[Photo by Yoo Dae-gil =dbeorlf123@ajunews.com]
SEOUL -- South Korean forward Son Heung-min proved his attacking prowess while wearing the captain's armband in a friendly match against Honduras on Monday, with the opening goal in his team's 2-0 victory ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The Tottenham Hotspur star served as the national team captain for the first time at Daegu Stadium in Daegu. With Ki Sung-yueng, the usual captain, out with lower back pain, Son was chosen by head coach Shin Tae-yong as the leader on the pitch.
"Playing with the captain's armband has been my dream and I can't express my feelings at this moment," Son said after the match. "I felt more responsibility than during any other match. I also realized how important a role Ki has been playing for this team."
And the 25-year-old also didn't forget what his day job is: leading the team's attack. Son started as one of the two strikers in South Korea's 4-4-2 formation, partnering with Red Bull Salzburg forward Hwang Hee-chan. They were flanked by Hellas Verona's Lee Seung-woo and Crystal Palace's Lee Chung-yong.
Despite the victory, Son said South Korea need to make more improvements in order to face stronger opponents at the World Cup. South Korea will face Sweden, Mexico and Germany in Group F at the World Cup.
"We've been training intensively, but we need to do more for the World Cup," he said. "Other teams will obviously put more work to their World Cup preparations and that means we have to double or triple our efforts. We should not celebrate today's victory too much."
Son said he is proud of the players, especially the newcomers, for the result against Honduras. "I want to thank the players and I feel that our squad is getting better and better," he said. "But I want to let the players know that our main stage is the World Cup."
South Korea will next face Bosnia and Herzegovina for another World Cup tune-up on Friday before flying to their pre-World Cup training camp in Austria. Son, who will play in his second World Cup in Russia, said the players will also have to deliver a good result.
"Four years ago, we lost our final World Cup tune-up match at home, and it didn't feel great for our fans," he said. "This time, we need to show better performance, but at the same time, we also need to get the result because we have to let fans know that the World Cup is coming."
(Yonhap)
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