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“It’s not all about Park Chu-young”

March 7, 2014
Hong Myung-bo, manager of Korea’s national football team, listens to a question at a news conference at Incheon International Airport on Friday. Hong returned from Athens, following Korea’s 2-0 win over Greece inan international friendly on Thursday that represented the country’s last tune-up before he announces his roster for the World Cup in Brazil. (Yonhap)

Hong Myung-bo, manager of Korea’s national football team, listens to a question at a news conference at Incheon International Airport on Friday. Hong returned from Athens, following Korea’s 2-0 win over Greece inan international friendly on Thursday that represented the country’s last tune-up before he announces his roster for the World Cup in Brazil. (Yonhap)

By Kim Tong-hyung

Korean manager Hong Myung-bo was happy to see Park Chu-young pull off an impressive return to international football.

He wasn’t happy that the performance inspired media talk on whether Korea’s World Cup hope predominantly rests on the shoulders of a fragile player who had been forgotten for more than a year.

Hong returned from Athens on Friday, following Korea’s 2-0 win over Greece in an international friendly that represented the country’s last tune-up before the manager announces his roster for the World Cup in Brazil.

In his first appearance for the national team in 13 months, Park, a 28-year-old Arsenal striker currently on loan to Watford, marked his return by scoring the opening goal. His performance sparked excitement as Hong’s squad had been displaying an alarming lack of firepower in past months.

But talking with reporters at Incheon International Airport, Hong expressed displeasure that the media was putting too much pressure on Park, who has been struggling to find minutes with Watford, a middling team in the second-division of English football. Hong’s caution is understandable as, despite his stellar display against Greece, Park is not in top shape as he continues to recover from an injury to his left knee.

After the game, national team doctors told Hong that it would be preferable for Park’s condition that he doesn’t see game action for about two weeks.

“A lot of players did well against Greece, but the media was interested only in Park Chu-young. I don’t think that creates a positive atmosphere for our team as we prepare for the World Cup,” Hong said.

Recalling Park back to the team was a difficult decision for Hong, who is reluctant to use players who are failing to get regular minutes with their teams.

However, with his offense suffering from the lack of a proven finisher upfront, Hong eventually sought the help of the veteran striker, who started for Korea in the two previous World Cups and impressed.

Park Chu-Young marked his return to Korea’s national team by scoring the opening goal in a 2-0 win over Greece in a World Cup warm-up match in Athens on Thursday (KST). (Yonhap)

Park Chu-Young marked his return to Korea’s national team by scoring the opening goal in a 2-0 win over Greece in a World Cup warm-up match in Athens on Thursday (KST). (Yonhap)

Playing in the first-half against Greece, Park showed Hong what his team had been missing, causing considerable trouble for Greek defenders with his ability to win passes, make plays and be a constant scoring threat.

Park’s goal was exactly the kind of play his closest competitor Kim Shin-wook, the towering Ulsan Hyundai striker, struggles to convert.

Released on an expert overhead pass from Son Heung-min, Park timed the ball perfectly and converted a first-touch left-footer that Greek goalkeeper Panagiotis Glykos failed to make a play on.

“(Against Greece) Park understood his role and the plays he needed to make. He was familiar with our tactics as he played for me and many of his current teammates during the London Olympics. He adjusted quickly,” Hong said.

If he manages to be fit and sharp by the World Cup opener in June, Park is likely to start as Hong’s target man in his favored 4-2-3-1 formation, with Kim moved to the bench.

While saying he has decided on most of his starters, Hong said that the fullback positions are up for grabs. He also isn’t ready to fully trust Jung Sung-ryong his starting goalkeeper.

The strength of Hong’s squad seems to be the midfield where Europe-based players Son (Bayer Leverkusen), Lee Chung-yong (Bolton Wanders) and Koo Ja-cheol (Mainz) are locked in their roles.

“There are a few players in Europe I want to examine more,” he said.

Hong will reopen a training camp ahead of a scheduled friendly against Tunisia in Seoul on May 28.

The May camp is expected to feature 30 players on the provisional World Cup roster. Hong’s final 23-man roster will be announced on May 29.

In the World Cup in Brazil, Korea is paired with Algeria, Belgium and Russia in Group H, and will open the tournament against Russia on June 17.