Coach Hoang Ngoc Hao: 'South Korea pays the price for a pragmatic style of play'

The South Korean team's minimal 0-1 loss against South Africa in the final match placed them on the brink of elimination. Once in a commanding position, the Korean representatives now have a mere 3 points and a -1 goal difference, forfeiting their own destiny and anxiously awaiting outcomes from other groups in hopes of being among the eight best third-place teams to qualify for the knockout rounds.

From a professional perspective, coach Hoang Ngoc Hao (Hanoi Youth Club) frankly analyzed the reasons for the Korean squad's struggles: "South Korea's playing style in this match was heavily burdened by extremely pragmatic calculations. They entered the game with the mindset that a draw would guarantee their advancement in second place. That safety-first mindset stemmed from the fact that even if they beat South Africa, they would still be at a disadvantage in head-to-head results against group leaders Mexico.

The excessive calculation dulled the creativity in South Korea's play. Throughout the match, they had plenty of possession but were completely stagnant. In the first half, they controlled 61% of the ball but only managed a single shot on target. In the second half, their possession rose to 75%, yet they only added two more shots on target.

Conversely, South Africa entered the match with nothing to lose, playing with high energy and close pressing, punishing their opponents with a quick goal. When they received the cold shower in the final minutes, South Korea was completely passive, unable to respond, and had to accept a humiliating defeat. This is an extremely costly lesson for Korean football at this World Cup."

In contrast to the disappointment of South Korea, former player of Saigon Club and Hong Linh Ha Tinh had high praise for Brazil's classy performance in their convincing 3-0 victory over Scotland to advance to the round of 16 as Group C winners: "In the match against Scotland, 'Selecao' maintained their dominant attacking philosophy but executed it in a highly scientific and calculated manner. They had 9 shots and converted them into 3 goals, an incredible conversion rate of 33%.

In this match, Brazil controlled 54% possession, not an overwhelming figure compared to Scotland, but it shows they knew how to restrain themselves, actively choosing the right moments to accelerate and finish off the opponent instead of going all out for 90 minutes. Under the guidance of coach Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil is becoming more well-rounded and extremely exciting to watch."