On June 12, South Korea defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 at the Estadio Guadalajara in Mexico's Sapopan, thanks to second-half goals from Hwang In-beom of Feyenoord and Oh Hyun-kyu of Beşiktaş.
In a post-match press conference, Coach Hong stated, "Before the game, I told the players not to give up and to play as one. They fulfilled both of those messages. I want to sincerely congratulate our players on achieving our first World Cup victory."
This marks Hong's second World Cup as head coach, and it is his first win in 12 years. In the 2014 Brazil tournament, his team finished with one draw and two losses, failing to advance from the group stage.
"As a player, I also achieved my first World Cup victory after 12 years. Today, I am happy to have secured my first win as a coach in the World Cup," Hong said. "I believe this is our first group stage win in 16 years. This victory was made possible by the hard work of our players. I want to commend them for their efforts."
A key factor in the victory was the team's altitude training conducted prior to the tournament. The squad held a pre-camp in Salt Lake City, Utah, for over two weeks before arriving in Guadalajara.
Hong noted, "Ultimately, the altitude had a significant impact. We observed that the Czech players struggled physically in the second half, while our players pressed harder and attacked more aggressively during that time. The altitude training yielded good results."
Hwang In-beom, who contributed one goal and one assist, and Oh Hyun-kyu, who scored the decisive goal after coming off the bench, were pivotal in the comeback. Hong praised Oh, saying, "He was a prepared substitute. Although he wasn't in top condition, he worked hard to improve his fitness and showed great performance."
South Korea will face Mexico in their second group stage match on June 19 at 10 a.m. in the same venue. Mexico previously defeated South Africa 2-0 in their opening match.
Regarding the upcoming match, Hong said, "I watched Mexico's game against South Africa. The home fans were very supportive, which will be a significant pressure for us. However, the good thing is that we have already played in this stadium. Still, facing the home team will be a considerable challenge."
He added, "Both teams secured three points today. The next match is crucial for both sides. We will prepare well for the game against Mexico."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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