Korea seeks revenge in Jordan without a son

Song Heung-min, captain of the Korea men's national soccer team, reacts after scoring a goal against Oman during their Group B match in the third round of the Asian World Cup qualifiers at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat, Oman, September 10. Yonhap

By John Duerden

After weeks of the Korean Football Association and Chung Mong-gyu, its president, dominating headlines and receiving criticism from the government, it is now time for the players to take center stage. World Cup qualifying continues on Thursday with a demanding trip to Jordan, where the players are driven by thoughts of revenge.

It was the 2-0 loss to Jordan in the Asian Cup semi-finals on February 6 that proved to be a turning point and a big reason why the KFA is in the spotlight of Korean football. It was such a comprehensive defeat against a team that the Taeguk Warriors were supposed to beat comfortably that it cost Jürgen Klinsmann his job as head coach – or perhaps it was the game that confirmed that the German really wasn't the right man for the job .

The chaotic search for a replacement ultimately settled on Hong Myung-bo, and the new coach is eager to put it all behind him. A win in Jordan would help.

However, he has to do without captain and star player Son Heung-min. The 32-year-old recently injured his hamstring while playing for Tottenham Hotspur and was not called up. It's a blow for the team and the coach. However, it leaves the door open for others like Bae Jun-ho, who impressed for Stoke City in the English second division.

“I'm sure that Son himself would like to play even if he wasn't at 100 percent. That’s how he’s been so far,” Hong said. “I know a lot of fans would like to see him play, but I don't want to force the issue. We have a plan B in case Son cannot play.”

Lee Kang-in can step up and be the star of the team. The 23-year-old has been in top form for Paris Saint-Germain this season and has the ability to make a difference for any team.

This is a question that Korea will have to grapple with in the not too distant future. Son will be 34 years old by the next World Cup and it will certainly be his last. Although he is still very fit and in excellent condition, the player will not have many more years at the highest level of European football.

“The most important thing in the long run is his health and physical condition,” said coach Hong. “If we qualify for the 2026 World Cup, his performance will be crucial for our team. We will stay in touch with Son and his team and try to find a way to get the best out of him without bringing him to his knees.”

There are still numerous World Cup qualifiers coming up. After two games, Korea has four points and is level with Jordan and Iraq at the top of Group B. After the game in Amman, it will return home to host Iraq next Tuesday. These are a crucial few days. The top two finishers in each of the three groups advance directly to the 2026 tournament, while the third and fourth finishers advance to the next phase.

Every game in Jordan is tough, but the team showed what they can do at the Asian Cup. There are some reasons to be cheerful. The coach who did so much at the Asian Cup – Hussein Ammouta – has moved to the United Arab Emirates to train there.