Park Ji-sung raises tactical concerns about South Korea ahead of World Cup

Park Ji-sung has again raised concerns about tactical uncertainty surrounding the South Korean national team under coach Hong Myung-bo, just two days before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off.

Speaking on JTBC Sports' "Bbaebak World Class Show," which aired Monday, Park said the squad has the talent but lacks a clear direction. "It's true that the best players have been selected, but there's no certainty about what tactics will be used or how they'll play," he said.

He added that clarity on tactics would go a long way toward easing concerns. "If it's clear what tactics will be used and how the team will play, it won't be a big problem," Park said. "The most important task now is how much they can raise their level in the time that remains before the tournament."

Ki Sung-yueng of Pohang Steelers, also appearing on the program, said he was disappointed by the lack of continuity in the squad. "There's some regret about the consistency of the best lineup — it keeps changing, the tactics keep changing, and that brings a certain anxiety," he said. Analyst Ku Ja-cheol advised the coaching staff to be well-prepared, saying they "really need to have a solid game plan and know what combinations to use."

Park returned to the tactical question the same day in an appearance on the YouTube channel GAMST. He stressed that the choice between a three-back or four-back system matters less than overall organization. "Rather than debating whether a three-back or four-back is better, what ultimately needs to come first is whether the team is well-organized," he said.

On the controversy over the three-back formation, Park said the real problem lies in players not fully understanding their roles. "Issues like an empty midfield or a loose defensive structure ultimately come down to players not properly understanding what they're supposed to do," he said. "Each player needs to know exactly what they should be doing in their position tactically, and train to be able to execute it."

Park also sent words of encouragement to the squad. "Some players have a lot of World Cup experience, and some are experiencing it for the first time," he said. "Those with more experience will already know how important it is, and those experiencing it for the first time will be both excited and nervous to step onto the stage they've always dreamed of." He expressed hope that the players would share their experiences with one another, prepare well, return with the results everyone wants and come home without injuries.

South Korea, led by Hong Myung-bo, open their Group A campaign against the Czech Republic at Guadalajara Stadium on Thursday at 11 a.m. Korean Standard Time.

“선수, 관중 다 위험하다” 역대 최악의 월드컵, 막 오른다…잇따른 경고, 이유 알고 보니 [지구, 뭐래?]

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