Iraq expedition for the first time in 35 years...Son Heung-min and Lee Jae-sung, who have been to Pyongyang, are desperate for experience
Iraq expedition for the first time in 35 years...Son Heung-min and Lee Jae-sung, who have been to Pyongyang, are desperate for experience
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The Korean national soccer team, which is trying to advance to the FIFA World Cup finals for the 11th consecutive time, will leave Iraq for the first time in 35 years. For the national team, which has to play in a chaotic and unfamiliar environment with hot weather and concerns over security, the experience of veterans who have gone through all sorts of battles such as Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), and Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) is urgently needed.
The national soccer team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, will play its ninth Group B match against Iraq at 3:15 a.m. on the 6th (Korea Standard Time) at Basra International Stadium in Basra, Iraq.
Korea is currently leading Group B with four wins and four draws (16 points) to go. As the team is more than three points ahead of second-ranked Jordan (13 points) and third-ranked Iraq (12 points), it will confirm its advance to the finals for the 11th consecutive time if it only adds one point from the two consecutive games in June.
The best scenario is that the team will advance to the World Cup in an away match in Iraq and shoulder the burden of its final match against Kuwait that will take place at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Sunday. However, an away match in Iraq for the first time in 35 years is not an easy task to be performed.
South Korea's last expedition to Iraq was a warm-up match in Baghdad in February 1990. After Iraq invaded Kuwait in August that year, the match between the two countries took place only in South Korea or a third country.
Currently, Hong is the only coach who has played in an away match in Iraq. Coach Hong Myung-bo, who first joined the national team in February 1990, played his third A-match in an away match in Iraq.
The situation in Iraq is so unstable that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has designated it as a country prohibited from traveling. In response, the Korea Football Association made full preparations for safety, including preparing "bulletproof vehicles."
It is an unfamiliar environment for players. "After the 2024-25 season, I was going to meet Sung-yong for advice on an away match in Iraq, but he said he hasn't experienced it yet. I expect a tough away match," Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton) said.
One-sided cheering by Iraqi soccer fans is also burdensome. The Iraqi Football Association says 65,000 seats will be full already, and expects a full crowd.
Since it is a tricky away match in Iraq, veterans should take the lead. Fortunately, seven main players, including captain Son Heung-min, Lee Jae-sung, Hwang In-beom, Lee Kang-in (PSG), and Cho Hyun-woo (Ulsan), experienced a more difficult "Pyongyang expedition" six years ago.
At that time, the South Korean team moved to Pyongyang via China and played on the artificial turf. In addition, the team played a "dark game" without spectators and live broadcasting amid a controlled schedule of staying at their accommodation. 메이저놀이터
Based on the experiences back then, the Korean team should beef up its manpower so as not to be swept away by chaotic situation. If the team fails to win points in an away match against Iraq, it will inevitably face increased pressure for the final match against Kuwait that will take place at home. During the third qualifying round, Korea has failed to meet expectations with one win and three draws at home. Only when it completes its advance to the finals in the ninth match, will it be able to have a pleasant opening ceremony at its home turf.