Milton keynes: Son Heung-min has called on his South Korean teammates to view their 4-0 defeat to Ivory Coast as a crucial learning opportunity. The match, held at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, marked South Korea's first outing in 2026, a pivotal year for the team with the FIFA World Cup on the horizon. Despite the loss, Son emphasized the importance of humility and growth in the lead-up to the global tournament.
According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea faced a challenging encounter, conceding two goals in each half and hitting the goalpost three times. The defeat comes at a critical time as the World Cup approaches in June, underscoring the need for the Taegeuk Warriors to regroup and learn from the experience. In a post-match interview, Son expressed his regrets to the fans and highlighted the lessons gleaned from the match, stressing the importance of maintaining humility in every game.
During the game, Oh Hyeon-gyu struck the goalpost in the 20th minute, with Ivory Coast taking the lead shortly after. Seol Young-woo's attempt also hit the woodwork before halftime, and Ivory Coast extended their advantage in added time. Lee Kang-in's shot hit the post in the 76th minute, by which time South Korea was trailing 3-0, with little hope of a comeback.
Son, who was brought on as a substitute in the 58th minute, reflected on the missed opportunities and the importance of seizing momentum in football. He acknowledged the disappointment of conceding multiple goals and noted the strong performance by the opponents. Looking ahead to the World Cup, Son emphasized the need for the team to be prepared for even tougher challenges.
"As we get closer to the tournament, we have to use this loss as an opportunity to take the next step," he stated, appealing for continued support from fans. Son expressed confidence in the team's ability to improve and deliver better performances with the backing of their supporters.