Wolves · UEFA Nations League · Defender · #7 · Czechia · 26 yrs
South Korea were able to come back to beat Czech Republic 2-1 in their World Cup debut. With the 2026 World Cup kicking off a few hours earlier, these teams were making their debuts to close out Group A action. In a very entertaining match, South Korea came from behind to beat the Czech Republic 2-1. The first half offered few clear chances as both teams struggled to break through. Son Heung-min had a few chances but was not as precise as usual, sending South Korea and the Czech Republic into halftime tied 0-0. All the excitement came in the second half. When South Korea were the better side, a long throw into the box from the Czech Republic put them ahead with a header from Ladislav Krejčí. That was not the end for South Korea, who pushed back with a great goal from Hwang In-beom and a finish from Oh Hyeon-gyu.
A dramatic late winner from Oh Hyeon-gyu has propelled South Korea to a crucial 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic, shaking up the early dynamics of Group A. The opening round of fixtures for Group A of the 2026 World Cup is officially in the books, and the landscape is already proving to be incredibly compelling. Following Mexico’s 2-0 victory over nine-man South Africa at the Estadio Azteca, the action shifted to Guadalajara, where South Korea secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic. The European side struck first in the 58th minute when towering defender Ladislav Krejci found the back of the net, silencing the energetic South Korean contingent at the Guadalajara Stadium However, the Asian powerhouse refused to back down; midfielder Hwang In-beom leveled the score with a clinical 66th-minute strike, setting the stage for a grandstand finish. The decisive blow came in the 80th minute when substitute forward Oh Hyeon-gyu turned his marker inside the box and slotted home a dramatic late winner to secure all 3 points for his country. This result fundamentally alters the early balance of power in the group. While co-hosts Mexico still command first place on goal difference (+2), South Korea sits right alongside them at the top of the table with 3 points (+1). Group A standings Meanwhile, the Czech Republic and South Africa find themselves anchored to the bottom of Group A after matchday one, both facing a steep uphill battle to keep their knockout stage dreams alive. What’s next for Group A? With Matchday 1 officially in the books, the focus immediately shifts to a high-stakes second round of group fixtures, which will take place entirely on Thursday, June 18. Kickstarting the action, South Africa and the Czech Republic will square off at the Atlanta Stadium. Both nations are desperately hunting for points after dropping their openers, making this a must-win scenario to keep their World Cup knockout stage hopes alive. Later that evening, the two group leaders will go head-to-head as co-hosts Mexico take on South Korea at the Guadalajara Stadium. It’s an early battle for supremacy in Group A, and with both teams sitting on 3 points, a victory for either side could mathematically punch their ticket to the Round of 32.
⚽️ Kick-off time: 8pm local/12pm AEST/3am BST/10pm EDT⚽️ Player guide | Bracketology | Golden Boot | Mail JonathanCzechia will also line up in a 3-4-3 with Alexandr Sojka handed a competitive debut alongside star man Tomáš Souček in midfield. The 23 year old was only called up for the first time for the pre-tournament friendlies.1 Matěj Kovář; 6 Štěpán Chaloupek, 4 Robin Hranáč, 7 Ladislav Krejčí; 5 Vladimir Coufal, 22 Tomáš Souček, 24 Alexandr Sojka 20 Jaroslav Zelený; 17 Lukáš Provod, 15 Pavel Šulc, 10 Patrik Schick. Continue reading...
These are the 2026 World Cup debut lineups of South Korea and Czech Republic, with Son Heung-min among the players on this match. With the kickoff of the 2026 World Cup already behind us, it is time for other teams to make their debuts, with a huge star like Son Heung-min expected to start for South Korea against the Czech Republic. Their group opened with a Mexico victory over South Africa, putting pressure on these teams if they want to take the lead. While friendlies may not be the best indicator, it is true that both teams can feel confident about their form. South Korea have picked up wins over Trinidad and Tobago, 5-0, and El Salvador, 1-0, while the Czech Republic beat Kosovo, 2-1, and Guatemala, 3-1, after securing their spot through penalty shootouts. The lineups Manager Hong Myung-bo opted for this lineup for South Korea: Kim Seung-gyu; Lee Han-beom, Kim Min-jae, Lee Gi-hyuk, Seol Young-woo, Hwang In-beom, Paik Seung-ho, Lee Tae-seok, Lee Kang-in, Lee Jae-sung, Son Heung-min (c). on should be the captain (Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) For the Czech Republic, Miroslav Koubek picked this lineup: Matej Kovar; Stepan Chaloupek, Robin Hranac, Ladislav Krejci (c), Vladimir Coufal, Tomas Soucek, Alexandr Sojka, Jaroslav Zeleny, Lukas Provod, Pavel Sulc, Patrik Schick. The group Group A opened with a comfortable Mexico victory over South Africa, with goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez, while three red cards were shown as Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane were sent off for South Africa and César Montes was sent off for Mexico.
