The Korea-South Africa match is a decisive showdown for a ticket to the round of 32. The third group-stage match, where the World Cup result hinges on the outcome, inevitably weighs more heavily on players than other games. Ko Jeong-woon, the "Red Stallion" and now manager of Gimpo FC, who experienced a tense third group-stage match at the 1994 U.S. tournament 32 years ago, offered the players some heartfelt advice.
In a phone call with Seoul Economic Daily on Tuesday, Ko advised, "If we score the first goal and break the opponent's spirit, we can blunt the edge of a South Africa side that will take the field aiming only for victory." He added, "We can secure second place in the group even with a draw, but to control the game we need to be more aggressive."
During his playing days, Ko thrived on his speed—running 100 meters in the 11-second range—and a solid physique. He debuted in the K League in 1989 and played 230 matches in total, recording 55 goals and 48 assists. He also appeared at the 1994 U.S. World Cup. Although he failed to register an attacking point, he played all three group-stage matches in full, leading the national team's attack. In particular, in the third match against Germany, a narrow 2-3 loss, he played as a winger and effectively attacked the opponent's right flank.
Ko said, "South Africa lacks the ability to build up from the back and frequently exposed the space behind their flank defense, so we need to focus our attack on this area." He added, "The third match may be a burden for the players, but our national team is ahead of South Africa in every aspect, including skill and experience, so I hope they play with confidence."
Ko named Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) as the key player for the South Africa match. "Looking back at the first and second matches, all the decisive chances came off Lee Kang-in's feet," he said. "If Lee Kang-in opens up space for attackers like Son Heung-min and Lee Jae-sung with creative, sharp passes in the South Africa match, we will comfortably take our second win of this tournament."
