Oh Hyun-kyu Heads to Qatar as World Cup Preliminary Entry
Missed Final Roster but Trained and Supported Together
Son Heung-min: "Oh Hyun-kyu Was the Most Important Player"
On the 17th of last month (local time), three days before the opening of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Oh Hyun-kyu was training at the Al Egla training ground in Doha, Qatar. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Culture Young Intern Reporter] While the South Korean national football team achieved the remarkable feat of advancing to the Round of 16 in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, there is an indispensable player who did not receive much attention. He is the '27th Taeguk Warrior,' Oh Hyun-kyu.
On the 7th, the Korean team returned home through Incheon Airport and held a return interview. Captain Son Heung-min said, "I want to say thank you so much to Hyun-kyu," adding, "He sacrificed himself to come because of me for this World Cup. Even though he is a young player, he knew exactly what this team needed and faithfully fulfilled that role." He continued, "Although he was not on the final roster, for me, he was the player who played the most important role among the players who participated in this World Cup."
Earlier, when the starting forward Son Heung-min’s participation in the World Cup became uncertain due to an orbital fracture injury, coach Paulo Bento brought Suwon Samsung’s forward Oh Hyun-kyu to Qatar. Coach Bento trusted Oh Hyun-kyu’s finishing ability and explosiveness and included him in the 'reserve list.' At that time, South Korea had already submitted the World Cup roster to FIFA, but if there was a serious injury or other reasons, player roster changes were possible up to 24 hours before the match.
However, since Son Heung-min played all three group stage matches and the Round of 16 match against Brazil, Oh Hyun-kyu’s inclusion in the final roster effectively did not happen. Ultimately, Oh Hyun-kyu was not included in the final 26-man roster for the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Although he did not get the chance to play in the World Cup matches or sit on the bench and did not even have a jersey number, Oh Hyun-kyu did not become discouraged. He wore a uniform without a number and served as a training partner for the players on site in Doha. His teammates, aware of his effort and sacrifice, called him over during the national team photo shoot after arriving in Doha when he was reluctant to take a photo because he had no jersey number, and took pictures together to support him. When the team secured advancement to the Round of 16 by defeating Portugal in the third group stage match of Group H, Oh Hyun-kyu shared the joy with the other players.
On the 30th of last month (local time), Oh Hyun-kyu (from the left), Son Heung-min, and Son Jun-ho warming up at the Al Egla training ground in Doha, Qatar. Photo by Yonhap News
After returning home, Oh Hyun-kyu posted on his Instagram titled "An Unforgettable Dream of 2022." He stated, "Although I was not officially on the roster and did not step on the field, just being part of the World Cup, the stage of my dreams, was an immense joy and honor."
He continued, "The moments of preparing for the World Cup together and sweating were a great learning experience for me, and I am grateful to the coach and all the staff members who allowed me to dream another dream as a football player and move forward. I also thank all the fans who came to the stadium and cheered for us from afar despite the cold weather," expressing his gratitude.
Meanwhile, having scored 13 goals (3 assists) this season in K League 1 and helping his team remain in the league with strong performances, football fans are looking forward to Oh Hyun-kyu’s contributions in the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games scheduled for September next year and the final qualifiers for the Paris Olympics in January 2024.
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