in the first two matches. I was frustrated that I couldn't even train under those circumstances. Having suffered greatly due to injuries for one to two years, I had many thoughts." He concluded, "I wanted to help the team but couldn't. I think I felt quite powerless."

Following his ambiguous answer regarding the national team retirement rumors, reporters asked, "If all three are in good condition, can we expect to see them playing hard in the next A-match in November?" Hwang In-beom replied, "That is a matter for the coach to decide." This was interpreted as meaning he would respond if called up by manager Roberto Moreno (Spain). When asked about the specific meaning behind his earlier statement that he had "thought deeply from the bottom of my heart," he simply said, "I think it was just a sense of responsibility."

Hwang In-beom then shared his recent mental struggles. He reflected, "We really failed at the World Cup in such a powerless way. I strongly wanted to have a more enjoyable World Cup than the Qatar one, but both individually and as a team, we couldn't do that. It seems I only gave many citizens a sense of frustration, so as a player, I've thought a lot and felt somewhat powerless, even thinking, 'Is this all I can do?'"

He continued, "Even after entering this camp, my physical condition is still not what it used to be. There have been continuous minor injuries; this year was relatively okay, but in fact, there were injuries before the World Cup as well. It was very frustrating that I couldn't perform at 100% like I used to. As a result, I've been thinking a lot, which is why I am speaking out like this." He added, "I am now turning 30 in age, so I can no longer say I am in my 20s. In that regard, since I don't know when or how things will change, I am preparing for it."

Hwang In-beom stated, "Watching many senior players and predecessors, I have always thought that putting down not just the national team but one's entire playing career is also a wise thing to do. It seems one needs great mental control and must prepare their mindset in advance." He added, "My necessity within the national team changes from match to match. However, regardless of evaluations, I think I am always grateful to those who need me greatly."

In summary, Hwang In-beom has been mentally complex due to the recent failure at the North-Central America World Cup and his physical condition not being what it used to be. Considering his no-longer-young age, he is not ruling out the possibility of stepping down from the national team at any time. Combined with the unsettled situation inside and outside the Korean football association, his worries have deepened further. The situation is no different for other members of the '96LINE.' However, he drew a line against the possibility of a simultaneous retirement from the national team immediately. While leaving the stadium completely on this day, Hwang In-beom directly answered "No" when asked about retiring from the national team. A Korea Football Association official also conveyed that the retirement rumors were "groundless."

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*This content was translated by AI.