Son Heung-min Joins World Cup Squad in Qatar

Korean national football team captain and Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min arrived in Doha on Wednesday morning to join the national squad for the World Cup, which kicks off in Qatar this coming Sunday.

With Son joining the squad last among Korea's 26 players, they were finally able to take official team photos at the Al Egla Training Facility later in the day. 

He then took part in a training session for some 20 minutes, running, stretching and passing the ball with teammates. Having undergone facial surgery on Nov. 4 after being injured in a UEFA Champions League match, he wore a black protective mask made for him by Tottenham. 

The hard carbon-fiber mask covers the upper part of Son's face excluding the eyes. One side of the mask features the number 7, matching his jersey. He said he brought a number of masks to Doha and will select which one to wear on a daily basis based on the progress of his condition. 

But he did not join tactical training and instead trained on a cycling machine. Kim Jin-su of Jeongbuk Hyundai Motors, who is recovering from a hamstring problem, and Hwang Hee-chan of Wolverhampton Wanderers, who has leg discomfort, also skipped training. 

"I don't think I am pushing myself too hard. I already participated in training in England wearing the mask, so I am comfortable with it. I tried sprinting two days ago and I did not have any problems [with my injury]," Son told reporters after tranining. 

Son said he would do his best if there was a "1 percent possibility" he could play in the World Cup for Korea. "I know it is not enough just to have the desire to play well to win the game. I will put all the energy that I have into the World Cup." 

But it is still uncertain whether he will be able to take the field in Doha.