Hong Myung-bo's Korean national team has arrived in Monterrey, Mexico, the "battleground" for its final group-stage match against South Africa. Adapting to higher temperatures than in Guadalajara and unfamiliar pitch conditions has emerged as the team's first challenge.
The South Korean national team left its base camp on Sunday (Korea time) and arrived at its accommodations in Monterrey. It was the team's first move to another city since the World Cup opened. The team played both its first and second group-stage matches at Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico. Starting with a closed training session Monday, the team plans to begin tactical drills aimed at securing a win over South Africa.
Unlike the dry and mild Guadalajara, Monterrey is notorious for its sweltering heat. In recent days, the high temperature has reached around 35 degrees Celsius. At 7 p.m. on Wednesday, when the match takes place, high temperatures of 30 to 31 degrees are forecast. If localized heavy rain is added, humidity would rise as well, meaning the match could be played in what would truly be "steaming heat."
The pitch, which differs from Guadalajara's, is another challenge for Hong's team to adapt to. Monterrey Stadium, where the South Africa match will be held, is laid with a grass variety called Tahoma 31. Although it is the same Bermuda grass species as the Northbridge grass laid at Guadalajara Stadium, it differs in that the ball rolls in a relatively more consistent manner, making dribbling and tackling easier for players. Analysts say this is a favorable condition for the Korean national team, which builds up play based on precise passing. Hong's team is known to have planted the same grass variety in a section of its base camp and continued adaptation training for the South Africa match pitch. The training reflected a strategy to increase players' adaptability by maximizing their contact time with the grass.
