South Korea national football team faces injury and internal tension

The South Korean national football team is facing internal scrutiny following a series of recent matches. During a friendly against Uzbekistan, Lee Kang-in was substituted early due to ankle pain. While Lee stated it is a chronic issue rather than a severe injury, his club, Atletico Madrid, is monitoring his condition closely ahead of upcoming La Liga and Champions League fixtures.

Simultaneously, rumors regarding potential retirements and internal friction have surfaced involving key players Kim Min-jae, Hwang In-beom, and Hwang Hee-chan. Following the conclusion of the September-October international window, these players departed for their respective European clubs. While some reports suggested emotional scenes in the locker room and potential retirement intentions, Hwang In-beom explicitly denied immediate retirement plans.

Speculation has also grown regarding alleged tensions between the '96-line players and senior leadership. The South Korean Football Association and interim manager Robert Moreno face increasing calls to address these leadership and squad cohesion issues to maintain the team's competitive standing in Asia.