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[Awards Review]
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▶ Korean Soccer Team Adds Youth to The Mix
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[2002/04/08 ]
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Seoul, April 4 (Yonhap) -- Korea's national soccer team received an injection of youth Thursday as the Korea Football Association (KFA) named a 31-man squad to prepare for upcoming World Cup buildup matches.
New faces selected include strikers Choi Sung-kuk of Korea University and Jung Jo-gok of Daeshin High School.
Choi, who played a decisive role in Korea's shutout of Japan in last month's youth games will be given a chance to score at the highest level. Midfielder Son Dae-ho of the Suwon Blue Wings and defenders Cho Sung-hwan and Park Yo-seb will also join the team. Cho is a teammate of Son, while Park is from the Anyang Cheetahs.
Guus Hiddink, the team's head coach, said that the five new players in the 31-man squad were selected to give the next generation of Korean soccer players a chance to compete in an international match, and that they would return to the youth ranks when players from Europe and Japan join the team around April 21.
However, he said that depending on their performances, some of the players might be retained after the match with Costa Rica on April 20 in Daegu. He added that letters have been sent to Europe's AC Perugia and RSC Anderlecht to request Ahn Jung-hwan and Seol Ki-hyeon be released for the Costa Rica game.
The Dutchman added that although the Korean team will be below strength for the Daegu match, it will have its full compliment of stars for the friendly with China on April 27.
Korea's top strikers Choi Yong-soo and Hwang Sun-hong will be recalled from Japan's J-League along with Park Ji-sung, Yoo Sang-chul and Yoon Jong-hwan
'Hiddink will probably decide the final lineup when Korea plays China in Incheon,' said a KFA official.
The national team members will converge in Daegu next Friday, where the team will begin training to work on teamwork and tactics for the Group D matches against Portugal, Poland and the United States this summer.
Of the players who participated in the recent European tour, Sim Jae-won of Eintracht Frankfurt and Lee Im-seang of Bucheon SK were left out of the latest squad.
Korean Squad
Goalkeepers - Choi Eun-sung (Taejon Citizen), Kim Byung-ji (Pohang Steelers), Kim Yong-dae (Pusan I.cons), Lee Woon-jae (Suwom Blue Wings)
Defenders - Cho Byung-gook (Suwon Samsung Blue Wings), Cho Sung-hwan (Suwon Samsung Blue Wings), Choi Jin-chul (Chonbuk Hyundai), Hong Myung-bo (Pohang Steelers), Kim Tae-young (Chunnam Dragons), Lee Min-sung (Pusan I.cons), Park Yo-seb (Anyang LG Cheetahs)
Midfielders - Choi Sung-yong (Suwon Samsung Blue Wings), Choi Tae-uk (Anyang LG Cheetahs), Hyun Young-min (Ulsan Hyundai), Kim Nam-il (Chunnam Dragons), Lee Eul-yong (Bucheon SK), Lee Young-pyo (Anyang LG Cheetahs), Park Ji-sung (Kyoto Purple Sanga), Song Chong-gug (Pusan I.cons), Son Dae-ho (Suwon Samsung Blue Wings), Yoo Sang-chul (Kashiwa Reysol), Yoon Jong-hwan (Cerezo Osaka)
Forwards - Ahn Jung-hwan (AC Perugia), Cha Doo-ri (Korea Univ.), Choi Sung-kuk (Korea Univ.), Choi Yong-soo (JEF United Ichihara), Hwang Sun-hong (Kashiwa Reysol), Jung Jo-gook (Daeshin High School) Lee Chun-soo (Ulsan Hyundai), Lee Dong-gook (Pohang Steelers), Seol Ki-hyeon (RSC Anderecht)
yonngong@yna.co.kr |
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