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Agence France-Presse

Son Heung-min was everywhere around Education City Stadium with South Korean fans sporting his shirt and a giant cut-out of his face, but on the pitch their talisman was a subdued figure in Thursday’s 0-0 World Cup stalemate with Uruguay.
All the talk among South Korean supporters in the build-up to their opener in Qatar was about the fate of superstar forward Son. Would he play? Could he play? Was he fit?
The Korean skipper, who has scored 35 goals in just over 100 appearances for his country, suffered a nasty collision while playing for Spurs in the Champions League at the start of November.
The 30-year-old suffered fractures around his left eye and required surgery.
Son had assured fretting South Korean fans that he would play at the World Cup, and here he was three weeks later, leading his country out on the biggest stage of all.




Son has been training in Doha with a shiny black mask to protect the wound and he emerged with it on from the moment he warmed up against Uruguay.
South Korean fans know that their star man – who shared last season’s Premier League Golden Boot with Mohamed Salah – is crucial if they are to get out of the group stage for the first time since 2010.
His red No 7 shirt was everywhere among South Korean fans in the stadium. Some had “7” painted on their cheeks, there was also a large cut-out of his smiling face – mask not included.
“SuperSONic” read one placard held aloft before kick-off. “You are my Sonshine” said another.

Playing off the left, screams went up each time Son touched the ball.
But this was a mostly quiet reintroduction to football for him and the mask was clearly a nuisance, as he fiddled with it throughout the game.
His captain’s armband also proved an annoyance and kept slipping down his arm. He took an early corner with it in his hand and soon afterwards swapped it for one that fit better.
As soon as the half-time whistle blew, Son whipped the mask off to reveal a small scar by his left eye.

After a tight first half in which Uruguay captain Diego Godin came closest to scoring when his header smacked a post, Son was immediately into the action at the start of the second half.
There had been only glimpses of him in the first period, but Son wriggled past one defender and had a sniff of goal, only for Jose Maria Gimenez to hook the ball from his possession in the box.
A fully firing Son might have done better.
Veteran Uruguay defender Martin Caceres was never far away and he was booked when he trod painfully and cynically on the back of Son’s foot, leaving him in agony on the floor. Son temporarily lost his boot.
Television cameras panned to two South Korean supporters, one with her hands on her mouth and the other hands on her heart.
Son might have won the game at the death, but uncharacteristically pulled his left-footed shot from just outside the box wide of the Uruguay goal.


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Meet Sam Li Sirong, China’s 19-year-old fashionista football star who features in Louis Vuitton’s Archlight Sneaker 2.0 campaign with Jaden Smith and models for Hublot when he’s not on the field

Fifa World Cup 2022

Fifa World Cup 2022: Son Heung-min masked and muted in South Korea’s Uruguay stalemate

Son Heung-min of South Korea during the group H match against Uruguay at the 2022 Fifa World Cup at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Photo: Xinhua

Son Heung-min reacts after failing to score. Photo: AFP

South Korea’s Son Heung-min applauds the fans at the end of the match. Photo: AP

Fifa World Cup 2022: apologetic Breel Embolo gives Switzerland narrow win over Cameroon

Switzerland’s Breel Embolo holds up his hands after scoring during the World Cup group G match against Switzerland at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar. Photo: AP

Switzerland’s players applaud their fans after their win. Photo: EPA-EFE

Fifa World Cup 2022: Chinese fans show support as Weibo influencer cries after Japan upset – ‘why can’t we win?’

Weibo influencer ‘Goat’ cries during Japan’s World Cup win over Germany. Photo: Weibo

Japan’s players celebrate their win over Germany at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Photo: Kyodo

People gather in Tokyo’s Shibuya area in the early hours to celebrate Japan’s 2-1 victory over Germany. Photo: Kyodo

Fans celebrate Japan’s 2-1 victory over Germany in their World Cup group E match at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar. Photo: Kyodo

Fifa World Cup 2022: China has presence in Qatar despite team’s absence, while football fever sweeps Weibo

China’s team failed to qualify, but the country is visible at the World Cup finals in Qatar. Photo: AP

Jing Jing was one of two giant pandas sent to Qatar ahead of the World Cup. Photo: Xinhua

Fifa World Cup 2022: Japan fans tidy stadium and players leave ‘thank you’ note after beating Germany

Japanese supporters clean up litter at Khalifa International Stadium after Japan’s win over Germany at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Photo: Kyodo

Fans celebrate Japan’s 2-1 victory over Germany in a World Cup Group E football match at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Nov. 23, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Fifa World Cup 2022: Belgium spoil Canada’s World Cup return with 1-0 win

Belgium’s Michy Batshuayi celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal during the World Cup group F soccer match between Belgium and Canada at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Qatar on Wednesday. Photo: AP

Canada’s Alphonso Davies (right) is seen in action against Belgium’s Axel Witsel during the Fifa World Cup 2022 group F match at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Qatar on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Sport

Football

Son was everywhere around Education City Stadium with South Korean fans sporting his shirt and a giant cut-out of his face
But on the pitch their talisman was a subdued figure in Thursday’s 0-0 draw against Uruguay in group H


South Korea fans sported Son Heung-min’s shirt and a giant cut-out of his face, but on the pitch their talisman was a subdued figure in Thursday’s 0-0 draw against Uruguay.


Mohamed Salah

Fifa World Cup 2022: Son Heung-min masked and muted in South Korea’s Uruguay stalemate

Son was everywhere around Education City Stadium with South Korean fans sporting his shirt and a giant cut-out of his face But on the pitch their talisman was a subdued figure in Thursday’s 0-0 draw against Uruguay in group H

Son was everywhere around Education City Stadium with South Korean fans sporting his shirt and a giant cut-out of his face

But on the pitch their talisman was a subdued figure in Thursday’s 0-0 draw against Uruguay in group H