Daejeon: After South Korea managed a 2-0 win over Bolivia in a friendly football match that was a lot closer than the score indicated, head coach Hong Myung-bo gave credit where it was due. "The opponent was a much stronger team than what people outside might have thought. I think they showed an extremely good performance," Hong said after the victory at Daejeon World Cup Stadium in the central city of Daejeon. South Korea, at No. 22 in the FIFA rankings, sit 54 spots above Bolivia.

According to Yonhap News Agency, in the first half, South Korea had some trouble against Bolivia's man-to-man defense, resulting in a goalless opening 45 minutes. "But in the second half, our players were able to overcome that and came away with the victory. The players showed plenty of determination that they wanted to win this match no matter what," Hong stated.

When asked why South Korea faced issues against a team they were expected to dominate, Hong explained, "It's not that easy to score in the first half of a match, no matter how weak your opponent may be." He acknowledged Bolivia's strengths and highlighted the challenges of achieving perfection, noting the opponent's strong defense.

Hong admitted that South Korea's attacking patterns need improvement. "In some aspects, we had some good movements. Mostly, though, I think our overall offensive patterns were really disappointing," he said. The coach emphasized the need for continued efforts to enhance their offensive strategies.

On a more positive note, Hong mentioned that the defenders adapted well after switching to a back-four formation following seven matches with three backs on the defensive line. "I wanted to see how the players would adjust to tactical changes over a short period of time," Hong said. Despite facing some challenges, he believed the team maintained sound defensive organization.