The September A-match list has been released. Including new faces and missing familiar names. The reason is still unknown. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann skipped the roster announcement press conference.
The Korea Football Association (KFA) released a list of 25 players for the September A match through a press release on the 28th. Captain Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Lee Jae-seong (Mainz), and Hwang In-beom (Olympiacos) were selected. Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers), who was suspected of having a hamstring problem in the midweek game, and Cho Kyu-seong (Mitwillan), who was excluded due to an injury in the previous game, will also be summoned.메이저놀이터
Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), who played an active role as the national team ace in two convocations, is excluded. Klinsmann Ho has not won a single match in his last 4 matches with 2 draws and 2 losses. When he desperately needed his first victory, he was unable to use his key resources. Lee Kang-in, who suffered a thigh injury, is doing his best to recover with his team.
In response, coach Klinsman left a comment through KFA. Manager Klinsman said, “Players’ injuries are the biggest variable in preparing for a match. Lee Kang-in’s injury in particular disrupts the game operation, so difficulties are expected. However, I will accept the reality and use it as an opportunity to prepare another plan. Lee Kang-in I hope that he will recover quickly and adapt quickly to his team and participate in the Asian Games in normal condition. Fortunately, in the case of Cho Kyu-seong and Hwang Hee-chan, we have included them in the list because we have judged that there is no difficulty in joining this call while continuing to communicate with the team.” Hee-chan Hwang and Kyu-seong Cho explained why they were selected.
Kang Sang-woo (Beijing Guoan) and Lee Dong-gyeong (Ulsan) were convened in about 19 months after coach Paulo Bento took over in January last year. It seems that Lee Kang-in, who is recovering from an injury, and Kim Jin-soo (Jeonbuk Hyundai) have been pointed out as replacements. Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic) joined the A national team in about 10 months after being on the call list in October, just before the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Due to not holding a press conference on the September call-up list, coach Klinsman explained the reason for the selection through KFA in advance. Lee Kang-in, who has emerged as the ace of the national team, and Hwang Hee-chan and Cho Kyu-seong, key strikers, were told about the situation. It was also confirmed that traffic control with the Asian Games team, which was a hot topic, was completed.
Coach Klinsmann said, “We discussed with the Korea Football Association several times the issue of calling some players included in the Asian Games national team. As a result, Baek Seung-ho, Song Min-gyu, Jung Woo-young (Stuttgart), and Park Kyu-hyun will not be called for this European expedition, but Seol Young-woo and Hong Hyeon-seok will play for Wales. In preparation for the war, we judged that he was an indispensable player and decided to summon him,” KFA said in a press release.
Na Sang-ho (Seoul) and Park Ji-soo (Wuhan Three Towns), who were constantly called up under the Bento coach system, were omitted. In particular, Park Ji-soo played an outstanding role in the rear build-up and defense situation as a center back in place of Kim Min-jae, who was missing due to military training in June. The reason for the exclusion from the September list is unknown. It doesn’t seem like the expected question. The press release mainly focused on the situation of injured players and the distribution of the Asian Games national team and players.
A lot of new faces were also included. Kim Jun-hong (Gimcheon Sangmu), Kim Ji-soo (Brentford), and Lee Soon-min (Gwangju FC) were called up to the A national team for the first time in their lives. Kim Young-kwon (Ulsan Hyundai) and Kim Min-jae, who had been missing due to injury and military training respectively, also returned.
Kim Ji-soo is a resource that director Klinsman saw and confirmed with his own eyes. Kim Joon-hong is the goalkeeper coach’s choice. Lee Soon-min seems to have confirmed this in the match between Team K-League and Atletico Madrid. Coach Klinsman never visited the game site of Lee Soon-min’s team, Gwangju.
Regarding the new selection, coach Klinsmann said, “Three players are entering the national team for the first time. Goalkeeper Kim Joon-hong was selected after checking his skills directly during the Asian Games national team’s Paju convocation training in early August. These two players were selected to see and observe the possibility of growing into the future of the national team rather than immediately feeling of power.Lee Soon-min is a player who has been steadily active in the K-League.The selection of these new players is to achieve the goal of winning the Asian Cup. It will be the beginning of change,” he added.
Controversy over ‘discomfort’ is not a matter of a day or two. After an A-match last June, it seemed that he was trying to solve it coolly through an unusual press conference, but only raised the voice of criticism with vague answers. When asked what color the national team pursues, he said, “My philosophy is attack soccer. I want soccer played from the front with forward pressure and a high defensive line. It is important to do it. It seems important to find out what the players are with, how to bring out 100% of their skills, and which system is most suitable.” He also showed some composure to a reporter who asked a question just before answering, saying, “What do you think?”
Before the following September convening, even the communication window was closed. Only before the training and games can we hear the reason for the selection. At the point when questions about the game plan are pouring in, it seems that it will start with the roster description. While skipping the press conference, overseas activities are active. Right before the list was announced, director Klinsman gave Harry Kane a leisurely advice to Harry Kane, who left for Munich through the British media ‘Mirror’, saying, “I need to learn German. I’m British, so I don’t think there’s anything wrong with drinking beer.”