Son Heung-Min Hasn't Scored in the World Cup in 8 Years, and South Korea's Manager Isn't Waiting Anymore

Alright, so South Korea just snatched a wild 2-1 comeback win against Czechia, grabbing all three points! You'd automatically assume their legendary captain, Son Heung-Min, was the one who sealed the deal, right? He’s one of the greatest goal scorers in Asian soccer history. But get this: it wasn’t him. Nope. It was Oh Hyeon-Gyu, a winger from Besiktas, who came off the bench, latched onto Hwang In-Beom’s pass, and put South Korea ahead for good. This comeback canceled out a set-piece goal from defender Ladislav Krejci, and honestly, it leaves us all scratching our heads about Son.

The Scoring Drought That's Getting Hard to Ignore

This is where it gets real, folks. Son Heung-Min hasn't scored in the World Cup since 2018. Let that sink in. EIGHT YEARS. And it’s not just international play. He hasn't found the back of the net for his club, Los Angeles FC, in MLS action this season either. Yeah, he’s still dishing out the goods with eight assists, so nobody’s saying he’s a total liability. But for a guy who’s built his career on being an elite two-footed finisher, constantly outrunning his expected goals, seeing him miss chances against Czechia is a serious red flag. He ripped off six shots in that match, with only one hitting the target. When your talisman is struggling this hard, it's a problem.

Manager Hong Myung-Bo's Bold Move and a Cohesive Crew

This is where the plot thickens. Manager Hong Myung-Bo made a GUTS decision, yanking Son off the pitch before the 70th minute. And guess what? After he left, the team actually looked more cohesive. They stopped trying to force plays through their struggling captain and instead played an excellent game of out-pass the big lads on Czechia. The highs of their attack might not have been as high, but they totally shut down Czechia in the second half. It’s a brave move from the manager, showing he’s willing to make the tough calls needed to win.

Look, South Korea has big ambitions. They’ve been in every World Cup since 1986 and even made it to the Round of 16 in Qatar in 2022. Son, at 33, deserves a serious run before he hangs up his international boots. Their training camp in Utah, at altitude, clearly helped with fitness. And hey, it’s not just Son anymore. Players like Hwang Hee-Chan and Lee Kang-In are totally capable of putting the ball in the net. If the Taegeuk Warriors are going to make a dark horse run this tournament, they need to figure out this balance ASAP.

Next up is a tough match against tournament co-hosts Mexico. Three points and an okay goal difference could push South Korea into the Round of 32. But can manager Hong Myung-Bo keep making these kinds of calls? Can the team continue to find that balance, even if their superstar isn't scoring? The stakes are high, and this is just getting started!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.