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Malay Mail
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Malay Mail
South Korea's Lee Kang-in calls for fans to ‘see the more positive side of team' after boos overshadow World Cup qualification
SEOUL, June 12 — Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in has pleaded with South Korea fans to get behind the team at the World Cup after more boos were aimed at coach Hong Myung-bo despite leading them to qualification. South Korea reached next year's finals in North America without losing a game but that does not tell the whole story. The country's football association has been in the firing line, having scrambled about to find a successor after sacking the unpopular Jurgen Klinsmann in February last year. They eventually settled on Hong, the decorated former skipper who had an unsuccessful stint as coach in 2013-2014, during which they went out in the group phase of the World Cup in Brazil. The 56-year-old's return a decade later and the way the Korea Football Association (KFA) went about the dragged-out recruitment process went down badly with fans. He was booed in his first game back and the jeers continued on Tuesday even as the hosts celebrated qualification for 2026 with a convincing 4-0 win over Kuwait in Seoul. 'There are people out there attacking and criticising our head coach and the KFA,' the PSG midfielder Lee, who was on the scoresheet, told reporters. 'But since we players are also part of the federation and the coach is our boss, people's criticism also affects us if they get out of hand. 'I'd like to ask people to see the more positive side of our team. That will help us play better at the World Cup. 'I hope people will help us and keep supporting us.' Hong has won six and drawn four of his 10 matches in his second spell but performances have not always been convincing. With skipper Son Heung-min struggling for form and fitness, South Korea passed up the chance to seal qualification sooner with 1-1 home draws against Jordan and Oman in March. That came after a similarly flat 1-1 draw with Palestine in Amman, Jordan. — AFP
Free Malaysia Today
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
PSG's Lee pleads with S. Korea boo boys to back team at World Cup
Lee Kang-in waves to fans after South Korea's win over Kuwait in their 2026 World Cup Asian Group B qualifier in Seoul. (AFP pic) SEOUL : Paris St-Germain's Lee Kang-in has pleaded with South Korea fans to get behind the team at the World Cup after more boos were aimed at coach Hong Myung-bo despite leading them to qualification. South Korea reached next year's finals in North America without losing a game but that does not tell the whole story. The country's football association has been in the firing line, having scrambled about to find a successor after sacking the unpopular Jurgen Klinsmann in February last year. They eventually settled on Hong, the decorated former skipper who had an unsuccessful stint as coach in 2013-2014, during which they went out in the group phase of the World Cup in Brazil. The 56-year-old's return a decade later and the way the Korea Football Association (KFA) went about the dragged-out recruitment process went down badly with fans. He was booed in his first game back and the jeers continued on Tuesday even as the hosts celebrated qualification for 2026 with a convincing 4-0 win over Kuwait in Seoul. 'There are people out there attacking and criticising our head coach and the KFA,' the PSG midfielder Lee, who was on the scoresheet, told reporters. 'But since we players are also part of the federation and the coach is our boss, people's criticism also affects us if they get out of hand.' 'I'd like to ask people to see the more positive side of our team. That will help us play better at the World Cup. 'I hope people will help us and keep supporting us.' Hong has won six and drawn four of his 10 matches in his second spell but performances have not always been convincing. With skipper Son Heung-min struggling for form and fitness, South Korea passed up the chance to seal qualification sooner with 1-1 home draws against Jordan and Oman in March. That came after a similarly flat 1-1 draw with Palestine in Amman, Jordan.
