South Korea’s national team coach, Hong Myung-bo, has urged Son Heung-min to put aside his struggles at Tottenham Hotspur and concentrate on helping his country secure a place in next year’s World Cup.
Son, who came off the bench at halftime to score a late penalty in Tottenham’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on Sunday, has been facing challenges at club level this season. Despite rescuing a point for Spurs, the 32-year-old forward has had less playing time and has scored only seven Premier League goals as the club sits in the bottom half of the table.
However, Hong believes the national team provides a different environment for Son and insisted that his difficulties at Spurs would not impact his performances for South Korea. “I don’t want to link the trophy drought with the national team,” Hong said. “We want Son to do well at his club and bring that form to the national team. I believe he will continue to do well moving forward.”
South Korea can secure their 11th consecutive World Cup appearance if they defeat Oman and Jordan in upcoming home qualifiers. Despite Son’s recent injury troubles and reduced minutes, Hong emphasized that there are no guarantees regarding his starting position in the upcoming matches, but he remained confident in the forward’s abilities.
Hong also noted that while Son’s recent form and goal tally have been subjects of discussion, his past achievements should not be overlooked. “If he joins us, we will communicate about his role and work together to find the best approach possible,” Hong added.
South Korea remains unbeaten in the third round of Asian qualifying, with four wins and two draws. The squad also includes top players such as Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-jae, Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in, and Wolves’ Hwang Hee-chan.
Hong called for a balance between the energy of younger players and the experience of veterans, encouraging the former to embrace the opportunity and play with confidence.
