Son Heung-min calls on S. Korean teammates to learn from humbling loss to Ivory Coast | Yonhap News Agency

## Summary
OK By Yoo Jee-ho SEOUL, March 29 (Yonhap) -- With South Korea trying to pick up the pieces after a 4-0 loss to Ivory Coast in their friendly match in England on Saturday, captain Son Heung-min insisted the team must use the occasion as a learning experience. Son Heung-min (L) and Lee Kang-in of South Korea react to a 4-0 loss to Ivory Coast in the teams' friendly football match at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, England, on March 28, 2026. (Yonhap) "We have to be humble going into every match, and I learned a great deal from this match. I am sure my teammates did, too," Son said. "Obviously, the loss hurts, but we still have to take away some lessons from this." Oh Hyeon-gyu hit the right goal post for South Korea in the 20th minute, and then Ivory Coast opened the scoring 15 minutes later. But we will be able to play better with continued support from our fans." South Korean players react to a 4-0 loss to Ivory Coast in the teams' friendly football match at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, England, on March 28, 2026. (Yonhap) jeeho@yna.co.kr (END) Keywords #football #World Cup Articles with issue keywords Most Liked 'BTS: The Return' captures brotherhood under 'heavy crown': director (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Trump says Iran has given U.S. 'very significant prize' related to oil, gas Most Saved 'BTS: The Return' captures brotherhood under 'heavy crown': director (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot Trump calls nuclear-armed Iran 'cancer,' says U.S. 'cut it out' Most Viewed All Categories Trump says 'Cuba is next' as he highlights America's 'great' military Lee vows to swiftly retake wartime command from U.S., speed up military reform including selective conscription N.

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OK
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, March 29 (Yonhap) -- With South Korea trying to pick up the pieces after a 4-0 loss to Ivory Coast in their friendly match in England on Saturday, captain Son Heung-min insisted the team must use the occasion as a learning experience.
South Korea conceded two goals in each half and struck the goal post thrice at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, northwest of London, in their first match of 2026, the year of the FIFA World Cup.
With the clock ticking down on the big tournament in June, the humbling loss could hardly have come at a worse moment for the Taegeuk Warriors.
In a televised interview afterward, Son apologized to fans on hand at the stadium and those watching in the early hours of Sunday back home.
Son Heung-min (L) and Lee Kang-in of South Korea react to a 4-0 loss to Ivory Coast in the teams' friendly football match at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, England, on March 28, 2026. (Yonhap)
"We have to be humble going into every match, and I learned a great deal from this match. I am sure my teammates did, too," Son said. "Obviously, the loss hurts, but we still have to take away some lessons from this."
Oh Hyeon-gyu hit the right goal post for South Korea in the 20th minute, and then Ivory Coast opened the scoring 15 minutes later. Seol Young-woo's shot also found the woodwork in the 42nd minute, and Ivory Coast doubled their lead during added time.
Lee Kang-in's shot in the 76th minute found its way to the right post, though South Korea were down 3-0 at that point with few signs that they were capable of mounting a comeback.
Son, who began the match on the bench and was subbed on in the 58th minute, lamented those missed opportunities.
"Football is all about the momentum. We should have scored when we had our chances," he said. "It's disappointing to concede so many goals, but the opponents played well. At the World Cup, we will be up against even more difficult opponents who will be better prepared. We have to be ready as well.
"As we get closer to the tournament, we have to use this loss as an opportunity to take the next step," Son added. "I am sure our fans are disappointed. But we will be able to play better with continued support from our fans."
South Korean players react to a 4-0 loss to Ivory Coast in the teams' friendly football match at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, England, on March 28, 2026. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)
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Son Heung-min calls on S. Korean teammates to learn from humbling loss to Ivory Coast
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Son Heung-min calls on S. Korean teammates to learn from humbling loss to Ivory Coast

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- But we will be able to play better with continued support from our fans." South Korean players react to a 4-0 loss to Ivory Coast in the teams' friendly football match at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, England, on March 28, 2026. (Yonhap) jeeho@yna.co.kr (END) Keywords #football #World Cup Articles with issue keywords Most Liked 'BTS: The Return' captures brotherhood under 'heavy crown': director (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Trump says Iran has given U.S. 'very significant prize' related to oil, gas Most Saved 'BTS: The Return' captures brotherhood under 'heavy crown': director (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot Trump calls nuclear-armed Iran 'cancer,' says U.S. 'cut it out' Most Viewed All Categories Trump says 'Cuba is next' as he highlights America's 'great' military Lee vows to swiftly retake wartime command from U.S., speed up military reform including selective conscription N.

### Areas for Consideration
- At the World Cup, we will be up against even more difficult opponents who will be better prepared.
- But we will be able to play better with continued support from our fans." South Korean players react to a 4-0 loss to Ivory Coast in the teams' friendly football match at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, England, on March 28, 2026. (Yonhap) jeeho@yna.co.kr (END) Keywords #football #World Cup Articles with issue keywords Most Liked 'BTS: The Return' captures brotherhood under 'heavy crown': director (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Trump says Iran has given U.S. 'very significant prize' related to oil, gas Most Saved 'BTS: The Return' captures brotherhood under 'heavy crown': director (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot Trump calls nuclear-armed Iran 'cancer,' says U.S. 'cut it out' Most Viewed All Categories Trump says 'Cuba is next' as he highlights America's 'great' military Lee vows to swiftly retake wartime command from U.S., speed up military reform including selective conscription N.
- Korea, Ukraine FMs agree to handle issue of N.

### Implications
- With the clock ticking down on the big tournament in June, the humbling loss could hardly have come at a worse moment for the Taegeuk Warriors.
- Seol Young-woo's shot also found the woodwork in the 42nd minute, and Ivory Coast doubled their lead during added time.
- We should have scored when we had our chances," he said. "It's disappointing to concede so many goals, but the opponents played well.
- At the World Cup, we will be up against even more difficult opponents who will be better prepared.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers loss, son, korea topics. Notable strengths include discussion of loss. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 715.