Honestly, I was really worried before the game started.

From discussions about the coach's tactics to controversies over player selections, the internet was flooded with complaints. "This is going to be really tough," "There's no sign of teamwork," "What are we going to do about our shaky defense?"... I too sat nervously in front of the TV, half expecting and half worried.

But in soccer, you really have to see how it unfolds. South Korea pulled off a thrilling comeback victory in their World Cup opener!

To be honest, in the first half, we kept pressing but couldn't score, which was quite frustrating. We had solid possession, right?

12th minute of the first half: Lee Kang-in made a slick pass to Lee Jae-sung, who connected with Son Heung-min, but unfortunately, it was blocked by the Czech defense.

14th minute of the first half: Lee Kang-in took a powerful left-footed shot from distance, but Czech keeper Kovar made an incredible save.

End of the first half: Son Heung-min had several chances. His right-footed shot in the 38th minute just missed, and a minute later, his left-footed shot after breaking through the defense went slightly wide of the left post. In stoppage time, Lee Tae-seok's low cross was just off target, which made me sigh in disappointment.

Even after the second half started, Hwang In-beom and Lee Jae-sung kept shooting, and Son Heung-min had a one-on-one chance with the keeper, but the goal just wouldn't come.

Then disaster struck. In the 14th minute of the second half, a long throw-in from Czech player Choupal was headed in by Krejci, giving them the first goal. The Czech players' height definitely shook our defense momentarily. "Oh, this is going to be tough..." The criticisms that had poured in before the game flashed through my mind.

But our national team didn't crumble easily this time! In the 18th minute of the second half, substituting Hwang Hee-chan for Lee Jae-sung raised the tempo of our attack, and we quickly equalized.

22nd minute of the second half (equalizer): Lee Kang-in made a pass that Hwang In-beom took into the penalty box, completely deceiving the opposing defense and keeper with a right-footed shot! The net rippled.

At that moment, the whole house erupted. If it had been a late-night game, I'm sure the neighbors would have come over to complain about the noise. Riding that momentum, Coach Hong made a bold move in the 24th minute, substituting Son Heung-min and Lee Tae-seok for Oh Hyun-kyu and Eom Ji-sung, which turned out to be a brilliant decision.

35th minute of the second half (comeback goal): Hwang In-beom made a precise pass from the right side, and Oh Hyun-kyu finished it with a left-footed shot in front of the goal, scoring the comeback goal! Oh Hyun-kyu made an impact just 11 minutes after coming on. When the net shook, I couldn't help but jump up from my seat.

But it didn't end with just the goal. The Czech team went all out in the final minutes, pushing hard with long throws and set pieces.

In the 33rd minute of the second half, I felt my heart drop when we conceded a goal, but thankfully it was ruled offside after VAR review, which was a huge relief.

In the 37th minute and stoppage time, keeper Kim Seung-kyu made a series of super saves against the Czech's powerful shots, barely holding onto the lead.

When the final whistle blew, it felt like all the accumulated criticism and worries vanished in an instant.

It didn't matter who scored. The fact that we didn't panic after conceding the first goal and turned the game around with determination and focus was truly moving.

Of course, the World Cup has just begun. Winning the first match doesn't guarantee a spot in the Round of 16, and the remaining games could be even tougher.

But in such a big tournament, the result of the first game can completely set the tone.

What stood out the most was the players' expressions after the game.

Given all the criticism the national team faced, the victory they fought for with sweat and tears radiated pride on their faces.

Soccer fans are usually pretty harsh, right?

If they play poorly, they're the first to criticize, and if they play well, they cheer the loudest.

Before the game, I was filled with worries, but now I'm completely filled with national pride. It seems that wearing the Taegeuk mark isn't something just anyone can do.

If they show the same fighting spirit in the remaining matches as they did today, I'll gladly applaud them regardless of the outcome. (But honestly, after witnessing such a comeback victory, my expectations have grown even higher!) It's been a night that truly warms the heart from the very first game!