Hong Myung Bo’s squad for the USA based friendlies has been announced and unsurprisingly, fans are left a bit underwhelmed and disappointed with some of the picks. But the main talking point will surely be the first callup of Jens Castrop. We covered his situation and his place in our national team setup in an earlier post.
Some quick thoughts on my end – will be fleshed out more in a separate USA / Mexico friendlies preview post.
- Unsurprising that Jens Castrop got called this time (why else would he have made the switch if it wasn’t at least somewhat certain he’d eventually get called up). He becomes only the second mixed race footballer to be called up to the men’s national team after Jang Dae Il, whose father was British, in the 90s. Probably won’t walk onto the starting XI though.
- Jeong Sang Bin… I assume he got called up because he plays in the MLS? There are more talented wide attackers in Korea but to be fair JSB has been on form registering an assist and a goal in his last three appearances… albeit in the MLS.
- Park Yong Woo. Half the comments on the KNT’s Instagram and Youtube page are about Park Yong Woo. Seriously, HMB, why? I get you really like the guy from your Ulsan days but I agree with the general negative public sentiment. Park Jin Seob is better, so is Kwon Hyeok Kyu who continues to get snubbed by HMB. Hopefully either PJS or Castrop get the nod over PYW because I’ll be absolutely livid I have to watch PYW misplace some basic passes my first time ever watching the KNT live..
- Great to see Lee Han Beom, who really should be starting alongside Kim Min Jae over recent debutantes Byeon Jun Soo, Kim Tae Hyeon, and his ex-teammate and FC Seoul CB partner Kim Ju Sung who chose the J League over Europe recently
- Oh Hyeon Gyu is in great form right now over in Belgium and I really hope he can cement his place as our starting CF. Or have Son Heung Min play there as he does for LAFC. Speaking of which…
- Son Heung Min as CF – usually he’s listed under MF, but he’s FW this time. HMB always picks 3 FWs and it’s usually OHG, OSH, and Joo Min Kyu but this time it’s Son. Will Son play up top? We’ll find out.
It’s interesting how selection choices always spark debates. Much like in the entertainment world, where fans follow celebrities’ lifestyles and earnings closely, bernd fuchs kinder footballers’ careers often reflect similar public attention and discussions around performances.