MOSCOW, June 25 (Xinhua) -- One of the images of the 2018 World Cup to date were the tears from South Korean striker Son Heung-min after the final whistle of his side's narrow 2-1 defeat to Mexico on Saturday.
Although Son scored an excellent late goal, the defeat leaves the South Koreans needing a miracle to qualify for the next round in Russia.
Son was in tears on the pitch and then photographed weeping again when he met South Korean President, Moon Jae-In in the team dressing room following the game.
"I didn't want to cry, but after I saw my team-mates in there, I couldn't stop. I felt really sad for them, especially those who are in their first World Cup, because they did a great job," he said afterwards.
However, disappointing defeat was to Son's team-mates, it could now have far more drastic consequences for him and put the brakes on his professional career for two years.
Son will turn 26 at the start of July and that means he is due to start the 21-months obligatory military service all South Koreans have to carry out before they are 28. The rules state the only way that military service can be avoided is if they achieve something significant whilst representing their country.
Reaching the last 16 in Russia would have allowed Son to avoid joining the armed forces, but now that option has all but vanished, he has just one opportunity left and that is helping South Korea to win the gold medal in the Asian Games which begin on August 18th.
Son plays his football for Tottenham Hotspurs in the English Premier League, where is coach Mauricio Pochettino has said he is one of the best players in the competition after he scored 12 league goals in the 2017-18 campaign, losing Son to military service would be a huge setback both for the club and the player, and make those tears easy to understand.
