"Was this really a game they meant to win? What on earth was that tactic?" — Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo lash out with harsh criticism at Hong Myung-bo's team

[Financial News] "It is worth asking whether South Korea really prepared to win this game. There was no visible tactic at all for how the attack was supposed to be built."
Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo, two icons of South Korean football and key figures in the nation's run to the semifinals at the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, finally vented their pent-up anger at Hong Myung-bo's team after a lifeless performance sent it into a maze of qualification scenarios. Their criticism was sharp and cold, reflecting the burden that former stars once carried on the pitch themselves.
South Korea national football team, led by Hong Myung-bo, suffered a shocking 0-1 defeat to South Africa in the final Group A match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Monterrey Stadium in Mexico on the 25th Korea time. South Korea needed only a draw to finish second in the group and advance directly to the Round of 32, but instead it finished with one win and two losses for three points, dropping to third place and forced to watch other groups for help.

Park Ji-sung, who called the match live from the stadium, did not hide his frustration after the final whistle and directly targeted the bench's lack of tactics. He strongly criticized the team, saying, "The same problems repeated in all three group-stage matches." He added, "The basic idea seemed to be to sit deep and look for counterattacks, but there was no clear plan for how to move the ball into the opponent's half, and even less for how to finish in the most important area in front of goal."
Lee Young-pyo, a KBS commentator, also pointed out that Hong Myung-bo's bold decision to leave Son Heung-min on the bench was a complete misstep.
Lee said, "I can understand the logic behind building the starting lineup with the idea of using Son Heung-min in the second half," but added, "The problem is that the intention was never carried out on the pitch from the first half to the final whistle."

He then gave a blunt summary of South Korea's situation, where second-half substitutions and injury setbacks collided.
Lee said, "When Son Heung-min, Jens Castrop and Kim Jin-gyu were brought on at the start of the second half, it seemed to inject some energy for a moment, but the effect was limited because the momentum had already shifted to South Africa." He also analyzed Kim Min-jae's sudden exit in the 21st minute of the second half due to a calf injury, saying, "After Kim Min-jae left, the defensive structure collapsed as well, and it was the worst match, with an uncontrollable vicious cycle on both offense and defense."
The lament of these legends, who once defined an era, reflects the bitter reality now facing Hong Myung-bo's team. With its fate in the Round of 32 left in someone else's hands, Park Ji-sung's question — "Was this really a game they meant to win?" — will remain a painful task that the national team must solve, even if it reaches the knockout stage.
jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter