Park declines spot on World Cup squad
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Footballer Park Ji-sung says there's no chance he'll rejoin the Korean national team for the World Cup finals in Brazil. / Korea Times file
By Kim Tong-hyung
Korea manager Hong Myung-bo had been pondering a World Cup squad that included Park Ji-sung, the 33-year-old veteran regarded by many as the best Korean midfielder ever.
However, the former Manchester United player says the coach can forget it.
In an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo, Park, who retired from international football after the 2011 Asian Games tournament, said the possibility of him wearing the colors of his country again was ``zero percent.’’
"I am flattered to remain in the discussion for the national team when I haven’t played for my country in three years. However, I don’t think it does any good for the team at this time,’’ said Park, now a reserve for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven.
"I am not considering a comeback to international football at all.’’
Hong had indicated he would try to convince Park to rejoin the national team and was planning to meet him personally sometime in February, after the team’s training session in North America.
Park played in the three previous World Cups for Korea and scored in each of the events. At the age of 33, Park is no longer the player he was for Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United squads ― an industrious midfielder who was affectionately called "Three-lung Park’’ by fans at Old Trafford.
Still, Hong claimed that Park’s experience and leadership could significantly help his young team, where the average age of players is under 25. Park’s versatility, which allows him to cover both the defensive and attacking midfielder positions, would also make him an asset in Hong’s favored 4-2-3-1 formation, based on a packed midfield protecting the defensive line.
With Park making clear of his intentions to focus on club football, Hong is likely to stick to his current core of players, highlighted by Europe-based players such as Bayer Leverkusen’s Son Heung-min, Bolton’s Lee Chung-yong and Sunderland’s Ki Sung-yueng.
Korea will play its first football match of the year against Costa Rica on Sunday (KST) in Los Angeles, which will be the first of several friendly matches Hong will use as tune-ups before June’s World Cup finals in Brazil.
After Costa Rica, South Korea will face Mexico in San Antonio next week and the United States in Carson, Calif., on Feb. 1.
"Whether we win or lose is not important,’’ Hong told reporters after a practice session in Los Angeles Friday (KST).
"It’s more important that we execute the plays we have been practicing.’’
Hong’s traveling squad, which doesn’t include the Europe-based players, took a hit in depth on Thursday after midfielder Ha Dae-sung, who plays for Chinese club Beijing Guoan, was sent back home after sustaining a right-calf injury.