After Draw with Thailand, Son Reflects on Past Consideration of Quitting National Team

Courtesy of KFA's instagram

▲ Courtesy of KFA's instagram

 

Following Korea's 1-1 draw with Thailand in the World Cup qualifying match, captain Son Heung-min revealed that he had recently considered retiring from international play but ultimately decided to continue due to his commitment to fans.

Son, 31, had reached the brink of ending his international career following Korea's loss to Jordan in the AFC Asian Cup semifinals. The defeat marked Korea's failure to end a 64-year title drought and led to the dismissal of head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. 

▲ Courtesy of KFA's instagram

Before the incident involving a dispute with teammate Lee Kang-in over a game of table tennis was revealed, Son hinted at his potential retirement. He later described the week following the Asian Cup as one of the most difficult periods of his life.

After seeking advice from former players, including past national team captains Park Ji-sung and Ki Sung-yueng, Son decided to return to the national team with renewed determination.

▲ Courtesy of KFA's instagramSon, who currently ranks third in caps with 45 goals, expressed his commitment to the team's future and praised teammate Lee Kang-in for his performance during the match against Thailand.

Despite the disappointment of the draw against Thailand, Son emphasized the positive aspect of the team's effort in playing together as a unified unit. He thanked his teammates for their dedication on the field and on the bench.

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Blue YIM, yimyoungseo1010@naver.com