On October 14th at 8 PM, the South Korean men’s national football team will face Paraguay at the Seoul World Cup Stadium. Under the leadership of coach Hong Myung-bo, the team will see significant changes in its lineup compared to their previous match against Brazil, where they suffered a heavy 0-5 defeat.
Captain Son Heung-min, aged 33, who plays for Los Angeles FC, will lead the squad. The current FIFA ranking sees South Korea at 23rd, while Paraguay stands at 37th. Historically, South Korea has a slight edge over Paraguay with 2 wins, 4 draws, and 1 loss in their encounters.
For this match, Son is expected to assume the position of the central striker in a 3-4-3 formation, supported by wingers Um Ji-sung from Swansea City and Lee Dong-kyun from Gimcheon Sangmu. In midfield, the team will benefit from the return of key player Hwang In-beom, who plays for Feyenoord, alongside Kim Jin-kyu from Jeonbuk Hyundai and Kim Mun-hwan from Daejeon Hana Citizen on the defense wings. The trio of Lee Han-bum from Midtjylland, Kim Min-jae from Bayern Munich, and Park Jin-seop from Jeonbuk will form the defensive trio, with Kim Seung-kyu from FC Tokyo in goal.
As part of the day’s festivities, a special event will be held to celebrate Son Heung-min’s milestone. Having made his debut for the national team back in December 2010 against Syria, he recently made his 137th appearance during the match against Brazil, surpassing former coach Cha Bum-kun and the current coach Hong Myung-bo, both of whom have played in 136 matches for the national team, thus becoming the player with the most appearances in South Korea’s history.
The celebration event, titled “Legend Old & New – From Cha, To Son,” will include a special moment where Cha Bum-kun, a legendary figure in Korean football, presents Son with a commemorative jersey as a gesture of encouragement and recognition of his achievements. Additionally, Son will have the chance to set another record, as he trails Cha’s all-time goal record of 58 with his current tally of 53 goals in A-matches.
This match and celebration not only highlight individual achievements but also aim to rekindle the team spirit following their loss, making it a hopeful occasion for players and fans alike.