FIFA/AFC
Seoul
Injured Son Heungmin has, as expected, been selected in Korea Republic’s 26-man squad for Qatar 2022.
Coach Paulo Bento has admitted, however, that it is not yet clear whether the Tottenham Hotspur star will have recovered sufficiently from a fracture near his left eye to take his place in the Taegeuk Warriors line-up.
“We are in contact with him and with Tottenham medical department, but we don’t have any information yet about the exact time or exact day when he can train with the team,” Bento said.
“We need to wait and analyse this situation day by day. The most important is that he recovers as soon as possible and feels comfortable. Then we will take the final decision.”
Other interesting selections include Lee Kangin, the highly regarded Mallorca midfielder who has not featured for the national team since March of last year.
Bento also revealed that he will be taking a “27th player” in the shape of Suwon Bluewings’ striker Oh Hyungyu, with the 21-year-old set to train with the team and replace any player who needs to drop out with injury.
Spain-based Lee Kang-in also made it into the squad, where he is joined by Napoli defender Kim Min-jae and Germany based midfielders Lee Jae-sung and Jeong Woo-young as well as Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Hwang Hee-chan.
Bento’s team will begin their FIFA World Cup campaign against Uruguay in Group H on November 24 before facing Ghana four days later and Portugal on December 2.
The Koreans are attempting to qualify for the knockout rounds for the first time since reaching the Round of 16 in South Africa in 2010.
South Korea squad
Goalkeepers: Kim Seunggyu (Al-Shabab), Song Bumkeun (Jeonbuk), Jo Hyeonwoo (Ulsan)
Defenders: Kim Minjae (Napoli)
Kim Younggwon (Ulsan), Kwon Kyunwon (Gamba Osaka), Cho Yumin (Daejeon), Kim Moonhwan (Jeonbuk), Yoon Jonggyu (FC Seoul), Kim Taehwan (Ulsan),
Kim Jinsu (Jeonbuk), Hong Chul (Daegu)
Midfielders: Jung Wooyoung (Al Sadd), Son Junho (Shandong Taishan), Paik Seungho (Jeonbuk), Hwang Inbeom (Olympiacos), Lee Jaesung (Mainz)
Kwon Changhoon (Gimcheon Sangmu), Jeong Wooyeong (Freiburg), Lee Kangin (Mallorca)
Na Sangho (FC Seoul), Song Minkyu (Jeonbuk)
Forwards: Son Heungmin (Tottenham, Hwang Heechan (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Hwang Uijo (Olympiacos)
Cho Guesung (Jeonbuk).
