Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Seoul: Hong Myung-bo became the first Asian player to appear at four FIFA World Cups when he captained Korea Republic all the way to the semi-finals on home soil in 2002 in what remains one of the most unlikely stories in the tournament’s history.
With the final three rounds of qualifying fixtures set to kick off next week, the Koreans find themselves in a battle to secure a top-two place and automatic qualification to what would be the East Asians’ ninth consecutive appearance at the competition.
Ahead of the crucial away clash with bottom side Qatar, the-AFC.com caught up with Hong – who managed his national team at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and has since coached in China – to discuss the current Korea Republic side, his memories of 2002 and a winning penalty that will live long in the memory.
Q: What have you made of Korea Republic’s qualifying campaign so far?
Although we’re in second place right now, I don’t think it will be a big problem to qualify for the World Cup. There are only a few points between Korea and the third and fourth-placed teams so maybe one game will decide who will qualify. We’ve already qualified for many consecutive World Cups so I believe we will overcome the current problem.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/korea-republic_fifawcq_ls_jpg_1.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/hong-myung-bo_2_kor_ls_jpg_1.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/hong-myung-bo_3_kor_ls_jpg.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/hong-myung-bo_4_kor_ls_jpg.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/hwang-sun-hong_ls_jpg.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/hong-myung-bo_5_kor_ls_jpg.html
