DOHA, Qatar (AP) — South Korea misplaced within the spherical of 16 of the World Cup after which misplaced its coach.The staff was overwhelmed by five-time champion Brazil 4-1 on Monday. After the match, South Korea coach Paulo Bento introduced that he was stepping down to finish his four-year stint. The Portuguese coach stated he made the choice a number of months in the past.EXPECTATION VS. PERFORMANCESouth Korea was knocked out of the 2019 Asian Cup within the quarterfinals, so reaching the final 16 in Qatar could be seen as a constructive. South Korea was showing in its tenth straight World Cup, and its eleventh general.This was the third time South Korea has reached the knockout spherical. It’s finest efficiency was in 2002 when it co-hosted the occasion with Japan and reached the semifinals.WHO’S OUTA key determine lacking will probably be Bento. Nevertheless, the present group of gamers is arguably the perfect that South Korea has assembled, and most are comparatively younger.One of many older gamers is 30-year-old Son Heung-min, the star midfielder at English membership Tottenham. Son failed to attain on this World Cup after getting targets within the final two.He did get a ravishing help on Hwang-Hee-chan’s aim, which gave South Korea a 2-1 victory over Portugal and a spot within the final 16.Son performed within the match carrying a black facemask to guard a damaged left eye socket picked up in a Champions League recreation on Nov. 2.WHO’S NEXTAfter the loss, Son identified who he thinks would be the subsequent gamers to steer South Korea. He singled out to Lee Kang-in and Paik Seung-ho. Paik got here in and scored as an alternative towards Brazil in his first World Cup motion.“I’m grateful that our younger gamers confirmed what they’re able to doing on this stage and likewise the potential for what they might do sooner or later,” Son stated. “I hope they get even higher.”Son additionally took heart stage to apologize for the Brazil loss.“I’m actually sorry for our individuals, for soccer followers who supported us,” Son stated. “It turned out to be an especially troublesome match.”WHAT’S NEXT?South Korea has certified for the Asian Cup, however will obtain robust competitors from Japan, Australia and Saudi Arabia — all World Cup qualifiers. The occasion, scheduled for January 2024, was moved to Qatar after China withdrew, citing COVID-19.___
South Korea appears to be like to youth after World Cup loss to Brazil
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