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Hong Myung-bo apologetic, but noncommittal about future

June 29, 2014

Hong Myung-bo refused to give any specific answers about immediate future upon returning to Korea. (Yonhap)

INCHEON (Yonhap) — South Korean national soccer team coach Hong Myung-bo was apologetic, but noncommittal about his immediate future in the wake of the team’s early exit from the FIFA World Cup.

Hong and his 23-man team returned home to little fanfare after getting eliminated from the tournament in Brazil with a winless record in three group matches.

South Korea played Russia to a 1-1 draw but lost to Algeria 4-2 and then to Belgium 1-0, finishing Group H in last place.

Hong, a former national team captain who starred in four World Cups as a player, apologized for the team’s disappointing showing.

“I am sorry that we weren’t able to return the love and support shown by our people during the World Cup,” Hong told reporters at Incheon International Airport, where angered fans threw Korean yeot candies at the team.

“It was due to my deficiency as a coach that we didn’t put up the desired results. But our players all have a bright future ahead and not everything was lost from this tournament.”

Hong, who became the coach last June and is signed through the Asian Cup tournament next January, is under pressure to step down in the aftermath of the elimination. This was South Korea’s first winless World Cup since 1998.

Asked to comment on his status, Hong basically refused to answer.

“This might not be the right time to talk about that,” he said. “It was a long trip back home, and I am too tired to think clearly right now.”

After the loss to Belgium in the final group match in Sao Paulo, Hong said, “I don’t get swayed by other people’s opinions when I make decisions. I am going to think about what the right course of action is for myself and decide accordingly.”

Looking back on the World Cup, Hong said getting beat up by Algeria might have been the turning point.

“It’s difficult to make improvements during the World Cup,” he said. “The second match against Algeria was a huge one, and (losing it) had a major impact on our team.”