(World Cup) Midfielder not giving up on knockout hope after crushing loss

▲ South Korean midfielder Hwang In-beom plays with a bandage around his head against Ghana during the teams' Group H match at the FIFA World Cup at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, west of Doha, on Nov. 28, 2022. (Yonhap)

▲ Hwang In-beom of South Korea (L) and Tariq Lamptey of Ghana battle for the ball during the teams' Group H match at the FIFA World Cup at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, west of Doha, on Nov. 28, 2022. (Yonhap)

(World Cup) player-competition

(World Cup) Midfielder not giving up on knockout hope after crushing loss

By Yoo Jee-ho

AL RAYYAN, Qatar, Nov. 29 (Yonhap) -- Even after suffering a heartbreaking loss that set South Korea on a rocky path to the knockout stage at the FIFA World Cup, midfielder Hwang In-beom wasn't yet ready to abandon hope.

In the aftermath of South Korea's 3-2 loss to Ghana in Group H action Monday, Hwang recalled the Taegeuk Warriors' dramatic victory over Germany in their final group match at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

South Korea's 2-0 shock win over Germany, then defending champions, is celebrated as the "Miracle in Kazan" in the South Korean sports annals, named after the city in which the upset took place.

"Our World Cup doesn't end here, and our football careers don't end here either," Hwang said at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, west of Doha. "We all remember what the national team did against Germany in Russia. We know our fans still remember that match too."

Though South Korea still failed to progress to the round of 16 four years ago, Hwang's point is clear. South Korea will need a similarly miraculous victory against world No. 9 Portugal in their final group match Friday and must also get help from the two other countries in the group, Uruguay and Ghana.

South Korea are in third place with one point through two matches. Anything short of a win over Portugal will send South Korea home.

"Our preparation for the Portugal match must start right now," said Hwang, who got a bloody head after a collision with a Ghana player in the second half and briefly played with a bandage wrapped around his head.

On losing to Ghana despite creating far more chances than the opposition, Hwang said: "This is football. Hopefully, we'll be more efficient with our opportunities in the next match."

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