The South Korean men’s Asiad soccer team opened its training camp Monday, launching a quest to end the country’s 28-year gold medal drought in the quadrennial competition.
The 20-man squad, coached by Lee Kwang-jong, has been paired in Group A with Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Laos. The top two teams from the group will reach the round of 16.
This year’s Asian Games will open on Sept. 19 in Incheon, a metropolitan city west of Seoul, but the football tournament will kick off Sept. 14, with South Korea taking on Malaysia in the day’s second match.
South Korea is seeking its first Asiad gold medal in men’s football since 1986, when the competition was held in Seoul. The country took the bronze medal at the previous Asian Games in 2010.
The football competition at the Asian Games is open only to players under age 23, with the exception of three “wild cards” that each country has for players over the age limit. South Korea used its three wild cards on Kim Shin-wook, Park Joo-ho and Kim Seung-gyu, all of whom were on the FIFA World Cup squad in June.
Kim Shin-wook is expected to be South Korea’s featured striker while Kim Seung-gyu will likely be the starting goalkeeper. Park is usually a left back for his Bundesliga club Mainz 05 but is listed on the Asiad squad as a midfielder. Coach Lee has said he selected Park for his ability to play multiple positions.
The players will train at the National Football Center in Paju, north of Seoul, and 16 players first reported to the camp Monday. Four players based overseas, including Park, will join the team Tuesday.
Korea head coach Lee Kwang-jong (Yonhap)
Coach Lee will carry two goalkeepers, seven defenders, eight midfielders and three forwards to Incheon. Six of the players have appeared in international matches at the senior level. Two of the 20 are based in Europe, and four players are plying their trade in Japan, while another person is playing in China. The rest are from the domestic K League Classic.
Upon arriving at the NFC, Lee sounded confident that his team can accomplish its mission. “We’re in the upper echelon in Asian football, and the objective befitting the quality of our team is to win the gold medal,” he said. “If we can prepare well, I am sure we’ll be able to meet our goal.”
The coach said he is counting on his three wild cards to provide leadership and stability. “These three players are better skilled than the younger ones, and are superior in every aspect,” Lee said. “They should form the core of this team.”
Later on Monday, Lee announced that defensive back Jang Hyun-soo will be South Korea’s captain at the Asian Games. His three wild-card players will be the assistant captains. (Yonhap)
