This loss to South Africa has a shocking meaning beyond just a record of one loss. Coach Hong Myung-bo made a strong move to exclude Son Heung-min from the starting list, saying he would change the existing tactics, but in the end, this ended up being a handshake that reduced the destructive power of the attack. In the first half, they seemed to be taking the lead with Lee Kang-in at the center, but they were unable to break through the opponent's strong defensive wall and the conceded goal to Maseko during a counterattack was fatal. Korea, which ranked 3rd in the group with a poor record of 1 win and 2 losses, is currently ranked 5th in the wild card competition for the round of 32. Because it was a defeat in a situation where they could have advanced on their own, the fans' disappointment is even deeper, and the expectations that filled the stadium have now turned into cold cynicism, weighing down the national team.

The 48-nation, 12-group system introduced at this tournament was expected to provide new opportunities for Korea. This is because, in addition to the 1st and 2nd place in each group, a wild card system has been established that allows 8 teams with the best performance among the 3rd place in each group to join the round of 32. But the reality is harsh. Currently, Korea is in a position where they have to wait with bated breath to see the results of the other groups, receiving a report card of 3 points and -1 goal difference. Sweden in Group F, Ecuador in Group E, and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Group B have already secured 4 points and moved ahead of Korea. In a situation where we can miraculously secure a ticket to the round of 32, only if a large number of countries with lower points than us finish in third place in the group, soccer experts are diagnosing Korea's chances of advancement as uncertain.

The crisis in Korean soccer is not limited to tactical problems in this World Cup. The confidence we experienced during the golden age of the Park Ji-sung era has disappeared, and the recent sluggish performance on the international stage, combined with the decline in the FIFA rankings, is lowering the national team's status. In the past, when Korea competed in the World Cup finals and stood shoulder to shoulder with the world's best, soccer was not just a sport, it was also an icon symbolizing the rapid growth of the Korean economy. However, the recent soccer world continues to suffer from chronic ills such as corruption in entrance exams and referee bribery cases, and it has become difficult to avoid criticism that it has lost the essence of "enjoying soccer" by focusing only on "winning soccer." Systematic infrastructure may have been built, but it is painful to point out that the mental foundation and transparency that fill it are still at a standstill.

Of course, the flame of hope has not completely gone out yet. Statistics company 'Opta' still predicts Korea's probability of advancing to the round of 32 to be 67.93%, suggesting that there could be a dramatic twist depending on the results of the remaining group stage games. But what is clear is that it is no longer time for Korean soccer to be intoxicated with pride as an Asian tiger. Today's modern soccer requires cheetah-like agile offense and defense transitions, sophisticated data analysis, and, above all, strong decision-making power from each player. Our weaknesses revealed through this tournament are not simply due to bad luck, but are proof that we need to fundamentally improve our constitution in order to keep up with the trends of world soccer. Regardless of whether the team advances to the round of 32 or not, Hong Myung-boho will have to use this tournament to make a serious and cool-headed review of the path Korean soccer should take.