When South Korea grabbed the decisive goal in a 2-1 win over Czechia, the obvious assumption would have been that captain Son Heung-min delivered the breakthrough. Instead, it was his replacement, Besiktas winger Oh Hyeon-gyu, who made the difference, meeting a pass from Hwang In-beom to restore South Korea’s lead after defender Ladislav Krejci had equalized from a set piece.
In a 48-team tournament, it is the kind of result that looks highly valuable on paper, especially with a difficult meeting against co-host Mexico still to come. Three points, paired with a respectable goal difference, could be enough to send South Korea into the round of 32. But this is not a team measuring success by simple survival. The Taegeuk Warriors have reached every World Cup since 1986 and advanced to the round of 16 in Qatar in 2022.
Son, now 33, remains the face of the national team, and it would feel like a missed opportunity if his international career ended without a deeper World Cup run. Still, there are signs of concern. He has not scored at the World Cup since 2018, and he is also without an MLS goal this season for Los Angeles FC. His eight assists show he is still contributing, but for a player long known for beating his expected-goals numbers through elite finishing with either foot, his wastefulness against Czechia stood out. Son attempted six shots and put only one on target, and after he left the match, South Korea appeared more fluid, moving the ball more sharply instead of forcing play through their star man.
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That did lower the attacking ceiling somewhat, but it also gave South Korea greater control. Czechia offered little going forward after halftime, and South Korea’s conditioning appeared strong, helped by an altitude training camp in Utah. If this team is to make a genuine run in the tournament, it may no longer need Son to carry the scoring burden alone. He remains a top-class player, yet Hwang Hee-chan and Lee Kang-in are both capable of providing goals as well.
If this is the tournament where the Taegeuk Warriors finally emerge as true dark horses, they will need to find that balance quickly. Hong Myung-bo’s decision to withdraw Son before the 70th minute showed a willingness to make bold, pragmatic choices in pursuit of results. That is an encouraging sign for a talented and well-drilled side that looks capable of causing problems if it maintains this level. And if Son rediscovers his finishing touch, their ceiling rises even higher.
“Son is a very stable player and I have no worries about him,” the coach said.
