Lee Chun-soo blasts South Korea's performance against South Africa: 'Players weren't running — how can you call that a match?'

Former South Korea international Lee Chun-soo sharply criticized the national team's performance in their Group A loss to South Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying the side once again fell back on what he called "give-it-to-me football" — over-relying on key players such as Lee Kang-in.

On Thursday, Lee aired his views on his YouTube channel "Richunsu" while watching the Group A finale with former national team player Lee Geun-ho and former Gyeongnam FC head coach Lee Eul-yong. "It's been a really long time since I've seen a match drag on like that for 90 minutes," Lee said. "The players weren't running — how can you call that a match?"

The team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, conceded the decisive goal to Tafelo Maseko in the 63rd minute and fell 0-1 at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, Nuevo León, Mexico. A draw would have secured a place in the round of 32, but South Korea finished third in the group with one win and two losses — three points — and must now wait on results from other groups.

Lee did not hold back in his assessment of the players' effort. "Even when my whole body was cramping and I was running on empty, if an opponent came past me I chased them to the end," he said. "Whether I had to grab their shorts or trip them up, I could not let anyone get past me easily. Seeing players get beaten so easily was deeply disappointing. This isn't the problem of just one or two people."

He added that while he understood the physical toll of the humidity, the players appeared to have underestimated the stage. "I think they took the World Cup too lightly," he said. "Even if the quality wasn't there, if they had thrown their bodies in and kept running to the end, I wouldn't be this angry."

Lee Geun-ho echoed the criticism. "The desperation the players talk about needs to show on the pitch, and today it didn't," he said. "The South African players ran with even more desperation. Today was a match where the players have no excuse if they get criticized."

Former coach Lee Eul-yong said the players visibly struggled with the humidity. "They were half a step slow and their bodies just weren't moving," he said. "The players need to look at themselves honestly, at least for this match."

Lee Chun-soo also took aim at what he described as the team's recurring tactical dependency, saying the side leaned too heavily on individual playmakers rather than functioning as a collective unit throughout the tournament.