By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter
Korean national football team manager Huh Jung-moo announced the 23 players for a friendly against Senegal, Monday, and the two most notable names on the list were Cha Doo-ri of German Bundesliga outfit SC Freiburg and Ko Yo-han of FC Seoul.
In all, the Korean boss selected 11 players from foreign leagues for the Oct. 14 match in Seoul, the third for the national team since it qualified for the 2010 World Cup.
Cha's return comes after a three-year absence from the squad; he hasn't played for his country since a friendly against Ghana in October 2006.
The 29-year-old was a forward when he played for South Korea in the 2002 World Cup, but changed to defender when he joined Freiburg.
He has played well in 10 games in a row this season in Germany, Huh said. National team coaches Park Tae-ha and Jung Hae-soung scouted him and made the decision to pick him up.
"He has improved in finding the right position and his defense has also gotten better compared to last winter," Huh said.
"Cha was also eager to play for the national team. I will watch him at his position, right full-back."
The other 10 overseas players selected for the match all played in the previous friendly against Australia last month.
National team captain Park Ji-sung of Manchester United, who is struggling to find playing time in a crowded midfield, is on the roster, as is new English Premier Leaguer Lee Chung-yong of Bolton Wanderers, who already has a goal and two assists. Park Chu-young of AS Monaco has also maintained his place on the national team roster.
Among the domestic players chosen, the selection of Ko comes as a surprise as most would not place him among Korea's best.
"I've seen him play since middle school. Though he is not tall, his technique and passing ability is good. And he switches from defense to offense very fast. I really want see him play," the Korean manager said.
The foreign league players will arrive at the National Football Center (NFC), Tuesday, and will be joined by the domestic players next Monday.
The K-League contingent will arrive later because of an agreement between the Korea Football Association (KFA) and the league that says the players will only be required for training two days prior to the Senegal match.
Senegal is currently 80th in the FIFA world rankings and was not among the 20 nations to move on to the final round of African qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.