Overview
- Hong Myung-bo, who addressed reporters Thursday at Incheon after the European trip, reaffirmed full confidence in captain Son Heung-min and said illness had limited the veteran’s minutes.
- South Korea lost 4-0 to Ivory Coast and 1-0 to Austria on the tour, and the latest FIFA rankings dropped the team three places to No. 25.
- The coach said tactical experiments are essentially complete and he will lock the World Cup roster by mid-May after tracking K League form and staff data.
- Staff data showed players’ high-intensity output dipped after mandatory first-half water breaks, so training will mimic 22 minutes of play followed by a three-minute rest.
- Son, 33, remains scoreless for Los Angeles FC this MLS season, and South Korea will face Mexico, South Africa and the Czech Republic in Group A at the World Cup.