South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo said his team had followed his pre-match instructions to the letter after completing a 2-1 comeback win over the Czech Republic in their World Cup Group A opener on Thursday.
After falling behind in the second half to a Ladislav Krejci header, the Koreans rallied through goals from Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyeon-gyu to secure three crucial points in Guadalajara.
“Before the match I gave two messages: don’t give up until the end and unite as one,” he told a news conference. “Whether we are on the field or not, we have to play as one team.”
The win came despite an unusual off-day for captain Son Heung-min, who missed five chances in the first half alone before being replaced by eventual match winner Oh.
Despite the failed performance, the coach was quick to defend his veteran striker.
«Son is our best player and is also a very stable captain. We believe Son has done his best,» the coach said, although he added that the team needs to «freshen up» in finishing their chances.
South Korea are level on three points while Mexico top the group, setting up a high-stakes match against the tournament’s co-hosts on June 18.
«Both teams scored three points… the next match will be very important,» Hong said.
Published on June 12, 2026
