But why is Son wearing the mask? Well, he’s wearing it for safety purposes due to fracturing his left eye.
Earlier this month, in the UEFA Champions League, Marseille managed to secure a 2-1 victory over Spurs, with their forward, the 30-year-old Mbemba Chancel, being forced to withdraw in the first half. He was caught in the face when challenging for a header against Son. Although he later underwent eye surgery, it remains uncertain whether Son will be able to travel to Qatar to represent his nation in the tournament.
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Bouncing back from the mentioned blow, the captain of South Korea is donning a carbon mask to safeguard his face while he persists. Prior to the 0-0 draw against Uruguay, head coach Paulo Bento reassured that Son is fine and minimized worries that the mask will impede his performance, addressing the media.
The South Korea boss stated, “We adhered to the plan upon our arrival… However, we will assess the situation tomorrow. I believe that him wearing a mask is not bothersome for him, it is rather customary.”
During the match, he can feel relaxed if he employs the optimal approach and is comfortable to the utmost degree achievable. We are aware that following his injury, we must avoid any hazards and he is aware of this as well.
“Hi,” Son said in a heartfelt message posted to his Instagram account after a successful surgery, expressing his gratitude for all the support he has received last week and wanting to take a moment to thank everyone.
Sonny, I can’t wait to represent our beautiful country. I won’t miss this opportunity for the world. Playing in the World Cup is a dream of mine, just like it is for many children growing up. In tough times, you have received a lot of strength from them. I truly appreciate all of you, and I have read about so many of them.