"(The match against South Africa) Our goal is to win no matter what, advance to a higher position, and bring happiness to the people. We want to show good results and good performances."
These are the words of Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland), who has transformed from a newcomer into a defensive mainstay of Hong Myung-bo's squad through the 2026 North and Central America World Cup, expressing his resolve ahead of the South Africa match.
Lee met with reporters Monday (Korea time) at Estadio Universitario in San Nicolás, Nuevo León, Mexico, where the national team's training was held, and shared his thoughts on the first and second matches as well as his goal for the third match against South Africa.
"As we played against the Czech Republic and Mexico, I feel we are becoming solid defensively," Lee said. "I think if we prepare just as well against South Africa, we will be able to defend well."
Lee, who is in his third year competing on the European stage, made his first-ever World Cup appearance and started consecutively in the matches against the Czech Republic on the 12th and Mexico on the 19th, forming a three-back line alongside Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) and Lee Ki-hyuk (Gangwon).
In the second match against co-host Mexico, he was credited with effectively shutting down Julián Quiñones, who had been a target of caution from the opposing attack.
"I wasn't conscious of Quiñones," Lee said. "As I prepared well with the older players, luck was on my side and I think I defended well. (Kim) Min-jae told me not to worry about the back and just handle Quiñones up front, so I was able to play comfortably."
Regarding the conceded goal during the Mexico match, Lee said, "I saw (Kim) Seung-gyu and (Lee) Ki-hyuk talking a lot. Every player should have prevented such a scene from happening. When Seung-gyu came out, I was inside the goalpost, and if I had prepared well, I could have stopped it," and stressed, "I will prepare well so that such a scene does not happen."
Hong Myung-bo's squad will play its final third group-stage match against South Africa at 10 a.m. on the 25th at Monterrey Stadium in Mexico.
"South Africa has good individual ability and is fast. Their goalkeeper's kick is good and their build-up is good too," Lee said. "I think if we prepare our defensive organization well, we will be able to defend well. If we prepare and stay careful about the space behind, we can do well enough."
He explained that preparation is needed, saying, "I heard from (Cho) Hyun-woo, who faced the South Africa team at the Club World Cup last year, and from an African player on my own team as well, that the team plays build-up-oriented football."
Lee then stressed, "The players have no thought of drawing, only the thought of winning no matter what. I want to say that we are not being complacent."
