Hong Myung-bo's two consecutive A matches in June, Son Heung-min → Kim Min-jae, 'the nucleus of the offense', should we prepare an alternative card again...a growing worry about 'injury'
Hong Myung-bo's two consecutive A matches in June, Son Heung-min → Kim Min-jae, 'the nucleus of the offense', should we prepare an alternative card again...a growing worry about 'injury'
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It is on the verge of advancing to the FIFA World Cup finals for the 11th consecutive time.
One point is sufficient for the remaining two matches. However, warnings are rampant. Son Heung-min (33) and Kim Min-jae (29) of Bayern Munich are in yellow light.
In the case of Kim Min-jae, the call-up failed in March as well. He was excluded to protect the players because he needed a break due to Achilles tendinitis. Hong Myung-bo, the coach of the A national soccer team, complained at the time, "As Munich did not protect players properly to prevent injury, we had to exclude key players from important games."
Kim Min-jae's "harsh" intensity has decreased, but his journey to play is still continuing. He has been suffering from Achilles tendon pain since last year. Recently, he has also developed bronchitis and back problems.
Munich's final match this season is on May 17 (Korea time), but it is uncertain whether he will be able to rest properly. Munich will also participate in the FIFA Club World Cup that opens in the U.S. on June 15. Before that, an A-match is waiting for him. It is not easy to maintain his condition.
To make matters worse, Son Heung-min is also out. He has missed four consecutive matches since the first leg of the Europa League quarterfinal against Frankfurt on the 11th due to a foot injury. His return seems imminent.
Tottenham will have the first leg of their semifinal match against Norway's Bodhi on May 2 and the second leg on May 9. Tottenham manager Enze Postecoglou said, "Whether Son will play in the first match or not is close. Son will try his best. If he is not ready to play in the first match, I think he will be able to play in the second match."
Son Heung-min is also concerned. If fatigue builds up when he is not fully recovered, he could be exposed to another injury.
Hong is paying close attention to the physical conditions of the two key players, but his concerns are deepening. He also has to come up with plans B and C to prepare for the worst. Hong is also reportedly agonizing over the situation from various angles.
The third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup will come to an end in June. Following its ninth away match against Iraq on June 6, Korea will have the final Group B match against Kuwait, the lowest ranking, on its home turf on June 10.
South Korea remains in first place with 16 points (4 wins, 4 draws), while Jordan is second (13 points, 3 wins, 4 draws, 1 loss) and Iraq is third (12 points, 3 wins, 3 draws, 2 losses). Oman ranks fourth (10 points, 1 win, 3 draws, 4 losses), and Palestine (6, 1 win, 3 draws, 4 losses) and Kuwait (5, 5 draws, 3 losses).
In the third qualifying round, the first and second places in each group will win a ticket to the World Cup finals. The third and fourth places will go to the fourth qualifying round, while the fifth and sixth places will be eliminated. 안전놀이터
As Jordan and Iraq are scheduled to face off in the final match, Korea will secure at least the second place in the group if it secures one draw from two matches. Hong will unveil the list of call-ups for two consecutive A matches in June next month.