*This content was translated by AI.View Original
The atmosphere within the national football team is rapidly stabilizing as it directly addresses rumors of discord.
In training photos released by the Korea Football Association (KFA) on the 14th (Korean time), the noticeably lighter expressions of key players who had been at the center of the conflict were captured.
In the photo, Son Heung-min (LAFC), Hwang Hee-chan (Schalke 04), Hwang In-beom (FC Porto), and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) are seen walking side by side on the field with bright smiles. This is a glimpse into how the cold atmosphere that had weighed down the national team for some time has cleared, and the unity of the squad is becoming solid once again.
The turning point in the team's atmosphere was candid conversations among senior players and the release of a joint statement. So-called '92·96LINE' conflict rumors emerged, alleging that Son Heung-min (born 1992) and Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), both born in 1992, clashed with Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Hwang In-beom, and Hwang Hee-chan, all born in 1996, over the management of the national team following the 2026 North-Central America World Cup. Even after the match against Uzbekistan last October, rumors circulated that core players born in 1996 were considering retiring from international football, prolonging a tense atmosphere.
The five players, who gathered in Doha, Qatar, for two away matches in the Middle East in November, are known to have sat together for a long time immediately after their long-haul flight, sharing their true feelings with one another. Subsequently, on the 12th, they released a joint statement through the association, stating, "It is entirely untrue that we tried to push through specific demands under the condition of personal conflict with certain players or retirement." They added, "The discussions stemmed from a shared concern that Korean football, which had stagnated for a while, needs to develop further. We are teammates who have played together for a long time and will continue to move toward the same goal in the future."
Although they failed to secure results in the actual match played immediately after resolving the conflict, the team managed by interim coach Roberto Moreno lost 2-3 in a friendly against Saudi Arabia held at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on the 13th. As a result, Coach Moreno, who took office last September, has recorded two wins, one draw, and two losses in five matches, including victories over Ecuador (3-0) and Uzbekistan (2-0), a loss to Uruguay (1-4), and a draw with Venezuela (0-0).
Moreover, with the 2027 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup schedule abruptly postponed by 11 months from January next year to December, the future of interim coach Moreno, whose contract expires at the end of this month, has become even more uncertain.
Despite the chaotic external variables and the regret over the loss to Saudi Arabia, it is encouraging that the national team is showing signs of coming together as one again. Having shaken off the internal strife that caused much talk and trouble, the team will play its final friendly of the year against Qatar at 11 p.m. on the 17th in Doha.
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*This content was translated by AI.View Original
