Hong Myung-bo, 22,206 spectators against Paraguay. We need to do better

Nov 13, 2025

Hong Myung-bo, 22,206 spectators against Paraguay. We need to do better
Coach Hong Myung-bo Press Conference

(Daejeon = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Joon-beom = National soccer team coach Hong Myung-bo holds a press conference at Daejeon World Cup Stadium on the afternoon of the 13th, a day before the A match against Bolivia. 2025.11.13

psykims@yna.co.kr

(끝)



Hong Myung-bo, 22,206 spectators against Paraguay. We need to do better
A match warm-up match between the Korean national soccer team and Brazil held at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 10th, Son Heung-min is replaced and encouraged by head coach Hong Myung-bo. Sangam = Reporter's book@sportschosun.com/2025.10.10/
Hong Myung-bo, head coach of the South Korean national football team, emphasized that he would do his best to win the result rather than the content in the match against Bolivia, the first sparring opponent in the A match in November.

Coach Hong attended a press conference before the A-match friendly between South Korea (22nd in FIFA rankings) and Bolivia (76th) at 6:30 p.m. on the 13th at Daejeon World Cup Stadium and expressed his determination. The game will be held at the same stadium at 8 p.m. on the 14th. "Bolivia maintains a good style overall," Hong said. Of course, some players are said to be missing, but there are many very competitive players. New players will also come out actively. I think we should keep that in mind and prepare for the game. As a team, I hope it will be a good game to finally judge how well the things we have prepared for tomorrow's game will turn out."

Hong Myung-bo faced a bad news as midfielder trio such as Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord), Baek Seung-ho (Birmingham City) and Lee Dong-kyung (Ulsan HD) were injured and dropped side by side. Bae Joon-ho (Stoke City) and Seo Min-woo (Gangwon) joined the team belatedly after replacing them after entering the hospital on the 10th. The team's atmosphere has become somewhat chaotic due to the occurrence of injuries. None of the remaining midfielders have played the World Cup qualifiers as the main players. This means that a new midfield combination should be 'forced experiment'. Coach Hong said, `We will conduct the final inspection training until today. This time, only the midfielder players had one or two more meetings. The reason is to give more information to the players about the movements and movements of the existing midfielders and the form of play we have. I can't predict how I will play tomorrow, but I expect you to do well. The tactical understanding we are doing is not new players, but I think we can fully understand it."




Hong Myung-bo, 22,206 spectators against Paraguay. We need to do better
Yonhap News
Coach Hong has adjusted Son Heung-min's playing time in the A-match friendly matches over the past two months. In response "There is no particular reason. There is a competitive player in that position, and there is a player in good condition. Son Heung-min's role so far and his future role are important. It should be taken into account as a whole. Son Heung-min's condition must be checked until the World Cup match in June next year, and for players in Europe, the season will be over by then. The physical arrangement is being converted into data. We are preparing for the game in terms of performance." Then "It's not a particular time adjustment. In each situation, we put in prepared players and send them (replacements) when they need to change, he explained again and again that there is no special reason.

Regarding the combination of strikers who have been in good condition recently, "It's too late to tell you what kind of soccer I'm playing. I wish I could play the game well in more detail. When a more talented player is deployed, I'll make a good score and prepare well."

Regarding what I want to get in the last A match of this year, I said that the result of the game is important. In the last two games, the rest of the combination should be found. Although it is a big framework, it keeps the players competitive and gives meaning to the two games that have to go to next year's World Cup."




In the match against Paraguay last month, the home crowd was below 30,000 for the first time in 10 years since the match against Jamaica in 2015. Director Hong said, `All members can't feel comfortable. In the end, we have to do well, and we have to put in a lot of effort. All members of the team know it in their heads.I will try harder in the future."

He expressed great satisfaction with the effect of entering the Korea Football Center in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province. "It was very comfortable. It was good to see the team and association staff working with each other. We also found a way to use Cheonan Center during the A-match period in the future. If the players arrive and adjust the time, they can come to Cheonan Center and train on a good lawn for about three days, rest well, and supplement nutrition. I think our players are feeling exactly how they felt in Paju. Moreover, the environment has been upgraded. Although the players were short, I could feel that it was a good time for the players."






This article was translated by Naver AI translator.