The special thing about the World Cup is how diverse the competition can be. It can give a platform for competitive games between nations who can’t really face each other in any other tournament.
For example, you can’t imagine seeing a proper competitive game between the England and USA anywhere else. The two nations are on different continents and play in completely different competitions. Friendly games are possible, but they just don’t feel important enough.
Because of this added charm of the World Cup, the individuals of the ‘smaller’ sides can go toe-to-toe with some of the world’s best players.
The Qatar players, for example, who mostly play in Asia – couldn’t really aspire to play proper competitive games against Netherlands stars like Virgil van Dijk or Frenkie de Jong if they didn’t clash heads at the World Cup.
That is why qualifying for the World Cup itself is a mammoth accomplishment for so many national teams in world football.
Of course, the prospect of meeting the world’s best players can also awaken the fanboys in some players and coaching staff of the ‘underdogs’ side.
A live version of astonishing fanboyism happened at the end of Ghana’s thrilling 3-2 win over South Korea on Monday.
It was a real high-stakes game which acted as a potential decider over which team will progress to the Round of 16 alongside Portugal from Group H.
The game itself served as one of the most entertaining, end-to-end games from the Qatar World Cup so far. Ghana started the game in exhilarating fashion and put South Korea to the sword in the first half, racing ahead with a 2-0 lead.
However, the Korean side showcased impressive character to make a brilliant comeback in the second half, with striker Gue-Sung Cho scoring a brace to make it 2-2.
It was, although, Ghana who got the last laugh with Mohammed Kudus scoring the winner in the 68th minute – after which the African side just about held on for a win.
The loss left South Korean captain Son Heung-min absolutely heartbroken.
The Tottenham Hotspur forward couldn’t keep his emotions in check as the two teams exchanged post-game gestures. Son, being a really popular figure, was greeted by a number of Ghana’s players and coaching staff.
However, one of the African side’s coaches took things a little too over the board and could not contain his excitement over meeting Son.
After greeting Son, the muscular Ghana coach proceeded to take out his cell phone and take a selfie with the crying South Korean forward – before swiftly going away once taking the picture.
This has left fans shocked and also been hilarious for some because of how nonchalant the member of the Ghana team was in taking a snap of that kind of moment.
Son, to his credit, did not seem to be too perturbed by it and didn’t really protest the picture – as he was sadly too busy sulking.
Of course, South Korea still have a slight chance of making it out of the groups.
They’ll need Ghana to lose their final game to Uruguay and then win their own against Portugal, who have already qualified for the knockout rounds. While the Ghana-South Korea game will be remembered for a long time, this bizarre little exchange is also quite unforgettable.
