South Korea favored to beat Czech Republic, but analysts warn of tactical unpreparedness and lack of cohesion in new formation
Foreign media have echoed domestic concerns that South Korea's national football team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, must overcome the unfinished state of its three-back system before its 2026 North America World Cup opener against the Czech Republic on Friday at 11 a.m. Korean Standard Time.
US sports outlet The Athletic said Wednesday that while South Korea's most dangerous weapon is the counterattack — and a three-back formation theoretically helps the team absorb pressure before surging forward — the system demands a high level of player proficiency and a clear understanding of individual roles. "South Korea has not yet developed that organizational cohesion, and there is not enough time to build it before the tournament begins," the outlet said.
It added that such a drastic tactical shift on the eve of the tournament could heighten anxiety among players and risk derailing South Korea's entire World Cup campaign.
British daily The Guardian also raised concerns about the sudden change in approach. The paper noted that South Korea introduced the tactical shift only after clearing all the difficult qualifying hurdles, warning that if the team starts the tournament in a 3-4-3 formation, it could face serious difficulties due to woefully insufficient preparation time and a lack of cohesion.
Despite those criticisms, both outlets offered broadly positive outlooks on South Korea's chances against the Czech Republic, suggesting the team's experience and pedigree should be enough to see off the underdog Czechs.
The Athletic spotlighted Son Heung-min, calling the South Korea squad "still the Son Heung-min show" and noting whether the 33-year-old, entering the twilight of his career, can lead his country into the knockout rounds again.
The Guardian noted that South Korea went unbeaten across all 16 qualifying matches and finished six points clear of Jordan in the final round of Asian qualifying, concluding that the team has every reason to hope for a place in the knockout stage from this group.
Middle Eastern broadcaster Al Jazeera assessed Group A — South Korea's group — as one of the more manageable draws at the tournament, with an average FIFA ranking of 35th among its members. It predicted that co-host Mexico would likely claim a top-two finish on home advantage, while South Korea — the only team from the Asian qualifying zone to go through unbeaten — would battle the Czech Republic for the remaining second-place berth.
China's state-run Xinhua News Agency offered a positive assessment, noting that South Korea holds the record for the most World Cup appearances among Asian nations at 12 and boasts a squad packed with players from top European clubs. It said the team has ample firepower to reach the round of 16 for the fourth time in its history.
The opening match carries enormous weight for the squad. South Korea has never advanced to the round of 16 after losing its first group-stage game, meaning a defeat Friday would immediately plunge the team into a labyrinth of scenarios and permutations.
The foreign outlets also identified the Czech Republic's strengths, pointing to its defensive organization and set-piece quality as the main threats South Korea must guard against.
The Athletic described the Czech Republic as a team that plays simple, pragmatic football built on a tenacious and well-drilled defensive structure. It noted that the Czechs deployed a 3-4-2-1 formation in their two playoff matches, dropping into a five-man defensive line when out of possession, and observed that — unlike South Korea — the Czech players showed no confusion whatsoever about their roles.
The Athletic also noted that 45 percent of the Czech Republic's goals during European qualifying came from set-piece situations — the highest rate among European nations — and identified their set-piece threat as a key weapon South Korea must be alert to.
The Guardian acknowledged that the Czech Republic could spring a surprise as underdogs, but said the team lacks the tools to back it up, arguing that the Czechs have long suffered from a shortage of technically gifted players and rely too heavily on physicality, high work rate, fighting spirit and set pieces.
Xinhua noted that the Czech Republic's two group-stage matches will be played at altitude in Mexico, while the team's base camp is in Dallas, Texas. It said adapting to the long travel distances and unfamiliar climate could prove just as decisive as the football itself.
yjc@heraldcorp.com
