Team Hong Myung-bo is cruising fast in the third qualifying round for the Asian region for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North China and the U.S. The team’s powerful offense is one of its biggest contributors.
However, defense is still a matter of concern. Notably, Hong Myung-bo, who goes beyond the World Cup qualifying round to advance to the finals, needs to improve his defense capability.
The South Korean national soccer team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, will play the sixth Group B match against Palestine in the third Asian qualifying round for the North-China World Cup at Amman International Stadium in Amman, Jordan, at 11 p.m. on the 19th (Korea time).
Korea has scored multiple goals in all four of the five matches in the third preliminary round except the first match against Palestine, ranking first in the group with four wins and one draw (13 points). The gap with Jordan (eight points), ranking second in the group, has widened to five points.
Korea has scored a total of 11 goals through aggressive forward pressure and fast attacks, boasting a scoring capacity of more than two goals per game. It is also encouraging that seven players scored a goal.
However, the defense is regrettable.
Korea has allowed a total of four goals in five matches. The team seems to be abiding by the situation as it did not yield even one goal per match. There are two matches to score no points.
However, due to the instantaneous loss of concentration, the appearance of giving up runs in the same pattern must be improved.
South Korea gave up the equalizer with Jung Seung-hyun’s own goal in the first half’s extra time free-kick situation, with a 1-0 lead in an away game against Oman in September. It also allowed a comeback goal in the second half’s extra time when it was leading 3-1 at home against Iraq.
They lost points in both games just before the end of the first half and the second half. Due to a lack of concentration, Hong lost his opponent team and allowed a goal. “When it comes to losing points, it’s a matter of concentration rather than the overall defense organization,” Hong said after the match against Iraq.
He allowed two more runs as his side collapsed. Notably, he lost a point in the match against Kuwait, as his defense was shaken by fast attack from the opponent team. It was a goal that Kuwait had not allowed even a single effective shot, but allowed at once.
South Korea, which is closer to acquiring a ticket to the finals, needs to reduce the number of runs as much as possible in the remaining five games. 안전놀이터
Team Hong Myung-bo aims not to pass the World Cup qualifying round from the beginning, but to hold the final match that will take place two years later. Stabilizing defense is essential for Korea to achieve the results it wants in the final match. As a result, Korea needs to develop a “no-go habit” against teams that are weaker in objective power than Korea to strengthen its defense against strong teams.
First of all, South Korea should increase the organizational power of Lee Myung-jae (Ulsan), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Cho Yoo-min (Sharza), and Seol Young-woo (Zvezda), who have become the main players.
It has become a natural trend that defenders are not the only ones defending. Due to the nature of modern soccer, forward strikers should also have defensive movements.