Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 06:14pm on 25 Jun 2026,Thursday Sports
South Korea’s hopes of reaching the FIFA World Cup knockout stage were left hanging by a thread after a disappointing 1-0 defeat to South Africa. Head coach Hong Myung-bo came under intense scrutiny from Korean media, with one journalist sarcastically asking whether food poisoning had affected the team due to their lifeless display. Hong rejected any excuses, admitting it was South Korea’s worst performance of the tournament. The coach also defended his decision to bench star forward Son Heung-min for the first half, saying it was a tactical move. The defeat has sparked widespread criticism and increased pressure on Hong as South Korea’s World Cup future remains uncertain. (PC: Reuters)
