Why Is Heung-Min Son not playing tonight for South Korea vs El Salvador? | OneFootball

We are in World Cup month, and every national team is well aware of it. Friendly matches before the tournament offer an opportunity to rest key players while allowing younger and less experienced footballers a chance to prove their worth.

These matches also help managers assess their team's current level and identify areas for improvement before the group stages begin, as that is the most crucial moment of the tournament. However, it's a common thing to see the star players outside the starting lineup.

With that said, why is Heun-Ming Son not playing tonight against El Salvador?

Why is Heun-Ming Son not playing tonight against El Salvador?

South Korea plays against El Salvador two weeks before their World Cup debut against the Czech Republic.

Although there is still time before the World Cup, South Korea’s head coach is prioritizing the health of his star player and captain, Heung Min Son, by avoiding any risk of injury.

That’s why the LAFC attacker is starting tonight's game on the bench, and not from the start. It is also possible that Son earns minutes in the second half to warm up a bit before their first World Cup match.

It is naive to think Son needs to play this kind of match. The level of the former Tottenham Hotspur player is still at its highest, despite playing in the MLS.

His technique and scoring hunger are the same, and will help South Korea a lot in the group stage.

Looking at their group, South Korea has a real chance to battle for a place in the Round of 16. Trying to get close to the Korea-Japan 2002 fourth place.

Son is still their most valuable weapon, and his statistics at LAFC prove he is still a top-tier soccer player. This season, Son has played 21 games, scoring two goals and delivering 16 assists.

He didn’t drop his level; he shifted into a playmaker rather than a goalscorer.