World Cup Football 2010: South Korea Squad

South Korea coach Huh Jung-Moo has recently announced 30-man preliminary squad for the upcoming world cup football 2010. The tournament begins on June 11 in South Africa with 32 teams participating for the title. Among the 30 players of provisional squad, 11 players including captain Park Ji-Sung were chosen from outside leagues. Coach Huh will announce the final 23-man South Korea squad later on.

South Korea qualified for this elite tournament as Group A champion in the world cup qualifying round of Asian region. This is the 8^th time South Korea is going to take part in world cup. They were placed in Group B in the world cup finals alongside two times champion Argentina, Nigeria and Greece. They will play their first match against Greece on June 12.

South Korea’s preliminary squad consists of 3 goalkeepers, 10 defenders, 11 midfielders and 6 strikers. 37-year-old goalkeeper Lee Woon-Jae is the most capped player in the squad with 129 games to his credit. The squad includes 3 young players: striker Lee Seung-Ryul and midfielder Gu Ja-Cheol and midfielder Kim Bo-Kyung- from South Korea’s U-20 world cup 2009 team. Regarding the selection of these 3 inexperienced players, coachy Huh said:

“They are still young, but they’re talented players. I didn’t choose them to give them a good experience. I know they’re competitive players and can have a positive impact on our team”, Huh told a press conference in Seoul.

“It will be a difficult time for me, but I know what I’m looking for. I will see players’ teamwork rather than their individual talents”, the Korea coach added.

The good side of the squad is that there is a combination of young and experienced players, and thus, making it is a well-balanced side. Here, I am giving the name of the 30-man preliminary squad:

Goalkeepers: Lee Woon-Jae (Suwon Bluewings/ S. Korea), Jung Sung-Ryong (Seongnam Ilhwa/ S. Korea), Kim Young-Kwang (Ulsan Horang-i/ S. Korea)

Defenders: Oh Beom-Seok (Ulsan Horang-i/ S. Korea), Kim Hyung-Il (Pohang Steelers/ S. Korea), Hwang Jae-Won (Pohang Steelers/ S. Korea), Cho Yong-Hyung (Jeju United/ S. Korea), Lee Young-Pyo (Al-Hilal/ Saudi Arabia), Lee Jung-Soo (Kashima Antlers/ Japan), Kim Dong-Jin (Ulsan Horang-i/ S. Korea), Cha Du-Ri (SC Freiburg/ Germany), Kwak Tae-Hwi (Kyoto Sanga/ Japan), Kang Min-Soo (Suwon Bluewings/ S. Korea)

Midfielders: Gu Ja-Cheol (Jeju United/ S. Korea), Cho Won-Hee (Suwon Bluewings/ S. Korea), Kim Chi-Woo (FC Seoul/ S. Korea), Kim Nam-Il (Tom Tomsk/ Russia), Shin Hyung-Min (Pohang Steelers/ S. Korea), Park Ji-Sung (Manchester United/ England), Kim Jung-Woo (Gwangju Phoenix/ S. Korea), Kim Jae-Sung (Pohang Steelers/ S. Korea), Ki Sung-Yong (Celtic/ Scotland), Lee Chung-Yong (Bolton Wanderers/ England), Kim Bo-Kyung (Oita Trinita/ Japan)

Strikers: Ahn Jung-Hwan (Dalian Shide/ China), Lee Seung-Ryul (FC Seoul/ S. Korea), Lee Keun-Ho (Júbilo Iwata/ Japan), Lee Dong-Gook (Jeonbuk Motors/ S. Korea), Park Chu-Young (Monaco/ France), Yeom Ki-Hun (Suwon Bluewings/ S. Korea)