Associated Press
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Japan and South Africa wrap up World Cup qualifying with big home wins
OSAKA, Japan (AP) — Japan and South Korea ended successful 2026 World Cup qualification campaigns on a high with emphatic home victories over Indonesia and Kuwait respectively on Tuesday. In Osaka, Daichi Kamada scored after 15 minutes to set Japan, preparing for an eighth consecutive World Cup, on its way to a 6-0 victory. Takefusa Kubo added a second five minutes later and Kamada extended the lead just before the break. Soon after the restart, Ryoya Morishita and Shuto Machino piled on and Mao Hosoya made it six. In Asia's third round of qualification, the top two from each of the three groups of six progress automatically to the World Cup. Jordan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Japan and South Korea have qualified for the expanded 48-team tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Only one spot is still available, in Group C. It will go to Australia later Tuesday if the Socceroos avoid defeat by five goals in Saudi Arabia. South Korea, which has qualified for an 11th straight World Cup, sealed top spot in Group B after beating Kuwait 4-0. Jeon Jin-woo scored after 33 minutes at Seoul World Cup Stadium and Lee Kang-in added a second soon after the restart. Oh Hyeon-gyu and Lee Jae-sung also got on the scoresheet. The six teams that finish third and fourth advance to another stage to play off for Asia's two remaining automatic places. Elsewhere, China defeated Bahrain 1-0 with both teams already eliminated from contention. ___ AP soccer:
South China Morning Post
03-06-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
World Cup: South Korea near qualification as Uzbekistan chase history
Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in – fresh off European trophy wins – aim to lead South Korea to the World Cup, with four remaining automatic spots from Asia up for grabs. Japan and Iran have already sealed their berths at the tournament next year in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. South Korea are guaranteed to join them on Thursday if they avoid defeat against Iraq in Basra. Even if they lose, they will have another opportunity at home to Kuwait next Tuesday in Group B. South Korea and Spurs captain Son did not have his best club season, but the 32-year-old attacker finished it off by lifting the Europa League trophy. International teammate Lee collected a Champions League winner's medal with Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday after they thrashed Inter Milan 5-0 in Munich, although he remained on the bench for the final. Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in touches the Champions League trophy. Photo: Xinhua
Free Malaysia Today
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
South Korea on cusp, Uzbeks eye historic World Cup spot
Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min (right) and PSG's Lee Kang-in will be available for the match against Iraq in Basra. (EPA Images pic) HONG KONG : European club trophy winners Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in will hope to fire South Korea to the World Cup in the coming days with four remaining automatic spots from Asia up for grabs. Japan and Iran have already sealed their berths at the tournament next year in the US, Canada and Mexico. South Korea are guaranteed to join them on Thursday if they avoid defeat against Iraq in Basra. Even if they lose, they will have another opportunity at home to Kuwait next Tuesday in Group B. South Korea and Spurs captain Son did not have his best club season but the 32-year-old attacker finished it off by lifting the Europa League trophy. Attacking midfielder Lee on Saturday collected a Champions League winner's medal with Paris St-Germain after they thrashed Inter Milan 5-0 in Munich, although he remained on the bench for the final. South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo suggested he could use Son sparingly at the end of a long campaign in which the country's talisman has struggled for form and fitness. 'Since we have two matches coming up, I will not push him too hard,' said Hong, who believes Son will have a role to play even if he does not feature against an Iraq side now coached by former Australia boss Graham Arnold. 'We will probably play in a hostile environment in front of partisan fans,' Hong said. 'We have some players who have had experience playing in these situations.' China in deep trouble Japan were the first country to qualify for North America after running away with Group C. With the top two from the three Asian groups automatically qualifying, second-placed Australia are in pole position to go through with Japan with two match days left. The Socceroos host Japan in Perth on Thursday knowing that if they win and third-placed Saudi Arabia fail to do the same at Bahrain, they will qualify. Most likely however qualification will go down to the final round of matches on Tuesday when Australia travel to Saudi Arabia for a winner-takes-all blockbuster. 'We've put ourselves in a good position within the group to be in control of our destiny,' said coach Tony Popovic, who took over the Socceroos in September following Arnold's resignation. Indonesia are still mathematically in the running for an automatic place out of Group C, four points behind Australia and one behind the Saudis. Patrick Kluivert's Indonesia host China in Jakarta on Thursday followed by a trip to Japan. China's World Cup hopes are hanging by a thread at the bottom of the group. Even if teams do not finish in the top two of their pool, their World Cup hopes are not over. Third and fourth go into a further round of Asian qualifying. In Group A, where Iran have already qualified, Uzbekistan are on the cusp of their first World Cup. Avoid defeat to third-placed United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi and the Central Asian country will make history. For Asian champions Qatar, the best they can hope for is to come third or fourth and go into the next qualifying round. They host Iran before travelling to Uzbekistan and will be coached for the first time by former West Ham United, Real Madrid and Spain boss Julen Lopetegui.
