Korea Republic head coach Hong Myung-bo praised his players for following his pre-match instructions after the Taeguk Warriors produced a spirited comeback to defeat Czech Republic 2-1 in their opening Group A match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Trailing early in the second half following a header from Ladislav Krejci, South Korea responded with goals from Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyeon-gyu to secure a valuable three points at Estadio Guadalajara.
The result not only marked a winning start to South Korea’s World Cup campaign but also demonstrated the resilience and unity that Hong Myung-bo had demanded from his squad before kickoff.
Speaking during the post-match press conference, Hong revealed the two key messages he delivered to his players before they stepped onto the pitch.
“Before the match, I gave the players two instructions: never give up until the final whistle and stay united as one team,” said Hong.
“Whether on the pitch or off it, we must operate as a single unit.”
Those words proved decisive as South Korea refused to be discouraged after falling behind midway through the second half. Instead, they rallied together to overturn the deficit and claim one of the most important victories of their recent World Cup history.
The victory came despite an unusually frustrating outing for captain Son Heung-min, who squandered several promising opportunities during the first half.
The veteran forward created danger throughout the match but was unable to find the back of the net before being substituted. His replacement, Oh Hyeon-gyu, would eventually emerge as the match-winner
The win sees South Korea join co-hosts Mexico at the top of Group A on three points after both nations secured victories in their opening fixtures.
Attention now turns to a crucial showdown between the two group leaders on June 18, a match that could play a significant role in determining the group winner and qualification path to the knockout rounds.
Hong acknowledged the importance of the upcoming encounter. “Both teams have earned three points, so the next match will be extremely important.”
Mexico opened their campaign with a convincing victory over South Africa, while South Korea’s comeback success against the Czech Republic has set the stage for one of the standout fixtures of the group stage.
Meanwhile, the Czech Republic will look to bounce back from their opening defeat when they face South Africa in their next Group A match, with both teams seeking their first points of the tournament to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Credit Photo : FIFA
