The soccer team without Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham) lost to Japan.
The men's national soccer team, led by Head Coach Hong Myung-bo, lost 1-0 to its longtime rival Japan in the third match of the 2025 East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Championship (East Asian Cup), held at Yongin Mirs Stadium at 7:24 p.m. on the 15th, failing to reclaim the trophy.
Japan, with three wins in the tournament, achieved its third overall victory. Japan, defeating Korea at home, also claimed a second consecutive championship. Korea still holds the record for the most wins with five titles but has been outdone by Japan for two consecutive tournaments.
The East Asian Cup, which does not have FIFA's mandatory player call-up rules, was composed mainly of domestic players, excluding those playing in Europe. Naturally, the three most popular European players in the national team—Son Heung-min, Kim Min-jae, and Lee Kang-in—were absent. It is a good opportunity to test domestic players.
The intention was good, but the tournament failed to attract an audience. For the match between Korea and China, 4,426 spectators were present. 5,521 attended the match against Hong Kong held on Saturday, the 12th. The nationwide heatwave continued with temperatures above 35 degrees until the 13th. The tournament was held mainly on weekdays, and poor public transportation to Yongin Mirs Stadium also contributed negatively.
The final was different. Even without Son Heung-min, the match-up against Japan guaranteed excitement. Rain fell nationwide from the 14th, and the heat subsided. Light rain continued until the morning of the 15th but stopped in the afternoon. With a pleasant breeze at 24 degrees Celsius, conditions were optimal for a soccer match.
A total of 18,418 spectators attended the final match against Japan. This was the highest attendance of the tournament. The Yongin Mirs Stadium, which has a capacity of over 37,000, was filled to about half.
Surprisingly, hundreds of supporters from Japan's 'Ultra Nippon' came to cheer loudly and occupied the stands. They waved large Japanese flags and blue bags while chanting 'Nippon.' Their cheering was even louder than that of Korea.
The size of the Korean cheering group, the Red Devils, was only about half that of Japan's, which was even smaller. The cheering from the Japanese supporters was so loud that it made one wonder if they were in Korea. Of course, most of the audience supported Korea.
Although Son Heung-min was absent, Korea was composed of the best players from the K League. Many players in the defense line could be starters in the World Cup. Nevertheless, Korea lost to Japan on home soil. It is a problem that cannot be dismissed simply because players like Son Heung-min, Kim Min-jae, and Lee Kang-in were missing.
After the match, the Japanese supporters chanted 'Nippon,' turning the stands red with their flags. Disappointed Korean fans left the stadium early. The Korean team standing on the podium during the awards ceremony could not be satisfied with the second-place result.
Korea suffered a humiliating three consecutive defeats to Japan on home soil. No matter how much Son Heung-min was absent, it is a result that is hard to accept.
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