Interim coach Moreno's first A-match period concluded with a record of two wins, one draw, and one loss. The South Korean team started strong with a 3-0 victory over Ecuador, but suffered a 4-1 defeat to Uruguay and played to a 0-0 draw against Venezuela, tarnishing their reputation. They secured a 2-0 win against Uzbekistan in their final match.
On October 6, the South Korean national team defeated Uzbekistan 2-0 in a friendly match held at Yongin Mir Stadium, with goals from Son Heung-min (LAFC) and Oh Se-hoon (Shimizu S-Pulse). Son set a new record for the most goals in A-matches during this game. Although the result was a clean-sheet victory, the match was characterized by back-and-forth play, with South Korea struggling against Uzbekistan's counterattacks and exposing vulnerabilities in their defense. The team's performance showed inconsistency, revealing a lack of tactical capability, and the atmosphere among the players was concerning.
Key midfielder Hwang In-beom (Porto) appeared visibly fatigued after the match against Venezuela. He expressed, "I feel physically and mentally exhausted. I've been with the national team for about nine years, and there are many areas in football and beyond that need to change, but it seems like things aren't improving. I feel a strong sense of responsibility for the development of Korean football, but it seems like we are not making progress. There is no one to help us. The president is not here, and the interim coach has come in without a clear future. It’s not easy from a player's perspective. There are many questions about who can provide assistance. We see clear issues, but no one is stepping up, and there is no one to step up either," he said, fighting back tears.
In this context, retirement rumors have surfaced regarding the '96 line' of players, including Hwang In-beom, Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), and Hwang Hee-chan (Schalke).
Moreno's squad, having completed their last domestic friendly this year, plans to play two away matches during the November A-match period. Interim coach Moreno will oversee these two remaining matches until November 27, after which he will receive feedback from the Korea Football Association regarding the head coach position. If appointed as the official head coach, he will maintain his role through the Asian Cup, organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), set to take place in Saudi Arabia next year. However, he faces the challenge of quickly stabilizing team morale and unifying the squad.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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