SON, you’ve set fire to your fighting spirit and boosted your excitement
Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur), the captain of the Korean national soccer team, was applauded for his leadership with sacrifice and dedication.
South Korea’s 2022 Qatar World Cup journey has been completed. South Korea lost to Brazil 1-4 in the round of 16 at 974 Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on the morning of the 6th (Korea time). The players bowed their heads because of the complete defeat, but Korean fans applauded without leaving the stadium. South Korea has made it to the round of 16 for the first time in 12 years since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Captain Son Heung-min made the national team a ‘one team’ with sacrifice and dedication. An example is Son Heung-min’s struggle with masks. Son Heung-min was diagnosed with a left orbital fracture due to a face collision during the game on the 2nd of last month. It seemed difficult to participate in the Qatar World Cup, but he did not give up and underwent surgery in two days. He also joined the national team in Doha, Qatar, on the 16th of last month and trained wearing a face mask from the day. He said in an interview, “It may be too much for fans to see, but soccer players always play with some risk. “It’s up to me to how far I’ll take it,” he said. “If I can give you a little bit of pleasure and hope in that way, I think I can take enough risks.”
An orbital fracture requires a recovery period of at least 3 to 4 weeks. Nevertheless, Son did not spare himself. He also pushed ahead with the prospect that it would be difficult to play in the first group match against Uruguay (November 24). Even a small collision could have seriously injured the surgical site, but Son Heung-min even tried to head. In particular, in the third group match against Portugal, which confirmed its advance to the round of 16, he took off his mask at the last minute and drew attention.
Son Heung-min’s fighting spirit with injury impressed all his seniors and juniors. Everyone couldn’t stay still. Son Heung-min’s dedication and sacrifice spread throughout the national team, and they all played without sparing themselves. There were major and minor injuries, but I didn’t care. Kim Min-jae (SSC Napoli), who injured his calf muscles, and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers), who has poor hamstring (muscles behind his thighs), also refused to give up his will.
Son Heung-min couldn’t overcome the sadness of being eliminated from the group stage at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and 2018 Russia, but this time it was different. Son Heung-min sobbed in the arms of his senior and captain Koo Ja-cheol (Jeju United) during the Brazil World Cup when he lost 2-3 after dominating the match against Ghana in the second round, but showed laughter and tears of joy after confirming his advance to the round of 16. Son Heung-min once again showed his leadership of sacrifice, saying, “I’m really grateful and proud of the players for covering me, but I did my best at the World Cup in Russia, but I’m so happy to get this result, and I’m really proud of the players.”
