March A-Match: South Korea’s Top Players Gather for Crucial Tests Against Ivory Coast and Austria
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| Hong Myung-bo / Photo=DB |
[Sports Today reporter Kang Tae-gu] Coach Hong Myung-bo is bringing his strongest squad together for the March international window.
South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo announced a 27-man roster for the March A internationals on the 16th at Korea Football Park in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do.
The team will convene for the first time in about four months since last November and will depart from Incheon International Airport on the 23rd.
Ranked 22nd by FIFA, South Korea will face Ivory Coast (No. 37) at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes at 11:00 p.m. KST on the 28th.
They will then travel to Vienna to play Austria (No. 24) at Ernst Happel Stadion at 3:45 a.m. on April 1.
These European away matches are vital tune-ups — South Korea’s final tests before the World Cup in North America this June.
Given the stakes, many Europe- and MLS-based players were called up. Captain Son Heung-min (LAFC) leads the group, joined by Hwang Hee-chan (Wolves), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), Lee Kang-in (PSG), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Seol Young-woo (Red Star Belgrade) and Oh Hyeon-gyu (Beşiktaş), among others.
Midfield linchpin Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) is included but suffered a foot injury during his club match on the 15th, leaving his availability in doubt.
The squad will be trimmed to a final roster in mid-May before departing for a U.S. pre-tournament training camp. South Korea plans two warm-up matches ahead of the World Cup.
South Korea were drawn into Group A alongside the winner of European Playoff Path D (Denmark, Czech Republic, Ireland, North Macedonia), Mexico and South Africa.
They open the group on June 12 against the Path D winner, face Mexico on June 19, and finish the group stage against South Africa on June 25 at BBVA Stadium in Monterrey.
Below is the roster for the March A internationals.
Forwards: Oh Hyeon-gyu, Son Heung-min, Cho Kyu-sung (Midtjylland)
Midfielders: Hwang In-beom, Hwang Hee-chan, Lee Jae-sung, Lee Kang-in, Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic), Paik Seung-ho (Birmingham), Park Jin-seop (Zhejiang), Hong Hyun-seok (Gent), Kim Jin-kyu (Jeonbuk), Kwon Hyuk-kyu (Karlsruher), Bae Jun-ho (Stoke), Eom Ji-sung (Swansea)
Defenders: Kim Min-jae, Seol Young-woo, Cho Yu-min (Sharjah), Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland), Kim Ju-seong (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Kim Tae-hyeon (Kashima), Lee Tae-seok (Austria Wien), Jens Castrop (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon)
Goalkeepers: Jo Hyeon-woo (Ulsan), Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo), Song Bum-keun (Jeonbuk)
[Sports Today reporter Kang Tae-gu sports@stoo.com]
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