Overseas players called up for Croatia friendly

By Kang Seung-woo

The number of overseas players picked made the headlines Monday as the squad was announced for Korea’s next game, a friendly against Croatia on Feb. 6.

Of the 24 named by national team manager Choi Kang-hee, 13 play their football abroad with the other 11 from the K League Classic. They will square off against the 10th-ranked European side at Craven Cottage in London. Korea is currently 34th in the FIFA standings.

Choi plans to use the game to test those plying their trade in European leagues and as it will be played in the U.K. most of the Korean players in Europe were called up.

Headed by Ki Sung-yueng, who has established himself as a central midfielder at Swansea City, Lee Chung-yong of Bolton Wanderers and Kim Bo-kyung of Cardiff City, both of whom recently found the net in England’s second-tier Championship, are in the squad as wingers.

Three players from Germany’s top flight, Son Heung-min of Hamburger SV and Augsburg’s Koo Ja-cheol and Ji Dong-won, as well as Celta Vigo’s Park Chu-young have also been selected.

Ji recently moved to Germany on loan from English Premier League side Sunderland after failing see any playing time this season and was not expected to be included but a solid Bundesliga debut on the same day of the announcement seemed to impress Choi.

At the back, veteran defenders Kwak Tae-hwi and Lee Jung-soo will rejoin the Taeguk Warriors.

Kwak, who signed with Saudi Arabian outfit Al Shabab last week, failed to make Choi’s squad in November for a friendly against Australia, while Lee, who plays for Qatar’s Al-Sadd, last played against Uzbekistan in September as part of the manager’s plan to nurture younger players beyond the World Cup qualifiers.

As most domestic clubs are now training overseas, only 11 players have been called up from them.

Jeonbuk Motors striker Lee Dong-gook was chosen to partner Park up front and Kim Young-kwang of Ulsan Hyundai and Jung Sung-ryong of Suwon Bluewings will be used in goal.

Croatia will provide a good test for Korea before World Cup qualifying resumes in the spring.

“Croatia is a strong team and will be a great opponent for us in a friendly,” he said.

“It will not be an easy match for us. We will have to test our defense and fiddle with our offense by putting in players from Europe. We will try to prepare the best we can for the World Cup qualifier against Qatar in March.”

Choi’s side is currently second in Group A with seven points after two wins, one loss and a draw behind Uzbekistan on eight. Korea is seeking an eighth-straight World Cup appearance and will host Qatar on March 26 and June features matches against Lebanon, Uzbekistan and Iran.