Seoul: Where most people might have only sensed humiliation in a devastating loss to Brazil on home soil, South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo saw an opportunity for his team to grow. Hong's team got taken to school by Brazil in a 5-0 loss in their friendly match at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Friday. Estevao and Rodrygo each scored a brace before Vinicius Junior netted the team's fifth goal.

According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea managed just one shot on target and had zero answer to Brazil's overwhelming combination of precision, speed, and skill. "There are so many things we can all learn from this match, be it individual players and members of our coaching staff," Hong said. "Obviously, the result is really disappointing, but we have to keep moving forward."

Hong defended his players and said he saw some encouraging moments on both ends in the first half. But the coach did concede that his players grew increasingly passive as the match progressed. "Because the Brazilian players were so skilled, our players became a bit too hesitant when applying pressure," Hong observed. "So we started giving the opponents more space, and they were able to get deep into our zone and make life difficult for our defenders."

Brazil got their first two goals after patiently moving the ball around before finding just enough space for passes. The next two goals were the direct results of South Korean turnovers, while the fifth goal came on a counterbreak. "I guess you saw every possible situation in football on those scoring plays," Hong said with a wry smile. "We just have to get better in that regard."

Specifically, Hong said he wanted his players to improve their timing when applying pressure up front. Hong, a former defender himself, said he didn't want to single out particular players for their poor showings. Center back Kim Min-jae made the one glaring mistake that resulted in Brazil's third goal, but Hong said, "Just because a player committed a turnover in this game, it doesn't mean he will do the same in the next one."

While one Brazilian player after another flashed their impressive skills before some 63,000 fans on hand, South Korean attackers were struggling to keep the score within a respectable range. Asked how South Korea can overcome such discrepancy in talent level up against favored opponents at next year's World Cup, Hong said it will take nothing but hard work. "It's difficult to raise the level of individual talent over a short period of time. We have to battle together as a team," the coach said. "We have to keep getting better little by little. That's the only way."