Former South Korea midfielder Park Ji-sung has strongly criticized the national team following their 1-0 loss to South Africa in the FIFA World Cup, stating there was "no visible plan to attack" and drawing comparisons to the disastrous 2014 campaign. The defeat leaves South Korea's hopes of advancing to the round of 32 hanging by a thread, reliant on being one of the eight best third-placed teams.
Park Ji-sung's scathing assessment
Speaking during TV commentary, as quoted by Reuters, Park said: "We need to reflect on whether this was overall a game we tried to win. There was no visible plan for how to attack. This problem has been the same throughout this World Cup. It seems there were clearly some areas that were neglected during the preparation process."
South Korea's captain Son Heung-min started on the bench and managed only 29 touches after coming on, failing to spark an attacking revival. The team has now lost two consecutive matches after an initial win over Czechia, with narrow defeats to Mexico and South Africa derailing their campaign.
Comparison to 2014 World Cup failure
Park, a key member of the 2002 semifinalist side, drew parallels with the 2014 World Cup, where South Korea managed only one draw and two losses. "We had plenty of time to reflect on what went wrong at the 2014 World Cup," he said. "But this time again, the preparation process and the results look like a repeat of that time. Even if the possibility of reaching the round of 32 still remains, I am not confident that we can show a good performance on that stage with the current level of play."
South Korea's only path to the knockout stage is to finish among the top eight third-placed teams across all groups. However, with two losses in three matches, their goal difference and overall performance leave little room for optimism.
What went wrong against South Africa
In the match played in Guadalupe, Mexico, South Korea struggled to create clear chances despite having 58% possession. The team managed only three shots on target, with South Africa's defense repelling most attacks. The solitary goal came from a counter-attack in the 67th minute, exposing South Korea's defensive vulnerabilities.
Coach Kim Do-hoon's decision to bench Son Heung-min raised eyebrows, and the captain's late introduction failed to change the game's trajectory. Park noted that the team's attacking patterns were predictable and lacked creativity, a problem that has persisted throughout the tournament.
Group stage outlook
South Korea opened their campaign with a 2-0 win over Czechia, but subsequent losses have left them third in Group F with three points. Mexico leads the group with six points, followed by South Africa with four. The final group matches will determine whether South Korea can cling to a third-place berth, but even that scenario depends on results elsewhere.
Park's comments reflect growing frustration among fans and pundits, as the team's performance has fallen short of expectations. The 2014 debacle, where South Korea finished bottom of their group with one point, remains a painful memory, and the current campaign risks being remembered similarly.
