Son Heung-min arrived at Amman International Airport in Jordan on a private plane for the game against Palestine on the 19th. If he adds just one goal, he will be ranked second on the Korean national soccer team’s all-time scoring list. [연합뉴스]” data-type=”article”/>
Son Heung-min arrived at Amman International Airport in Jordan on a private plane for the game against Palestine on the 19th. If he adds just one goal, he will be ranked second on the Korean national soccer team’s all-time scoring list. [연합뉴스]
The national soccer team, which achieved a turning point in the Asian third qualifying round of the North, Central and American World Cup, is set to solidify its advance to the World Cup finals for the 11th consecutive time.
Korea, led by coach Hong Myung-bo, will play the sixth game of Group B against Palestine in Amman, Jordan, at 11 p.m. on the 19th (Korean time). The match against Palestine is the national soccer team’s last international match in 2024. It is also the stage that marks the end of an eventful one-year schedule for Korean soccer, starting with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup finals.
There was a lot of controversy and trouble in Korean soccer this year. Immediately after the Asian Cup, former coach Jürgen Klinsmann (Germany) was dismissed, and after two temporary coaching regimes, controversy continued as coach Hong Myung-bo was given the leadership of the national soccer team. The national team players were also shaken in the chaotic atmosphere. In the game against Palestine held last September after Coach Hong first took charge of the national team, Korea ended up with a 0-0 draw. The national team atmosphere was depressed due to the controversy over the appointment of the coach, coupled with poor ground conditions, so the team did not achieve good results. The spectators who visited the stadium booed the national team in unison.
Afterwards, as Coach Hong’s system took root, the national team quickly recovered its form. Starting with a 3-1 win against Oman in the second game, the team is on a 4-game winning streak, including against Jordan (2-0 win), Iraq (3-2 win), and Kuwait (3-1 win). They are leading Group B with 13 points.
This match against Palestine attracts extraordinary attention in that it is a return match against the opposing team that drew 0-0 immediately after Hong Myung-bo’s departure. Our players are showing strong motivation for victory, saying, “We came to repay the debt from the first game.”
Through the generational change led by Coach Hong, several noteworthy new faces such as Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City) and Oh Se-hoon (Machida Zelbia) were discovered, but the national team’s tactical framework still consists of Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Lee Jae-seong (Mainz), ‘Brothers’ such as Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) and Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) are in charge.
In particular, for captain Son Heung-min, today’s game against Palestine is also a meaningful game as he attempts to set two meaningful records. Son Heung-min is currently tied for second place in A-match total goals (50 goals) along with Daejeon Hana Citizen coach Hwang Seon-hong, and if he adds one more goal, he will be in second place alone. The gap with former national soccer team coach Cha Bum-geun’s all-time record of 58 goals can also be narrowed.
Son Heung-min, who is scoring 9 goals in this year’s international matches, can become the first player in history to score double-digit goals in international matches in a single year if he scores one more goal.
Reporter Song Ji-hoon song.jihoon@joongang.co.kr
How does Son Heung-min’s potential record-breaking performance impact the team’s morale and expectations for the upcoming match?
Greetings! Thank you for joining us today. My name is [Your Name] and I am the website editor for world-today-news.com. Today, we have with us two special guests to discuss the upcoming match between Korea and Palestine in the Asian third qualifying round of the North, Central and American World Cup. We have [Guest 1] and [Guest 2] with us today.
To begin with, let’s discuss how the national soccer team has fared this year. Mr. [Guest 1], what are your thoughts on the team’s performance in the recent matches and their chances against Palestine?
[Guest 1]: Well, considering the recent run of form that Korea has been in, they are looking very confident going into this match. The team has been on a four-game winning streak, and the players seem to be working well under coach Hong Myung-bo’s system. With key players like Son Heung-min and Lee Jae-seong leading the charge, they have a good chance of securing all three points against Palestine.
[Guest 2]: Absolutely. It’s clear that the team is riding a wave of momentum right now. Not only that, but they also have a lot to prove after the disappointing 0-0 draw against Palestine in their last meeting. The players seem to be highly motivated to turn things around and end the year on a high note. With a victory here, they can cement their place at the World Cup finals for the 11th consecutive time.
Now, let’s shift our focus to Son Heung-min. Mr. [Guest 1], can you tell us more about his recent form and the significance of this game for him?
[Guest 1]: Son Heung-min has been incredible this year, scoring nine goals in international matches so far. He’s currently tied for second place in A-match total goals along with Hwang Seon-hong and has a chance to surpass Cha Bum-geun’s all-time record of 58 goals if he scores just one more goal. This game presents a great opportunity for him to achieve that feat and solidify his place as one of the greatest South Korean players of all time.
[Guest 2]:
