South Korea captain Son Heung-Min has expressed his enduring excitement for the FIFA World Cup, stating he still feels like a young boy as he gears up for his fourth appearance on football's biggest stage. The 33-year-old forward will lead the Taegeuk Warriors in their opening Group A match against Czechia at Estadio Guadalajara on Thursday.
Son's enduring passion for the World Cup
Speaking ahead of the crucial encounter, Son admitted that the thrill of representing his country at the World Cup has never diminished. 'I'm very happy to be back on the World Cup pitch, which is something I dreamed of from a very young age,' Son said, as reported by ESPN. 'Whether it's my first World Cup or fourth World Cup, I feel like a young boy again. This is the stage of dreams.'
The former Tottenham Hotspur star emphasised that the mindset remains unchanged regardless of the number of appearances. 'It's not something that can be expressed in one word. Whether it's the first, fourth or sixth World Cup, our mindset must be the same when we participate in the World Cup,' he added.
South Korea's World Cup journey and lessons learned
South Korea arrive in Mexico with the aim of building on their Round of 16 finish in Qatar 2022. However, the team has historically struggled in tournament openers, having failed to win their first match in each of the last three World Cups. Son believes the squad has matured since the previous edition. 'I think during [the last World Cup in] Qatar, we showed a lot of strength but also had losses and failures. I think those are lessons that we have learned from going forward,' he said.
He added, 'Of course, we are a little bit more mature and experienced. There are some changes [in personnel] but our mindset on the world stage is the same.'
Team atmosphere and preparation
Son praised the commitment within the squad, highlighting the determination of his teammates. 'The atmosphere, right from the beginning now, is no problem at all. And whenever I see my teammates working so hard for the team, for Korea, sometimes I even have to calm them down,' Son remarked. 'We're very prepared, and I hope that we will get a good result tomorrow because I'm sure they [his teammates] deserve it.'
Focus on the present
Despite the significance of the opening match, Son insisted on staying grounded. 'When it comes to the importance of the first match, I don't live for tomorrow. Today is the most important day for me, and I need to develop myself. Today I will be focused on training. Tomorrow, I can think about tomorrow. Tomorrow, we will do our best,' he concluded.
South Korea begin their World Cup campaign against Czechia, seeking a positive start that has eluded them in recent tournaments. With their experienced captain leading from the front, the Asian side hopes to make a strong impression in Group A.
