Official call-ups have been announced for Korea’s two September friendlies against Venezuela and Uruguay.
Goalkeepers: Lee Bum-Young (Busan IPark), Kim Jin-Hyeong (Cerezo Osaka, Japan)
Defenders: Park Jong-Woo (Guangzhou R&F, China), Cha Du-Ri (FC Seoul), Lee Yong (Ulsan Hyundai), Kim Joo-Young (FC Seoul), Lim Chae-Min (Seongnam FC), Kwak Tae-Hwi (Al Hilal, Saudi Arabia), Kim Young-Gwon (Guangzhou Evergrande, China), Kim Chang-Soo (Kashiwa Reysol, Japan)
Midfielders: Koo Ja-Cheol (Mainz 05, Germany), Han Kyo-Won (Jeonbuk Motors), Kim Min-Woo (Sagan Tosu, Japan), Lee Myeong-Joo (Al Ain, Qatar), Nam Tae-Hee (Lekhwiya, Qatar), Han Kook-Young (Qatar SC, Qatar), Son Heung-Min (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Lee Chung-Yong (Bolton, England), Ki Sung-Yueng (Swansea City, Wales)
Forwards: Lee Dong-Gook (Jeonbuk Motors), Lee Keun-Ho (Sangju Sangmu), Cho Young-Cheol (Qatar SC, Qatar)
First off, it appears that no Asian Games players have been called. Thus explaining the absences of players like Kim Shin-Wook, Kim Seung-Gyu, and Park Joo-Ho. It also partially explains why a player like Lee Dong-Gook, who really has no future with the senior squad, is included.
There are though, a few curiousities. One of which is the fact that only two keepers got called up. Two is the minimum of course, but usually three are called. So, in that sense the decision to drop Jung Sung-Ryong completely is interesting. Does this mean he has no future role with the team, or is the Technical Committee just sparing him any possible abuse that may come his way? Park Chu-Young was not called – unsurprisingly I might add – but given that there is no Kim Shin-Wook, and that they recalled Lee Dong-Gook, Park may be another player with no future with the national team.
The defense is largely known to us, with the exception of Seongnam’s Lim Chae-Min. Lim is a relatively young centerback (23), and has featured heavily for Seongnam this season. Left back also remains an issue. There are three recognized right backs (Cha DR, Lee Y, and Kim CS), but no recognizable left back. I wonder if the committee is considering an experiment with a back-three?
Forward remains an issue as well. Without Park Chu-Young and Kim Shin-Wook, the committee seems to be just searching for someone to put there. With that thought in mind, Lee Dong-Gook makes sense (despite his many detractors). Lee has been excellent domestically the past several years, and while the K League is not the toughest of leagues, he remains the best option based on performance. In essence, it’s a high-reward/low-risk call. Perform well and they can crow about the K League. Perform poorly and it’s as expected. Lee Keun-Ho also returns, as does Cho Young-Cheol.
The midfield is also largely a familiar group. Lee Myeong-Joo has earned his recall, and Nam Tae-Hee has also returned. Jeonbuk’s Han Kyo-Won gets a call as well as Sagan Tosu’s Kim Min-Woo.
More on these friendlies in the future as the dates come nearer.
I hope the interim manager does not experiment with 3 back system. The only viable left wingback from that list is Kim Chang Soo or Kim Min Woo. It also wouldn’t make sense based on midfield selections.
No it wouldn’t make a lot of sense to do the back-three, but given the lack of natural left backs it’s just a random thought I had. The back-three is becoming popular again, and it just wouldn’t surprise me if they suddenly thought, “hey why not try it?”
Just play a standard 4-4-2 or a 4-2-3-1. These matches are the biggest definition of “friendlies” in the sense that it really, really, doesn’t matter for the long-term. Oh sure, it’s fun to get a win and score goals as a Chuseok present to your fans or whatever, fun to thank Lee Dong-Gook, and you can sort of check everyone’s form at once, but other than that, do these games really do anything for the long-term. Nup.
Please don’t do some crazy formation. It doesn’t make any sense.
Which is exactly why it does “make sense”. There is no long-term implication in it, so why not do something different? Experiment and see what works and what doesn’t.
Depends which way you look at things I guess. It doesn’t make sense while at the same time does make sense.
they may as well have called up the kids from Spain. and Im being half serious here.
On the other hand, I’m delighted that LBY and KJH got called. They’ll both earn their first caps.
Kim Jin-Hyeon has been capped. Played against Spain in 4-1 loss under Choi Kang-Hee.
Oh, ok
my first reaction reading that lineup…particularly with regard to LDG
http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/21/218203/2625891-7310528850-1f759.gif
Does anyone know why Yun SukYoung from QPR wasn’t called up for these September friendlies?
Not 100% sure, but the KFA likely felt the need to cut some of the Hong Myeong-Bo boys for a “clean start”. Plus Yoon had an average WC and hasn’t played for QPR since the club season began. There are no natural left backs in the squad (Kim Jin-Su and Park Joo-Ho were both excluded because they’ll play in the Asian Games) though, so maybe he should have been considered?