S. Korean defender ready to shut down South Africa

South Korean defender Lee Han-beom speaks at a media event before a training session for the FIFA World Cup at Estadio Universitario in San Nicolas, Mexico, June 22. Yonhap

SAN NICOLAS, Mexico — Defender Lee Han-beom feels South Korea's backline has been getting stronger and stronger as the FIFA World Cup has gone on. And he is confident that progress will continue in South Korea's final Group A match against South Africa this week.

"I think if we prepare the way we have all along, we will play just as well against South Africa," Lee told reporters Monday before a training session behind closed doors at Estadio Universitario in San Nicolas, near Monterrey, in northeastern Mexico.

South Korea and South Africa will meet at Estadio Monterrey in Guadalupe, just east of Monterrey, at 7 p.m. Wednesday (local time), or 10 a.m. Thursday (South Korean time). South Korea will claim a spot in the knockout stage with a win or a draw against the African side.

Playing in his first World Cup, Lee has started each of South Korea's first two matches -- a 2-1 win over Czechia and a 1-0 loss to Mexico -- alongside Kim Min-jae and Lee Gi-hyuk in head coach Hong Myung-bo's back-three formation.

"We haven't had much time as a trio, but we've been trying to get on the same page the best we can," Lee Han-beom said of the newly formed unit. Lee Gi-hyuk is also playing in his first World Cup, and these three have played together only three times now -- the two World Cup matches preceded by a friendly match earlier this month.

"We've been in constant communication with each other, and Min-jae has been holding us together," Lee Han-beom said.

The trio will face their most important task to date against South Africa, with a knockout spot on the line.

"South African players are very skilled and fast, and they are pretty good at building up from the back," Lee said. "We have to be organized defensively to keep them in check. I think we will be in a good spot if we take care of space behind us."

Even though South Korea can still move on with a draw, Lee insisted he and his teammates won't settle for anything less than a victory.

"We are not thinking about a draw. We will try to win the match no matter what," Lee said. "Our objective is to win and go deeper into the tournament so that we can bring joy to our fans."

Lee is one of two South Koreans for Danish club FC Midtjylland competing at the World Cup, alongside forward Cho Gue-sung. They haven't shared much time on the field yet. Lee has not missed a minute of action so far, but Cho was glued to the bench against Czechia before playing the final 30 or so minutes against Mexico.

"Even before we came to Mexico, we talked so much about how we will play off each other at the World Cup," Lee said. "We've worked on set pieces and crosses together. It'd be fun to play with him (against South Africa)."