He chose the best time to get out of his box. At the start of added time in the last group match, when his team was virtually eliminated from the World Cup, and needed a goal to qualify. In addition, he put the way there. A ball recovered on the right side in his own camp, a ride full of class to the entrance of the Portuguese area, a little downtime to fix the defense, before crucifying it on a marvel of slipped pass to his teammate Hee-chan Wang. A moment of pure grace to propel South Korea into the round of 16.
Heung-min Son was waiting for her. It’s nothing to say. Until then, he had in spite of himself embodied the course of his nation. Irreproachable in the state of mind, but incapable of making a difference. It was already latent in the first match against Uruguay (0-0). It became more glaring during the defeat against Ghana (2-3). And it was seriously starting to cogitate in the head of the Tottenham winger. Because he is an absolute sports icon in South Korea. And because he carries all the hopes of his nation in Qatar.
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The refusal of fate
The pressure was starting to weigh heavily on his shoulders. Son blamed himself for not performing better when his team needed him the most. “I should have played better individually and also led the team betterhe lamented after a setback against the Ghanaians who condemned South Korea to win against the formidable Portugal to stay alive in this World Cup. It hurts me so much that I couldn’t make it. I can’t ask for more of my teammates. If they keep doing what they’re already doing, I’ll be a truly grateful captain..”
Son Heung-min
Credit: AFP
They didn’t let go. Driven by the refusal of a fate that saw them fail in the first round in 2014 and 2018, Son’s teammates fought with all their might to overthrow Portugal. They succeeded thanks to their leader. In tears after qualifying, the Spur did not forget to pay tribute to them. “I’m proud of the playershe blurted out. I’m crying with joy, we waited for this moment for so long and we believed in it. There were times when I couldn’t perform at my best and I thank my teammates for covering for me when I couldn’t fulfill all my obligations.”
A rotten start to the season
Tears of joy, but also of relief. Son put a drastically different spin on a frankly upsetting season thus far. It was inevitably more expected after a radiant start. This is the price to pay when you finish co-top scorer in a championship as high as the Premier League, in the company of a world star like Mo Salah. The restart was difficult to say the least. With only 5 goals and 2 assists in 19 matches in all competitions, Son was far from displaying his club performance last season when approaching the World Cup.
Upset, the South Korean jewel was also upset by his injury in the last group match of the Champions League against OM (1-2). A shock with the Marseille defender Chancel Mbemba who had forced him to leave the field before the half hour mark. And who had left him with four fractures around his left eye. It has been an uncertain time for the World Cup after undergoing surgery two weeks before the tournament kicks off. He was finally able to wrestle her with a protective mask. An additional embarrassment for a player who was already far from the peak of his confidence.
Brazil, mission impossible?
Son turned the light back on when it seemed off for good. In a stroke of genius, he put all his frustrations of the last few months behind him. He allowed himself the luxury of looking ahead. For him, for his team, and for his country. “Reaching the round of 16 was our goal and now we have higher goals, we will do our best to achieve themhe announced after the victory against Portugal. Nobody knows what can happen in football, especially now, and since we have a chance to beat Brazil, we will do our best.”
The context does not necessarily lend itself to the exploit. The Seleçao, despite its defeat against Cameroon with a reorganized team to complete the group stage (0-1), has assumed its status as favorite in this World Cup rather well. Without Neymar, but with enough attacking talent to make the difference, and an iron defense that lets nothing pass. The one that Son and his family will have to overcome, with only 72 hours of rest since the extreme emotions experienced against Portugal. But for them, nothing is impossible anymore.
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