‘Beware Son Heung-min’ were the first serious words Mexico’s manager spoke to his team in the Azteca Stadium dressing room here, once the roaring celebrations and delirious congratulations abated after their victory over South Africa declared open the 2026 World Cup.
Javier Aguirre knows World Cups. This is the third time he has taken his country to the summit of global football. He knows that taking the eye off the ball come the next kick-off can be fatal. He knows that forgetting even the weaker qualifiers bring the threat of a single genius plunging a World Cup group back into a desperate scramble.
He knows because he’s been there. In the disappointments of 2002 and 2010. In their wisdom the Mexico Federation have brought him back yet again because they know that to a wise man all that experience is priceless.
What Senor Aguirre knows for sure right now is that the media controversy engulfing our old friend Son will make him all the more dangerously driven in his fourth World Cup. Hungrier to prolong his journey beyond this imminent clash between South Korea and Mexico in Guadalajara.
Son and the entire squad he captains are in a rage over derogatory comments about him picked up on a hot-mic after an open training session officially ended. So they have vowed to stop speaking to every last man and woman in the Korean media throughout the entirety of this tournament.
Son Heung-min is South Korea’s most capped player, with 145 appearances
Not only is this unprecedented in the history of the World Cup but a flat-out breach of FIFA’s requirement for all players to make themselves available for interview before and after matches. Son and Co are unmoved. Not least because the remarks were hyper-sensitive to a people who live in constant awareness of the menace posed by North Korea.
The hurtful jibes referred to Son’s exemption from almost all his national service. One reporter was picked up saying: ‘He runs like an old general.’ Another ranted: ‘This bastard doesn’t know the meaning of Military.’ Other outbursts do not stand repeating.
An astonishing insight into a divided campaign, but completely unfair. Because of his importance to Korea at the 2018 Asian Games Son was given exemption from the 21 months of service demanded of all able-bodied men. Later he complied with a request for three weeks of military training and a lengthy spell of community service.
The journalists involved are totally out of kilter with the Korean public, who idolise the greatest ever Asian footballer. And a thoroughly decent, likeable chap to boot. As he was found to be in England when piling up goals for Tottenham, always with a smile on his face.
Son has fired Korea out of the group stage once before and says: ‘Now it is my dream to repeat that journey in what may well be my last World Cup. Perhaps go even further. Who knows?’
Raul Jimenez of Wolves celebrates scoring the second in Mexico’s 2-0 win over South Africa
Son’s 34th birthday comes on July 8, in quarter-final week. In Korea’s vibrant first-match victory over the Czech Republic there were just the slightest signs that his powers may be waning. It was out of character for him to pass up several good chances, while team-mates scored the two goals.
Whatever his form, Mexico will not be caught napping. Thanks to their manager who is demanding the explosive start which blew South Africa away followed by a storm of quick-fire football almost as torrential as that which flooded Mexico City not long after the final whistle.
But whatever the upshot in Guadalajara, the home city of Canelo Alvarez – who will be the most lionised of all the celebrities in attendance – the way it looks now is that Mexico and Korea will occupy the top two places when this group comes to its conclusion.
