Son Heung-min substituted in South Korea's 1-1 World Cup opener against Czechia

Son Heung-min was substituted with 23 minutes remaining in South Korea's World Cup match against Czechia, which was tied 1-1. The decision surprised some observers given the match's status, but it likely aligns with South Korea's overall strategy for the tournament. At age 33, Son had been heavily involved in the game, and the team appeared to prioritize his long-term fitness over immediate performance. South Korea is focused on advancing in the tournament despite this challenging opening fixture.

• 3:32 AMYahoo Sports — Why South Korea subbed off Son Heung-min in 1-1 tie game with 20 minutes to play