Kim Min-jae Prepares to Face Skilled South African Players

Kim Min-jae is wary of South Africa's skilled players ahead of their World Cup match on Wednesday.

What's at Stake?

South Korea needs a win or a draw to advance, while South Africa must beat South Korea and hope Czechia loses to Mexico. Kim Min-jae, the 29-year-old center back for Bayern Munich, will play a key role in the match.

Key to Success

Kim emphasized the importance of teamwork and defense, saying his teammates are confident and he just needs to provide support. South African players have good skills and are fast, according to Kim.

Preparing for the Match

Kim and his teammates have been focusing on those areas during their preparation, and he thinks they can come away with a win if they play like they did in their earlier matches. South Korea opened the tournament by beating Czechia 2-1 on June 11, but then lost to Mexico 1-0 seven days later.

Leadership Role

Kim is a key member of South Korea's veteran group and inherits the armband when captain Son Heung-min is subbed out. Kim downplayed his leadership role, saying his teammates are already full of confidence and he just tries to help them in the background. In head coach Hong Myung-bo's back-three formation, Kim has been flanked by two World Cup debutants, Lee Gi-hyuk and Lee Han-beom. Kim has been trying to help them be more aggressive, and he thinks their confidence has made a big difference. The match between South Korea and South Africa will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Estadio Monterrey in Guadalupe, northeastern Mexico. Kim Min-jae and his teammates are ready to face the challenge and secure a knockout berth.