Lee Chung-yong out of nat'l squad for friendly
.jpg?w=728)
Members of the Korean men’s national football team practice at the National Football Center in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. / Yonhap
Korean men’s national football team’s head coach Uli Stielike speaks during a press conference at the National Football Center in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. / Yonhap
By John Duerden
PAJU ― South Korea coach Uli Stielike named a roster of 20 for two June friendly games against Spain and the Czech Republic with a couple of surprises, Monday.
A couple of good results against prestigious European opposition (who are preparing for the upcoming European championships) would increase the confidence of the Taeguk Warriors ahead of Sept. 1 when qualification for the final round of the 2018 World Cup starts against China.
It is quite possible that the team's unbeaten run, which stretches back to January 2015, will come to an end against Spain in the Austrian city of Salzburg on June 1 but that is not an issue. It is all about preparation.
In comes Yoon Bitgaram, a midfielder now playing in China, for a first game since 2012. Yun Suk-young has also been recalled; the left-back ended the season on loan at Charlton Athletic as the London club was relegated from England's second to third tier.
Stielike said that Yoon can replace the injured Koo Ja-cheol. “I have been watching Yoon since his time at Jeju. I have seen him play in China twice and I think he can fill the hole left by Koo.”
Kim Bo-kyoung, who has been in fine form for Jeonbuk Motors in midfield this season, will be disappointed at being overlooked but the former English Premier League star has been placed on the “standby list” in case any of the 20 pick up injuries.
Prior to the announcement, Stielike said that players not playing regularly for their European clubs would put their national team position in jeopardy. He has backed up his words by action, to an extent at least.
Lee Chung-yong at Crystal Palace and German based defenders Park Joo-ho and Kim Jin-su have been given extra incentive to look for new clubs this summer. All three were left out. “They are all in a similar situation,” said Stielike. “If it continues that they don't appear for their club teams then it will be difficult to select them.”
The test may come when the qualification games come around and the problem is how many minutes on the field is enough. Lee played more minutes in England this season in league and cup games than Yun Suk-young but one is recalled and the other left out.
It remains to be seen what happens but there is nothing wrong with a national team coach putting pressure on players to get more playing time.
While highly-rated central defender Kim Young-gwon is injured, Captain Ki Sung-yeung has been called on as has Son Heung-min of Spurs. Both will relish the chance to take on Spain, world champions in 2010 and ranked fifth in the world.
While the game is very much a warm-up for both, any kind of result would be well-received back in Seoul especially as the last meeting between the two, a friendly back in 2012 ended in 4-1 defeat.
“We are going there to win.” said Stielike. “If we think we can’t win then there is no reason to go.”
After a training camp in Paju, north of Seoul, the players will head to Austria. Preparations for the final stretch on the road to the 2018 World Cup are about to start.