Son Heung-min reflects on Taeguk Warriors' win against Portugal post-game

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Published: 04 Dec. 2022, 15:08

Son Heung-min reflects on Taeguk Warriors' win against Portugal post-game

Son Heung-min reacts at the end of the match after beating Portugal 2-1 and qualifying for the knockout stages on Friday evening at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha. [NEWS1]

Son Heung-min, left, greets Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Korea's last group stage match against Portugal on Friday evening at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha. Korea later beat Portugal 2-1 and advanced to the round of 16. [NEWS1]

Korea defied all odds Friday night, beating group favorites Portugal 2-1 to advance to the knockout stage of the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

With many of Korea’s key players injured or not at the top of their game, the odds were stacked against the Taeguk Warriors.

Adding to that, a Taeguk Warriors victory alone would not have been enough for Korea to advance: not only would Korea have to beat the No. 9 Portugal, but Uruguay would have to win their game against Ghana.

Uruguay did beat Ghana 2-0, and Korea and Uruguay subsequently tied in their goal difference score, and the tiebreaker was brought into consideration, which looks at the overall goals.

Korea had the upper hand in that respect as Uruguay only had two goals total while Korea had four, after Cho Gue-sung scored a brace against Ghana with Kim Young-gwon and Hwang Hee-chan each adding one against Portugal.

When the whistle blew Friday night, Hwang’s goal was good enough to move Korea up to second place and the crowd knew it. The final seven minutes of the game were largely irrelevant for the partying Red Devils, and when the whistle finally blew, Son Heung-min was in tears and Hwang was on his knees.

Son has been playing with a carbon mask for the last two World Cup matches after undergoing surgery early November on one or multiple orbital fractures.

Son’s eye socket was fractured after Chancel Mbemba’s shoulder connected with his face during the 29th minute of a Champions League game between Tottenham Hotspur and Marseille at Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, France, on Nov. 1.

He underwent surgery on Nov. 4 and arrived in Qatar with a carbon mask that he has worn for all three matches.

Desperate to keep Korea’s one-goal lead in the last few minutes of injury time on Friday, Son was seen running on the field without his mask.

Here’s everything Son said at the mixed zone of the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha, after the victory on Friday.

Son Heung-min celebrates with his teammates and coaching staff after beating Portugal 2-1 and qualifying for the knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup on Friday evening at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Q. How do you feel?

A. I am so proud of the players, that’s how I feel. I’m sure everyone here including the reporters are very proud. The players deserve an applause and although it is a great moment we will focus on preparing for the next match.

You were in tears after the full time whistle blew.

They were happy tears. I knew how hard the players had worked, and I was the closest one that watched through the process. I was so emotional, so proud and so happy as the captain because I know that the team can go higher, do better. I don’t think many people believed that we could do it, but the players did not let go of their hope and saw the fruit of their labor. I am so happy.

Tell us about that last goal. You ran up to assist Hwang Hee-chan for his goal. Did you see Hwang before you passed the ball to him?

Yes, all of that was intentional. When you watch the game on TV, it’s hard to think that, but even if it was just for a short moment, I had calculated everything and passed the ball to him. It’s not easy to run 70, 80 meters and pass the ball. I was initially going to shoot the ball if there was even a little bit of leeway, but three or four defenders surrounded me, and I saw Hwang running from the left. There wasn’t much space to even pass the ball at that point, but I decided that passing it between the legs was my best shot. That went through, Hwang finished it off nicely, and that became the winner.

Son Heung-min vies for the ball in injury time without wearing his face mask during Korea's last group stage match against Portugal on Friday evening at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha. Son is holding his protection mask in his hand instead of wearing it on his face. [NEWS1]

You took off your mask for the last minutes of the match. Was it okay for you to do that, and why did you take it off? How does it feel playing with the mask on?

Playing with the mask on feels okay. I shouldn’t have taken the mask off, technically speaking. It’s only been a month since the surgery and it takes at least three months for a bone to heal. Even if the bone has healed a little bit, I should not take off the mask: But I'm in a position where I have to do what I have to do. It’s something that I live for, but that doesn’t mean that I am not taking risks. I am taking risks, but at the same time it’s my job to do whatever I can when there is even the slightest hint of an opportunity.

How does it feel reaching the round of 16?

It feels good, but it’s not over yet. We are going to try to get further than the round of 16. Right now, the team is really happy and excited. But that all stops tomorrow, and we will channel that energy toward preparing for the next match.

What did you tell the team in the locker room during half time?

I told them many times that we just can’t concede any more goals. I trusted that there was going to be more chances, especially because we had finished the first half leveled at 1-1. My teammates knew what I was talking about, and they fought tooth and nail, making sacrifices and endured to win the match.

The situation that Korea was put in on Friday night was the exact same as when the Taeguk Warriors faced in Russia 2018, when they had to bear Germany, and Mexico had to beat Sweden in the final game for Korea to advance. Korea did beat Germany 2-0, but Sweden thrashed Mexico and the Taeguk Warriors went home empty-handed.

This time, everything happened in Korea’s favor. The Taeguk Warriors not only edged out Portugal 2-1, but Uruguay also beat Ghana 2-0, tying with Korea on four points but falling to third on total goals scored.

Compared to four years ago, what went differently?

I wasn’t reminded of the 2018 World Cup. As a team, we kept on repeating that we deserved this, and that we can go further. I don’t remember exactly who said what, but I was just so proud. We didn’t talk or think about four years ago, we were just so proud of ourselves.

How did it feel celebrating after that first goal?

I knew time was ticking, and every second was time lost. I was also really happy and wanted to run and hug the team, but I knew that the tide had turned to our side and we could capitalize on that and do even better. So I told the team we should get the ball and get moving. I thought maybe I was being too impatient, but the other players felt the same way. I am so happy about how it turned out in the end.

Did you know that Korea would get another chance?

Of course. We don’t get many chances against Portugal. When Portugal dominated the match, we needed to prevent ourselves from conceding a goal, but at the same time we need to take advantage of the small chances that come our way. But if we defend like we did, it’s hard for Portugal to score. We can do better if we trust in ourselves and play like we did today.

How far up can Korea go?

You are asking with an answer in mind. I think this moment is a time to celebrate. The next match is just around the corner. It’s about preparing well to play our own game. I can’t make promises about how far we can go. Of course, we would like to win. But it’s important to focus on every match and take it one step at a time. That’s when the results follow.

With a goalless draw against Uruguay, a 3-2 loss against Ghana and a 2-1 win over Portugal, Korea lands second in Group H and advances to the round of 16 for the first time in 12 years.

Korea will face Brazil in the round of 16 match of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar on Monday evening local time.

BY PARK RIN, YUN SO-HYANG [yun.sohyang@joongang.co.kr]