South Korea benched Son and slipped to third — where Asia's record nine stand on the eve of Japan's decider

South Korea benched Son for the decider

South Korea coach Hong Myung-Bo left captain Son Heung-Min out of the starting XI for the team's decisive Group A match against South Africa. In his place up top went Oh Hyeon-Gyu, who scored the winner in the opener against Czechia.

Son had been off his usual self at this World Cup. Boxed into a No. 9 role in Hong's 5-2-3, he had the fewest touches of any South Korean starting outfielder (37 against Czechia, 19 against Mexico). His last World Cup goal dates back to 2018. The gamble of dropping the team's biggest name did not pay off. South Korea lost 1-0, with Thapelo Maseko scoring in the 63rd minute, and South Africa reached the knockout stage for the first time in its history.

Third place, and the result now out of their hands

That left South Korea third in Group A on three points (a win over Czechia, then losses to Mexico and South Africa) with a goal difference of minus one. In a format where the eight best third-placed teams also advance, third still leaves a path.

But South Korea has finished its group. Whether it goes through depends on the other groups, which play their final matches on June 27-28; there is nothing more the Koreans can do. Three points is a useful total among the 12 third-placed sides, but it is not yet safe. The verdict on benching Son in the decider will only come once that math settles.

Asia's record nine, and where they stand

A record nine Asian teams reached this World Cup: Japan, South Korea, Australia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Jordan, Qatar, and Iraq, who came through the playoff route.

Only two have finished their groups. Qatar went out after a 1-3 loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and South Korea slipped to third and a waiting game. The other seven still have their final group matches to play: Japan (June 26 vs. Sweden), Australia (June 26 vs. Paraguay), Iran (June 27 vs. Egypt), Saudi Arabia (June 27 vs. Cabo Verde), Iraq (June 27 vs. Senegal), Uzbekistan (June 28 vs. DR Congo) and Jordan (June 28 vs. Argentina). Uzbekistan and Jordan are debutants. As of now, not a single Asian side has secured a place in the knockouts.

Host Mexico is the contrast. El Tri beat Czechia 3-0 (Mateo Chavez, Julian Quinones, Alvaro Fidalgo) to finish with three wins and nine points, the first time Mexico has swept a World Cup group. Goalkeeper Ochoa made a milestone appearance. None of Asia's teams has advanced this cleanly.

Japan is next, tomorrow morning

Asia's final round opens with Japan's match. At 8 a.m. Japan time on June 26, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Japan faces Sweden. Sitting second in Group F, Japan can lock up a top-two finish with a draw or better.

What South Korea showed is how quickly a regional heavyweight can drop a place in the final round and lose control of its own fate. The condition for Japan to avoid that is simple: don't lose.