Coach Hong takes blame as South Korea's World Cup hopes fade (opens original article in a new tab)

South Korea's World Cup hopes dimmed after a 1-0 loss to South Africa, with coach Hong Myung-bo accepting responsibility for the defeat and explaining his tactical decisions.

• South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo took responsibility for the 1-0 loss to South Africa in the World Cup
• Hong excluded star player Son Heung-min from the starting line-up to target a later impact in the match
• South Korea still have a slim chance of advancing as a best third-placed team from the group phase
• The defeat followed a strong opening win against the Czech Republic, but South Korea's World Cup prospects are now uncertain