On the World Cup stage in Qatar, South Korean soccer star Son Heung-min was tasked with captaining the team, but ended his Qatar tour with a 1-4 loss to Brazil, failing to advance to the round of 16. After the match, the Tottenham Hotspur striker, who turned 30, sincerely apologized to fans.
Although South Korea lost by 4 goals against a world-class team like Brazil, Baek Seung-ho's goal saved the team's face. In an interview, Son Heung-min said, "We gave it everything we had, after all, it was a very challenging game; for sure, every player gave it everything they had, and we are proud to have come this far."
However, for Son Heung-min, who is making his personal debut in the knockout stages of the World Cup, failing to meet the expectations of his fans was a source of deep regret: "I would like to apologize to our supporters for failing to live up to their expectations, but I hope they understand that each one of us prepared for this game to the best of our ability."
Talking about the requirement to wear a mask to play in this World Cup, Son Heung-min did not make excuses, "It's not a problem at all, it's nothing compared to our efforts and hardships." Son Heung-min underwent surgery for an injury to the corner of his left eye, which was completed on Nov. 1, and then participated in the first group match of the World Cup on Nov. 24th.
Despite Korea's stop at the Round of 16, several young players have shined, such as Cho Kyu-sung and Baek Seung-ho. Son Heung-min, who is the team's oldest brother, also encouraged them to continue to work hard: "In the future, you have to have a sense of responsibility, while being able to show your strength and feel proud on this stage of the World Cup, I hope that this is not the end of the road, and I look forward to more players emerging."
Son Heung-min has just completed his national team duties and has been urgently recalled to London by the Tottenham Hotspur leaders in preparation for the Premier League's Christmas Express gift unwrapping. He hopes to tweak and improve his form over the next two weeks.
