As sorrowful South Koreans spoke to journalists after their dispiriting 1-0 defeat by South Africa in Monterrey on Wednesday, their victorious opponents began to file past, full of song and joy.

Bumped by a member of the South African staff, a bristling Hwang In-beom told the unwitting aggressor to “show some f****** respect”. Briefly, it appeared that a scrap would ensue.

If only South Korea had shown the same combativity on the field.

Chosen for doping control, it was more than two hours before Son Heung-min appeared to tell reporters from his country that “there’s no problem with the vibe in our dressing room”.

“I can honestly tell you that we’ve had zero issues with our team atmosphere,” he added.

It is an indictment of this expanded World Cup that South Korea could yet reach its knockout stages despite claiming only three points and recording a -1 goal difference after three group matches.