Why did Son Heung-min warn against showing top teams too much respect?

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Son Heung-min Warns South Korea Against Over-Respecting World Cup Opponents

Son Heung-min has cautioned the South Korean national football team against showing excessive deference to more established opponents in the upcoming World Cup. This warning stems from the perception that the team afforded Brazil too much respect during a recent international friendly, a factor Son believes significantly influenced the match's outcome. He emphasized that while such encounters can be disheartening, the team must learn to adopt a more aggressive approach and execute their own game plan effectively.
Lessons from the Brazil Match

Son Heung-min specifically referenced the recent 5-0 defeat against Brazil, highlighting it as an instance where the South Korean team displayed what he felt was undue respect for their formidable opponents. He articulated that this deference likely had a substantial impact on the final score. Son conveyed that experiencing such a significant loss can be demoralizing for players, but he expressed gratitude for his teammates' resilience in overcoming this discouragement and subsequently executing their planned strategy.
The Importance of Aggression and Execution

The captain stressed that in matches against strong teams, South Korea needs to be more assertive and focus on the finer details of their play. He stated that the team now understands the pain of such a defeat and the necessity of learning to retaliate effectively. Son's core message is that regardless of the opponent's tactics or reputation, the key to success lies in the team's ability to stick to their own game and implement their pre-determined plan, rather than being overly influenced by the stature of the opposition.
South Korea's World Cup Pedigree

South Korea secured their qualification for next year's World Cup finals in North America earlier this year. The team boasts a consistent World Cup presence, having qualified for every tournament since 1986. Their most notable achievement was reaching the semi-finals in 2002 when they co-hosted the event with Japan, a run that included victories over Portugal, Italy, and Spain before their elimination by Germany.

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Why did Son Heung-min warn against showing top teams too much respect?

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