Lee Young-pyo, the South Korean defender who helped the Taegeuk Warriors reach the 2002 World Cup semifinals, believes captain Son Heung-min holds the key to Korea's fortunes when they face co-host Mexico on Thursday. Speaking to reporters at Chivas Verde Valle in Zapopan ahead of the Group A fixture, the KBS analyst drew on statistical evidence from Korea's opening match to argue that Son, despite questions over his recent form, remains his country's most dangerous weapon.
Son arrived at the tournament under a cloud of scrutiny - he had not scored in league play for Los Angeles Football Club this season, and his critics were growing louder heading into the competition. Observers tracking the fixture through various lenses, including those interested in ante-post betting markets around the tournament, will note that the data Lee cited paints a rather different picture from the narrative of a fading star. "Son Heung-min had 40 percent of Korea's shot attempts against Czechia," Lee said. "He reached 35 kilometres per hour as his top sprint speed - the fifth-best mark in the entire tournament. The top four were all in their early 20s, and Son was the only player in the top five in his 30s." Son will turn 34 in July. ante-post betting
Net Still Eludes Him, But Lee Sees Goals Coming
Against Czechia, Son created chances without converting them before being substituted, with forward Oh Hyeon-gyu ultimately scoring the decisive 80th-minute goal in a 2-1 win. Lee was unequivocal in maintaining his faith in the captain nonetheless. "In terms of physical attributes and experience, Son is still the most dangerous player for the national team," the former full-back said. "He could have two or three good opportunities against Mexico. He is one of the players likely to score." That combination of elite sprint pace and attacking volume - 40 percent of Korea's shots in a competitive match - is not the profile of a player who has lost his edge, whatever the league statistics might suggest.
A Cagey Contest Decided in the Second Half
Lee's reading of the tactical landscape was measured and experienced. He predicted both sides will exercise significant caution, particularly in the early stages, with neither willing to leave themselves exposed. "Korea will not send too many players into the attack and Mexico will be careful not to concede too much space behind their defense," he said. "Some substitutions and tactical adjustments will be made in the second half, and the match will come down to which team will have more precise movements and will make fewer mistakes on defense." It is a sober preview that reflects the genuine stakes: both nations need points, and neither can afford a defensive collapse at a home-soil World Cup for Mexico.
Montes Suspension a Set-Piece Gift - But Quinones and Jimenez Demand Respect
Lee identified Mexico center back Cesar Montes's suspension - earned after a red card in El Tri's 2-0 win over South Africa - as a concrete tactical advantage for Korea. "Montes is their only outfield player over 190 centimetres, and without him, Korea will have an edge in aerial battles in set pieces," Lee said. "They should be able to create chances off corners and free kicks." That is a significant structural vulnerability for Mexico to manage, particularly against a Korean side that will be well aware of it going into the game.
The danger runs both ways, however. Lee singled out Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez - Mexico's two scorers against South Africa - as the opponents Korea must contain. Quinones, who scored 37 goals in 35 matches across all competitions in the Saudi Pro League last season, is built on speed and individual brilliance. "He's especially dangerous when he shoots while cutting to his right," Lee said. "It wasn't just thanks to some luck that he scored 37 goals in 35 matches. He's that good." Jimenez, 35, operates differently - a poacher who reads the game and leans on service from teammates, with 46 international goals making him the tournament's all-time top scorer on the Mexican squad. "If Korea can keep those two in check," Lee said, "then they can neutralize a big part of Mexico's attack." As for concerns about atmosphere, Lee was dismissive: Korean players are seasoned enough from European football, he argued, to handle a partisan Estadio Guadalajara crowd without being rattled.
