“After the IR Iran match many football fans criticised me but without that criticism there would not have been a goal like the one I scored today,” said the Guangzhou Evergrande defender. “That criticism made me better I think.

“I'm not satisfied with overall result. We need time to review all three group matches thoroughly. We will keep trying to challenge on the World Cup stage and next time we need to put in more effort to proceed to the knockout rounds.”

Kim’s goal was given after a review by the video assistant referee and he admitted he was unsure whether the close-range strike would be permitted.

“During VAR, I prayed and prayed that it would be a goal,” he said. “I thought if we could get the first goal we could manage to win the match.”

Son added his side’s second deep into added time after midfielder Ju Se-jong dispossessed German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in the Korean half and punted the ball towards goal, where the Tottenham Hotspur man applied the finishing touch.

“The pass was unbelievable and I made the run and the ball was there I just scored without the goalkeeper and I’m really thankful that I was given the pass,” said Son.

“We did a great job and we’re very happy to win this game.

“We had a lot of players who have been injured and are out of the World Cup with injuries, like Ki Sung-yueng, who missed the game today. But the other guys did very well and they were there if someone was injured.

“I’m really a lucky guy to have such teammates who are ready to play and I'm very sad for the injured players but the other guys did very, very well and I’m proud of my teammates.”

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