Professor Shin Moon-sun addressed the recent controversies surrounding the national football team on his video channel on the 12th, suggesting that the criticism directed at Son Heung-min seemed unwarranted. He questioned whether there was an intentional effort to manipulate public opinion behind the sudden shift of blame towards Son. Shin emphasized that even if there are attempts to disadvantage Son, the public's judgment, as avid football watchers, would not be easily swayed.

Jeong Seung-won of FC Seoul, who returned to the national team around the same time, shared a completely different experience from the field. He mentioned that Son Heung-min had committed to giving feedback on his shooting and that both Son and Lee Jae-sung had taken care of his physical condition. In response to questions about a negative atmosphere within the team, Jeong stated that he personally did not sense such a mood.

Son Heung-min's recent performance records are also drawing attention. He scored three goals in his last four A-matches and surpassed Cha Bum-kun's previous record by scoring his 59th goal for the national team in a match against Uzbekistan. This achievement made him the top scorer in the history of men's A-matches in Korea, which ironically coincided with rising questions about his leadership as the team captain.

From Kim Min-jae's shoe-throwing incident to Hwang In-beom's candid statements... What's happening within the national team?

Under the interim management of Roberto Moreno, the Korean national team played four friendly matches from September 24 to October 6. They started with a 3-0 win against Ecuador and lost 1-4 to Uruguay. The team then drew 0-0 with Venezuela before winning 2-0 against Uzbekistan, finishing the schedule with two wins, one draw, and one loss.

The outcomes alone do not constitute a complete failure. The team secured goalless victories against World Cup participant Ecuador and Central Asian team Uzbekistan, and Moreno tried new players despite the short preparation period. However, the heavy loss to Uruguay and the goalless draw against Venezuela also attracted criticism regarding the team's performance.

The speculation about internal conflicts began to intensify after the match against Venezuela. Kim Min-jae was seen throwing his shoes after being substituted, and there was a noticeable tension during his interaction with Moreno. After the game, Kim publicly expressed his dissatisfaction, mentioning the heavy burden on the defenders.

The remarks by Hwang In-beom further fueled the controversy. He openly shared his physical and mental exhaustion and expressed his disappointment with the long-term management strategy of the football association and its leadership structure. His mention of the absence of a permanent association president and the uncertainty of the interim coaching situation was particularly striking.

The comments from these two players came from different contexts, yet the consecutive expressions of discontent suggest a possibility of serious internal conflicts within the team. The focus of the controversy has since shifted from the coach and the association to Son Heung-min's leadership.

"Why blame Son Heung-min all of a sudden?"... A question publicly raised by Shin Moon-sun

Professor Shin Moon-sun has noted the recurring mention of Son Heung-min's name in the criticisms surrounding the national team. He questioned whether someone was intentionally linking Son to these issues. Shin suggested that the attacks on Son seemed to be attempts to disadvantage him and expressed confidence that the public can accurately judge the happenings on the football field.

The reason this statement stands out is the clear contrast between Son's individual performance and the surrounding controversies. Son scored in three of the four matches, setting a new record in Korean football history. Shin publicly questioned whether it was fair to hold the captain accountable for all team management issues based solely on the voices of discontent.

However, there is no confirmed evidence of intentional attacks or manipulation of public opinion as mentioned by Shin. There is also no proof of an organized effort specifically targeting Son. His remarks should be seen as a critical interpretation of the leadership debate.

Yet, Jeong Seung-won's experience within the team was different... "Heung-min hyung took care of me first"

Amidst the ongoing debates surrounding Son Heung-min, an interview with Jeong Seung-won, who recently participated in the national team call-up, also garnered attention. Jeong shared his experiences after a K League 1 match between FC Seoul and Jeju SK on the 10th. This call-up marked his return to the national team after approximately 14 months, during which he played in three matches, bringing his total A-match appearances to five.

Jeong stated that he learned a lot from observing players who had experienced European football, noting significant differences in the precision of passes and shooting abilities. He expressed a strong desire to be selected for the national team again to continue learning high-level football.

Son Heung-min, in particular, made a strong impression on him. Jeong was grateful for Son's promise to provide feedback on his shooting and for checking on his physical condition along with Lee Jae-sung. These actions helped him adapt to the team environment.

Regarding the rumors of internal conflicts within the team, Jeong was cautious. Since it was his first call-up in a while, he focused on fulfilling his role and personally did not experience any negative atmosphere. Contrary to the claims criticizing Son's leadership, at least Jeong publicly acknowledged the care he received from the captain and senior players.

Contrary to claims of leadership failure... A junior player speaks about Son Heung-min's role

One significant aspect of Jeong's comments is how Son Heung-min conducted himself off the field. Being the captain of the national team involves more than just wearing the captain's armband and participating in games. Helping new players integrate into the team and providing necessary advice during training and matches are also crucial roles.

Jeong highlighted that Son not only promised to provide feedback on shooting but also took care of his physical condition. Lee Jae-sung also helped him adapt by expressing a wish to spend more time playing together. These experiences, shared by an actual team member, are meaningful.

However, these statements alone cannot definitively conclude that there were no conflicts within the team. Jeong had only recently returned to the team, and it is challenging to know the relationships and conversations among all players. He clarified that he did not personally experience any discomfort, but he did not claim that other players' grievances were unfounded.

Nevertheless, there is also no concrete evidence to conclude that Son Heung-min neglected to care for his juniors or lost trust within the team. Rather, Jeong's experiences should be considered when evaluating the captain's leadership. It's essential to distinguish between the team's tactical issues and the actual relationships among individual players.

4 matches, 3 goals, and a 59th A-match goal... Despite controversies, Son Heung-min continues to set records.

Regardless of the internal team controversies, Son Heung-min's recent performances have yielded concrete results. Under the interim management of Moreno, Son scored in matches against Ecuador, Uruguay, and Uzbekistan, playing a pivotal role in the attack during these four friendly matches.

The match on the 6th against Uzbekistan was particularly historic. Son scored his 59th A-match goal with a right-footed free kick from outside the penalty area in the 6th minute. This victory not only secured a 2-0 win for Korea but also placed Son at the top of the all-time scoring list for the Korean men's national team, surpassing a long-standing record.

However, an individual scoring record does not solve all tactical and organizational issues of the team. The fact that Son performed well offensively coexists with the results where the team suffered a heavy loss to Uruguay and failed to score against Venezuela. It's crucial to accurately assess individual achievements and organizational issues separately.

9 goals from free kicks... Son Heung-min's name follows Messi and Ronaldo.

Son Heung-min's recent record with free kicks has also been a topic of discussion. According to a tally released by a football statistics media, Son is tied for third place with 9 goals from direct free kicks in international play. Lionel Messi leads with 12 goals, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo with 11. Son shares this spot with Sinisa Mihajlovic, a legendary Serbian player.

This tally indicates that Son has scored more direct free kicks in international play than renowned players like Gheorghe Hagi, Ronaldinho, and Andrea Pirlo. Notably, Son is the only Asian player among the top-ranked players in this category, which has garnered attention.

The details of his recent free kick goals are impressive. Son scored a direct free kick goal against Bolivia last November and added goals against Ecuador and Uzbekistan this year with right-footed free kicks. He has also been a prominent set-piece taker for LAFC, consistently demonstrating his free kick skills.

However, the ranking of all-time national team free kick scorers is based on the tally from this sports media and is not officially certified by FIFA for all players across eras. Nonetheless, Son's achievements with free kicks and his recent decisiveness are noteworthy.

In the US, they're giving Son Heung-min more space... Tactical changes by LAFC's new coach

While leadership debates continue in

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