South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo has full confidence that captain Son Heung-min will rediscover his scoring touch at what will be his fourth World Cup, as he announced the 26-man squad for the tournament on Saturday.
The 33-year-old forward, who made the move from Tottenham Hotspur to LAFC in Major League Soccer a year ago, has managed just two goals for his new club. But Hong believes a change of environment could be exactly what Son needs to shine on the global stage.
"When I went to Los Angeles and watched the matches myself, I saw that he was playing in a somewhat different role compared to how we use him—in a slightly deeper position, which meant he wasn't getting many chances," Hong explained. "So I believe we need to continue communicating with the players and work together on identifying which positions and roles are the most suitable and effective for each of them as we prepare."
South Korea have been drawn in Group A alongside World Cup co-hosts Mexico, the Czech Republic, and South Africa—a challenging group that will test the team's depth and experience.
Son headlines a seasoned squad that includes Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in, Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae, and Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-chan. Besiktas striker Oh Hyeon-gyu, Celtic's Yang Hyun-jin, and Birmingham's Paik Seung-ho also earned call-ups, along with German-born Jens Castrop of Borussia Mönchengladbach.
The Taeguk Warriors will play all their first-round matches in Mexico, kicking off against the Czech Republic on June 11. Hong acknowledged that the high altitude in Guadalajara—where South Korea will play two games—could pose a challenge, especially given Son's recent experience facing Mexican opposition for his club, which left the forward with "lingering exhaustion."
"Although the altitude we will be facing is not quite as extreme as that, we are nonetheless unaccustomed to high-altitude environments," Hong said. "Consequently, we believe that adapting to the 1,600-metre elevation will be crucial for us."
The coach has faced criticism after South Korea lost two friendlies in Europe without scoring a goal in March, including a 1-0 defeat to Austria. With the World Cup on the horizon, all eyes will be on whether Hong's tactical adjustments and Son's leadership can help the team make a deep run in the tournament.