Midfielder confident he can step in for injured teammate ahead of World Cup

Korean midfielder Kim Jin-kyu speaks to reporters before a training session for a friendly match against Ivory Coast at the MK Dons training ground in Milton Keynes, England, March 26. Yonhap

With his playmaking chops and game management skills, midfielder Kim Jin-gyu is confident he can fill in for an injured friend on the national team in upcoming matches.

Head coach Hong Myung-bo lost his key midfielder Hwang In-beom to an ankle injury just before the Taegeuk Warriors were to face Ivory Coast and Austria this month in the buildup to the FIFA World Cup. Hwang has been a valuable member of the national team since his international debut in 2018, thanks to his ability to contribute on both sides of the ball.

But his absence presents an opportunity for other midfielders to step up and stake their claim on a spot on the World Cup squad for the summer.

This is where Kim, 29, comes in.

"Last year, I played in some matches when In-beom was not available. If I get another opportunity this time, I will try to capitalize on my offensive skills," Kim told reporters before a training session at the MK Dons training facility in Milton Keynes, northwest of London, on Thursday (local time). South Korea will face Ivory Coast in Milton Keynes on Saturday.

"In-beom has been such an important part of the national team, and he's been doing an excellent job," Kim said of his fellow 29-year-old. "But when it comes to making aggressive passes and managing plays, I've always felt confident that I can be as good as anybody."

What Kim lacks is international experience. He has accumulated just 18 caps, compared with Hwang's 71. But Kim won't let that get in the way of his pursuit of a World Cup dream.

"Since I started getting called up more frequently last year, I began dreaming about making the World Cup team," Kim said. "I've become more serious about taking care of my body and thinking about football."

With the World Cup squad expected to be finalized in late May, Kim said he will try to stay in the present.

"I think I have to play well in the next two matches to have another opportunity," the Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors midfielder said. "I will focus on one match at a time."

Kim's former captain at Jeonbuk, Park Jin-seob, is also chasing a spot on the World Cup team. The 31-year-old, who now plays for Zhejiang FC in the Chinese Super League, began his career on a semipro club before working his way up to the top-flight K League 1, where his sustained success led to an opportunity overseas.

"It feels good to be earning call-ups consistently, but it won't really hit me until I see my name on the final World Cup list," said Park, who has excelled as both center back and defensive midfielder. "I am confident I can handle any position I am asked to play. We will be up against skilled attackers from Ivory Coast, and we have to play strong team defense."