HOPE
Heung-min Son injury update: South Korea and Tottenham star playing in face mask in Qatar and starts in opening World Cup game against Uruguay
Tottenham star Heung-min Son is South Korea's main hope of progressing at the World Cup.
The forward is a living legend in his country and is one of the only top players they have.
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The 30-year-old has scored three goals in six World Cup appearances and is playing for South Korea despite recently undergoing surgery to fix a fractured eye socket.
Son was involved in a sickening clash during Spurs' Champions League game against Marseille that ruled him out of Tottenham's final matches before the break.
Heung-min Son injury: What's the latest?
Given Son has made over 100 appearances for South Korea and is one of the most popular people in the country, it's no real surprise he was included in the squad.
But his injury was serious, and head coach Paulo Bento revealed he wasn't sure when Son could return to training: "We don't have that information yet.
"We are in contact with him, with the Tottenham medical department. We need to wait, we need to analyse day by day his situation.
"We have time to decide and the most important is he recovers as well as possible, he feels comfortable and then we will take the final decision."
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South Korea's World Cup fixtures
Group H: Uruguay vs South Korea - Thursday, November 24 - 1pm UK time - Education City Stadium - Al Rayyan
Group H: South Korea vs Ghana - Monday, November 28 - 1pm UK time - Education City Stadium - Al Rayyan
Group H: South Korea vs Portugal - Friday, December 2 - 3pm UK time - Education City Stadium - Al Rayyan
But Son has insisted he was ready to play and help inspire his side through the group stages.
He said: "I won't miss this for the world. I can't wait to represent our beautiful country.
"I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you all for the messages of support I have received over the last week.
"I have read so many of them and truly, truly appreciate you all. In a tough time I received a lot of strength from you!
"Playing for your country at the World Cup is the dream of so many children growing up, just as it was one of mine too."
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His determination to play paid off as he featured in South Korea's opening game of the tournament.
He started for his country against Uruguay, wearing a face mask to protect his eye socket after surgery.
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