Oh dear, I wonder if the Korean World Cup team is really functioning properly.

They said the chances of making it to the Round of 32 were still alive, but now those chances are gradually decreasing.

Korean soccer has fallen behind Senegal, further lowering the possibility of advancing to the Round of 32.

Senegal achieved a stunning 5-0 victory against Iraq, significantly boosting their goal difference. Now Senegal has moved up to 5th place, surpassing Korea, which is now in 4th place.

Meanwhile, Korea has dropped from 4th to 6th, and now to 7th place.

Currently, Korea has 3 points and a goal difference of -1. The problem is that there are still teams yet to play their final matches.

If just two teams among Algeria, Cape Verde, Belgium, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo perform better than Korea, Korea will be pushed out of the top 8 and miss the Round of 32.

What's more frustrating is the process that led to this point.

When they pulled off a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory against the Czech Republic, the atmosphere was good. There was a lot of hope that "this time would be different."

However, after losing 0-1 to Mexico and then 0-1 to South Africa, the momentum completely shifted.

Especially the match against South Africa leaves a lingering disappointment. It was a must-win game, yet the team played too cautiously throughout the match, and even after conceding the first goal, their attacking sharpness never returned. While it may be seen as hindsight, the responsibility for not taking risks in crucial matches ultimately falls on the coach and coaching staff.

Perhaps that's why the fans' anger is growing.

Online, there are even memes circulating about banning coach Hong Myung-bo from entering GS25.

Of course, it's not real, but it symbolizes how poor public sentiment is.

With extreme reactions like "Don't come back to Korea," it's clear how disappointed the fans are.

However, not all hope is lost. Depending on the results of other group matches, they could miraculously make it to the Round of 32.

But to be frank, what fans want right now is not complicated calculations of possibilities. They want to see Korean soccer confidently advance through the group stage like Japan.

Honestly, there's no need to get too excited about the World Cup.

Whether Korea qualifies for the World Cup or not doesn't affect my salary or mean I won't have to go to work tomorrow.

Yet, it's still frustrating.

Especially for Koreans who have lived in the U.S. for a long time.

When the World Cup starts, our hearts naturally swell with anticipation for the Taeguk Warriors' performance.

We do watch the U.S. national team, but on days when Korea plays, we turn on the TV to cheer them on.

How hard do you think Koreans cheer for the U.S. national team? Ultimately, what makes our hearts race is Korea.

That's why this result is even more disappointing.

If they had fought hard and lost, at least we could applaud them, but it feels frustrating that they failed in a winnable match due to a passive approach.

The reason I, along with many Koreans, are more upset about missing the chance to watch live in LA is tied to this feeling.