Park Joo-ho: 'South Africa read our tactics perfectly — Lee Kang-in's positioning was a concern'

Lee Kang-in (left) battles South Africa's Thafel Maseko during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A match at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico, on Thursday. [AP]

Former national team player and football commentator Park Joo-ho said South Korea's 0-1 loss to South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A match was "slow and anxious," with the team constantly on the back foot.

Park made the assessment Thursday in his match column published on Naver Lounge, adding that "South Africa may have looked loose, but they had a precise read on our attacking plan."

"Korea's attack was built around a three-man pattern — from the fullback to the midfielder and then into second-line runs — but South Africa had already figured out that Plan A and neutralized it," Park said. "After that, Korea never clearly showed a Plan B."

Football commentator Park Joo-ho [Yonhap]

Park also raised concerns about the team's over-reliance on a single star player and poor positional discipline.

"The attack drifted toward depending on Lee Kang-in's individual ability, inswinging crosses and shots from second-ball situations," Park said. "Lee's positioning was particularly disappointing."

"Because he kept dropping too deep to receive the ball, there were fewer moments where he could directly unsettle the opposing defense, and the attack lost its sharpness," Park said. "There were attempts — circulating the ball through Baek Seung-ho and Hwang In-beom, and Lee's second-ball shots — but none of it led to a decisive blow."

"The performance itself was frustrating, but what hurts even more is that we can no longer control our own fate — we have to start calculating scenarios," Park added. "There is a lot to say, but this was a game where the result says everything."

Hong Myung-bo: 'The result is my responsibility as manager'

South Korea manager Hong Myung-bo instructs his players during a hydration break in the first half of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A third match against South Africa at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico, on Thursday. [Yonhap]

South Korea fell 0-1 to South Africa in their third and final Group A match at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico, on Thursday.

In his post-match interview, manager Hong Myung-bo said the players knew what was at stake and gave everything they had, but conceding first had rattled them. "The players knew what kind of game they needed to play and I believe they gave their best," he said. "However, after conceding the opening goal, I think there was a sense of urgency — perhaps anxiety — in how they managed the game."

"We fought until the very end, but the disappointing result is my responsibility as manager," he added.

Hong dismissed external factors such as food poisoning and said he had no desire to shift blame in that direction. "This was the worst performance of our three World Cup matches," he said.

On adapting to the heat, Hong acknowledged conditions in Monterrey differed from those in Guadalajara. "I thought the weather would be a factor," he said. "The preparation process was good, but ultimately the responsibility lies with the choices I made as manager."

South Korea needed only a draw against South Africa to secure automatic qualification for the round of 32. Instead they dropped to third place in the group and must now wait on results from other third-place teams to see whether they advance.

ygmoon@heraldcorp.com