Son ready to shine
heung-min reports for national duty in fine form
SEOUL: It has been a roller-coaster month so far for Son Heung-min but the Tottenham forward reports for World Cup qualification duty against Lebanon in good form as South Korea seek a return to winning ways.
South Korea drew 0-0 in an almost empty stadium in North Korea last month to stay atop Group H on goal difference in the second round of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.
Only the top team in each of the eight groups and the four best second-place teams progress to the next stage of Asian qualifying.
There had been concerns in Seoul that Heung-min could arrive for today’s game in Beirut distracted by his involvement in a horrible ankle dislocation suffered by Andre Gomes in an English Premier League game against Everton on Nov 3.
Heung-min, shown a red card – later overturned on appeal – for his tackle, was visibly distressed and offered counselling by Tottenham.
However, three goals in his subsequent two games – two against Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League and the other against Premier League rivals Sheffield United last weekend – suggest that the 27-year-old Heung-min is focused and on form.
“Son is looking good for his club, scoring in consecutive games and he is ready to show his quality against Lebanon,” South Korea coach Paulo Bento said during the team’s training camp in Abu Dhabi.
“We are preparing well for what should be a tough game against a tough opponent.
“We know that we have to be focused against Lebanon.”
The South Koreans, aiming for a 10th successive World Cup appearance, have not forgotten a humiliating loss in Beirut in 2011.
Asia’s other three representatives at the 2018 World Cup are also on course to progress to the next stage of qualification, although Iran need to bounce back from a loss last month to Bahrain that ended their unbeaten run in World Cup Asian qualifiers that stretched back to 2012.
Saudi Arabia will go top of Group D if they win in Uzbekistan while Japan, with three wins from three games and on course for a seventh successive World Cup appearance, can increase their control of Group F with victory in Kyrgyzstan. —AP