South Korea coach backs Son to shine at his fourth World Cup

TL;DR

South Korea's coach has expressed confidence in Son Heung-min's ability to perform at his fourth World Cup, despite his recent struggles in scoring. Son, who has scored only twice since joining LAFC, will lead an experienced squad in Group A against Mexico, the Czech Republic, and South Africa.

Key points

Son Heung-min named in South Korea's World Cup squad
Coach believes Son can regain scoring form
South Korea faces Mexico, Czech Republic, and South Africa in Group A
Team needs to adapt to high altitude in Guadalajara
Primary objective is to advance to the round of 32

Mentioned in this story

Son Heung-minSouth KoreaGuadalajaraMexicoCzech RepublicSouth Africa

Los Angeles FCTottenham HotspurParis Saint-GermainBayern Munich

Son Heung-min was named in South Korea's World Cup squad on Saturday (Dilip Vishwanat) (Dilip Vishwanat/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/Getty Images via AFP) South Korea's coach backed Son Heung-min to get back to goalscoring ways at his fourth World Cup after on Saturday naming the striker in his squad for the tournament. Captain Son has struggled for goals since swapping English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur for Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer a year ago. The 33-year-old has scored only twice for his new club but Hong Myung-bo thinks a change of scenery could help as South Korea face World Cup co-hosts Mexico, the Czech Republic and South Africa in Group A. "When I went to Los Angeles and watched the matches myself, I saw that he was playing in a somewhat different role compared to how we use him, in a slightly deeper position, which meant he wasn't getting many chances," Hong said after naming his 26-man squad. "So I believe we need to continue communicating with the players and work together on identifying which positions and roles are the most suitable and effective for each of them as we prepare." Son heads an experienced Korean squad that also features Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in, Bayern Munich defender and forward . Besiktas striker was also included, along with Celtic's Yang Hyun-jin and Birmingham's . German-born of also made the cut. South Korea will play all their first-round games in Mexico and take on the Czechs in their opener on June 11. Hong admitted the high altitude in Guadalajara, where South Korea play two games, could give his team problems. He cited Son's experience playing against Mexican opposition for his club, which left the forward with "lingering exhaustion". "Although the altitude we will be facing is not quite as extreme as that, we are none the less unaccustomed to high-altitude environments," said Hong. "Consequently, we believe that adapting to the 1,600-metre elevation will be crucial for us." Hong came under fire after South Korea lost two friendlies in Europe without scoring a goal in March. They went down 1-0 to in Vienna before suffering a 4-0 drubbing against the in . "Our primary objective is to advance to the round of 32 in a strong position," said Hong. South Korea World Cup squad: Goalkeepers: Jo Hyeon-woo (Ulsan), (FC Tokyo/JPN), (Jeonbuk) Defenders: (Daejeon), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich/GER), Kim Tae-hyon (Kashima Antlers/JPN), (Zhejiang/CHN), (Red Star Belgrade/SER), Jens Castrop (Borussia Moenchengladbach/GER), Lee Ki-hyuk (Gangwon), Lee Tae-seok (Austria Wien/AUT), Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland/DEN), (Sharjah/UAE) Midfielders: (Jeonbuk), Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City/ENG), Paik Seung-ho (Birmingham/ENG), Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic/SCO), (Swansea/WAL), Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), (Ulsan), (Mainz/GER), (Feyenoord/NED), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers/ENG) Forwards: Son Heung-min (LAFC/USA), Oh Hyeon-gyu (Besitkas/TUR), (Midtjylland/DEN) amk-cdl/

Q&A

What challenges is Son Heung-min facing ahead of the World Cup?

Son Heung-min has struggled with scoring since moving to LAFC, netting only twice, and may face difficulties adapting to the high altitude in Guadalajara.

Who are the key players in South Korea's World Cup squad?

Key players include Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in from Paris Saint-Germain, and Kim Min-jae from Bayern Munich.

When does South Korea play their first match in the World Cup?

South Korea's first match in the World Cup is against the Czech Republic on June 11.