Kim in Last-Ditch Effort on Nat’l Team
By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Midfielder Kim Nam-il of Japanese outfit Vissel Kobe is seeking to resurrect his career with the national team.
He has been called up for Huh Jung-moo's side for a friendly match against Australia, headed by former Korean national team boss Pim Verbeek, in Seoul on Saturday.
"I think this is the last chance of my career. I want to show I've revived myself,'' he said Wednesday on his arrival in Korea.
"It took a long time to rejoin the national team. During that span, there were many things happening to me, and through them I have matured.''
The 32-year-old established himself as one of the top local footballers at the 2002 World Cup and cemented his place at the 2006 event.
But since last playing for the Korean team in September 2008, he has not received an invitation from coach Huh.
"I have to start from scratch again. I feel like I'm being picked for the national team for the first time,'' said Kim, who was first capped in 1998 and played 86 matches, scoring two goals.
Now, the Korean team, which has punched its ticket to the 2010 World Cup for the seventh-straight time, is loaded with competitive players ― Cho Won-hee of Wigan Athletic, Ki Sung-yueng of FC Seoul and Kim Jung-woo of Seongnam Chunma ― in Kim's position.
"Current players have provided solid performances, so I feel a little bit pressured. I think I have to show more than 100 percent of what I have,'' said Kim, who had two black eyes, the result of bumping heads with an opponent during Saturday's game against Urawa Red Diamonds in the J-League.
Kim suffered a fractured nose, which led the team doctor to advise him to skip the friendly, a recommendation which he has chosen to ignore.
Kim, who wore the captain's armband during his time with the national squad, welcomed the return of several veterans. Lee Dong-gook of Jeonbuk Motors and Seol Ki-hyeon of Fulham FC, have returned to the team after lengthy absences.
"I have really missed them. I am very glad to meet my former teammates, such as Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo,'' he added.