Son Woong-jung: "Son Heung-min Desperately Wants the World Cup, Advanced Surgery... Cold Compress Except Sleeping Time"

Overcoming Orbital Fracture Injury to Lead Round of 16... "The World Cup Is a Glorious Stage"
Departed for London, UK on the 13th to Return to Tottenham

Son Heung-min encouraging players during the Round of 16 match between South Korea and Brazil at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Photo by Yonhap News

The World Cup was that desperate

Son Woong-jung (60), director of Son Football Academy and father of Son Heung-min (30, Tottenham), captain of the South Korean national football team, revealed, "Son Heung-min wanted to participate in the World Cup so badly that he advanced his orbital fracture surgery," adding, "That shows how desperate he was for the World Cup."

tvN's 'You Quiz on the Block (You Quiz)' released a preview on the 12th of an interview with Director Son Woong-jung, which will air on the 14th. When host Yoo Jae-suk said, "Son Heung-min played the match wearing a mask (at the World Cup)," Director Son responded, "He asked to move the surgery date as early as possible," and added, "After the surgery, Heung-min did cold compresses except when he was sleeping. That helped reduce the swelling quickly. That shows how desperate he was to participate in the World Cup."

He continued, "Heung-min really wanted to play in the World Cup matches. For football players, wearing the Taeguk mark on the left chest is a dream. I also told Heung-min that the World Cup is an honorable place, where the nation expects and the fans want him to be," he added.

In the Group H third match between South Korea and Portugal, national team player Son Heung-min, wearing a face guard, is heading the ball. Photo by Yonhap News

Son Heung-min suffered an orbital fracture injury around his left eye after a strong collision with an opposing player during a UEFA Champions League (UCL) match with his club team on the 2nd of last month, about two weeks before the opening of the 2022 Qatar World Cup. He underwent surgery two days later and joined the national team wearing a black facial protective mask throughout the World Cup, playing full-time in every match. In the final group stage match of Group H against Portugal, he assisted Hwang Hee-chan (26, Wolverhampton) with the winning goal just before the end of the second half, leading South Korea to the Round of 16. Thanks to Son Heung-min's performance, South Korea advanced to the Round of 16 for the first time in 12 years since the 2010 South Africa World Cup.

Regarding Son Heung-min's fighting spirit, Wang Jun-ho, orthopedic surgeon at Samsung Seoul Hospital and the national team’s team doctor, said, "Usually, narcotic painkillers or strong medications are used for 2 to 4 weeks after surgery, but Son Heung-min only took the weakest Tylenol-type painkillers except for anesthesia on the day of surgery due to doping and drug tests, enduring the pain," adding, "From a doctor's perspective, playing a match less than three weeks after surgery is truly unbelievable." Son Heung-min will depart for London, UK, on the 13th to return to his club team Tottenham.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.