Republic of Korea head into the World Cup after a dominant 5-0 friendly victory that highlighted their attacking intent. The squad, however, has been dealt a setback as defender Cho Yu-min was ruled out with a partial tear of the plantar fascia, forcing a late adjustment to the back line. With the team aiming to preserve the confidence from the tune-up, Korea will look to translate that momentum into a strong start in the group stage.
Republic of Korea takes on Czech Republic at home in a crucial FIFA World Cup group game. The side have won 3 and lost 2 of their last 5 matches, and while they are undoubtedly exciting, they can be exposed on the counterattack. The side's boss Myung-Bo Hong, who took over as head coach in July 2024, has been taking a few calculated risks and has introduced a 3-4-3 system that throws the ball long to Son Heung-min, an all-or-nothing game plan that relies on quick transitions. Lee Kang-in brings some of that creativity and quality to the midfield, but the overall style is more about width and verticality as opposed to Czech Republic's preference for a more pragmatic approach.
World Cup Group A
