Battle Royale
Players Competing for Starting Gigs
By Kim Jae-won
Staff Reporter
Football fans are wondering who will be named to the national team's starting line up after manager Huh Jung-moo announced his new squad, Monday.
No player has a guaranteed spot on the team and Huh will force all players to compete for their positions on the squad that will play in the 2010 South Africa World Cup finals.
Huh addressed recently added Lee Dong-gook, a veteran who could push for a starting role.
``I hope that Lee will help us win, and be a good asset for the team,''
The Jeonbuk Motors striker joins forwards Park Chu-young of AS Monaco and Lee Keun-ho of Jubilo Iwata. In Huh's 4-4-2 formation, the three strikers will battle for playing time.
``Huh will keep the 4-4-2 formation. He will try a Lee-Park or Lee-Lee combination at the trial,'' Korea Football Association Chief Media Officer Lee Won-jae told The Korea Times, Tuesday.
Korea will be without two of its top players in an upcoming friendly against Paraguay, as wingers Park Ji-sung of Manchester United and Lee Chung-yong, who will soon sign with Bolton Wanderers, will be unavailable.
``If Park plays against Paraguay, it will be a tough schedule for him because Manchester United will have a season-opener two days later,'' Huh said.
``As for Lee, he is about to sign with Bolton, so he cannot make it.''
Ulsan Tigers midfielder Yeom Ki-hun and FC Seoul midfielder Kim Chi-woo are eyeing the left wing spot. Yeom has been called a ``left foot specialist,'' and was the Rookie of the Year in the K-League in 2006. However, the 26-year-old missed a few months due to a toe injury. He has since recovered and will challenge for the role.
Kim, meanwhile, showed he's capable of taking on a starting job when he scored the winning goal in a World Cup qualifier against North Korea in Seoul in April. Kim is also known for his stable play both on defense and on the attack.
At the center midfield, FC Seoul's Ki Sung-yueng is the leading candidate. The 20-year-old has helped the club reach the top of the K-League table with two goals and six assists in 16 appearances. Ki also surprised the Manchester United in a friendly with the club last month with a few critical kicks.
EPL side Wigan Athletic midfielder Cho Won-hee could also start at center midfielder. Cho scored for Wigan in a preseason friendly with Norwich City in Norwich, England, Sunday (KST).
At fullback, veteran defender Lee Young-pyo of Al-Hilal is likely to start because he can play on both sides. Tigers defender Oh Beom-seok, Choi Hyo-jin of Pohang Steelers, and Russian club Zenit defender Kim Dong-jin will compete for the other spot.
The center defense line is the most competitive position. Jeju United defenders Kang Min-soo and Cho Yong-hyung as well as J-League club Kyoto Sanga FC defender Lee Jung-soo, Kim Hyung-il of Pohang Steelers, Busan I'Park defender Lee Gang-jin are all candidates.
Even veteran goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae of the Suwon BlueWings is not safe in his starting role as Seongnam Chunma goalie Jung Sung-ryong has played very well recently. Jung, 24, had saved many critical kicks in blanking Spanish club FC Sevilla in a Peace Cup match in Seville, Spain last month.
``We have backup players at every position. Players who are in the best condition on the day will appear in the game,'' KFA Officer Lee said.