South Korea's national football team fixed its roster for the World Cup finals, which included Lee Dong-gook, a star forward, making the cut after a string of bad luck.
South Korean coach Huh Jung-moo announced the final 23-player roster Monday in Neustift Im Stubaital, Austria, where his team was practicing ahead of the South African finals.
Relieved from the previous 26-provisional squad were forward Lee Keun-ho of Jubilo Iwata, and midfielders Shin Hyung-min of Pohang Steelers and Koo Ja-cheol of Jeju United.
"We have three games and about three weeks. In my own way, I've thought about which members could play in the three games and contribute (to the team)," Huh told a press conference.
The roster was fixed following a 0-1 defeat against Belarus in a friendly Sunday.
Nicknamed the "Lion King," Lee Dong-gook, 32, of Pohang Steelers was the top goal scorer in the domestic pro league last year.
At the age of 19, the forward made the national squad for the French World Cup in 1998 but was dropped for the 2002 finals after failing to woo the heart of then coach Guus Hiddink. In 2006, Lee led the national team in the Asian qualifiers but misfortune struck again, relieved from the team after suffering a knee injury right before the German World Cup finals.
Lee is nursing a thigh injury, but doctors diagnosed he was recovering fast and would be able to play at least from the second match, against Argentina, in the group competition, Huh said.
"The team's medical and physical training staff agreed that (Lee) would be able to play from the second game. ... He won't have any trouble playing in the second and third match," said Huh.
As expected, footballers playing in European leagues, including Park Ji-sung of Manchester United, Lee Chung-yong of Bolton Wanderers, Park Chu-young of AS Monaco and Ki Sung-yueng of Scotland Celtic FC, all made it through the final cut.
Veteran forward Ahn Jung-hwan also secured a seat in the squad. Ahn scored three goals in his past two World Cup appearances, including the game-winning header in the second round match against Italy at the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup tournament.
Yeom Ki-hoon of the Suwon Samsung and Kim Nam-il of Russia's FC Tom Tomsk also succeeded in taking midfielder spots.
Defender Lee Young-pyo of Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal is competing in his third World Cup finals, while Kim Dong-jin of Ulsan Tigers and Cha Du-ri of German SC Freiburg, also made the cut. Kim, a former defender for Russia's FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, moved back to the K-League before the start of the 2010 season for his World Cup squad bid.
Budding but prominent young players also got calls from Huh.
Midfielder Kim Bo-kyung and forward Lee Seung-yeoul, who lifted South Korea's Under-20 team to the quarterfinals at the U-20 World Cup held last September, are set to make their World Cup debut.
Lee Woon-jae, the 37-year-old veteran goalie, will make his fourth World Cup appearance, and junior goalkeepers Jung Sung-ryong and Kim Young-kwang will also travel to South Africa.
Kang Min-soo, a home team-based defender, was put back on the World Cup squad to replace Kwak Tae-hwi, who injured the tendon in his left knee in the Belarus friendly.
South Korea will hold its last warm-up match with Spain on Thursday before the finals. The team faces Greece, Argentina and Nigeria in Group B.//Yonhap
South Korean coach Huh Jung-moo announced the final 23-player roster Monday in Neustift Im Stubaital, Austria, where his team was practicing ahead of the South African finals.
Relieved from the previous 26-provisional squad were forward Lee Keun-ho of Jubilo Iwata, and midfielders Shin Hyung-min of Pohang Steelers and Koo Ja-cheol of Jeju United.
"We have three games and about three weeks. In my own way, I've thought about which members could play in the three games and contribute (to the team)," Huh told a press conference.
The roster was fixed following a 0-1 defeat against Belarus in a friendly Sunday.
Nicknamed the "Lion King," Lee Dong-gook, 32, of Pohang Steelers was the top goal scorer in the domestic pro league last year.
At the age of 19, the forward made the national squad for the French World Cup in 1998 but was dropped for the 2002 finals after failing to woo the heart of then coach Guus Hiddink. In 2006, Lee led the national team in the Asian qualifiers but misfortune struck again, relieved from the team after suffering a knee injury right before the German World Cup finals.
Lee is nursing a thigh injury, but doctors diagnosed he was recovering fast and would be able to play at least from the second match, against Argentina, in the group competition, Huh said.
"The team's medical and physical training staff agreed that (Lee) would be able to play from the second game. ... He won't have any trouble playing in the second and third match," said Huh.
As expected, footballers playing in European leagues, including Park Ji-sung of Manchester United, Lee Chung-yong of Bolton Wanderers, Park Chu-young of AS Monaco and Ki Sung-yueng of Scotland Celtic FC, all made it through the final cut.
Veteran forward Ahn Jung-hwan also secured a seat in the squad. Ahn scored three goals in his past two World Cup appearances, including the game-winning header in the second round match against Italy at the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup tournament.
Yeom Ki-hoon of the Suwon Samsung and Kim Nam-il of Russia's FC Tom Tomsk also succeeded in taking midfielder spots.
Defender Lee Young-pyo of Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal is competing in his third World Cup finals, while Kim Dong-jin of Ulsan Tigers and Cha Du-ri of German SC Freiburg, also made the cut. Kim, a former defender for Russia's FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, moved back to the K-League before the start of the 2010 season for his World Cup squad bid.
Budding but prominent young players also got calls from Huh.
Midfielder Kim Bo-kyung and forward Lee Seung-yeoul, who lifted South Korea's Under-20 team to the quarterfinals at the U-20 World Cup held last September, are set to make their World Cup debut.
Lee Woon-jae, the 37-year-old veteran goalie, will make his fourth World Cup appearance, and junior goalkeepers Jung Sung-ryong and Kim Young-kwang will also travel to South Africa.
Kang Min-soo, a home team-based defender, was put back on the World Cup squad to replace Kwak Tae-hwi, who injured the tendon in his left knee in the Belarus friendly.
South Korea will hold its last warm-up match with Spain on Thursday before the finals. The team faces Greece, Argentina and Nigeria in Group B.//Yonhap
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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