Park, Ki included in South Korea's World Cup squad

Korea Republic coach Hong Myungbo accepted the risk naming a youth-orientated side for next month's FIFA World Cup in Brazil. By the way there are few surprises among the 23 players who will try to advance from a group that also includes Belgium, Russia and Algeria. The list includes names familiar to European fans as Swansea City’s Ki Sung-Yueng, who flourished during his Premier League season loan at Sunderland, Cardiff City’s Kim Bo-Kyung, Bolton’s Lee Chung-Yong, Heung-Min of Bayer Leverkusen, Koo Ja-Cheol of Mainz, Hong Jeong-Ho and Ji Dong-Won both of Augsburg. Park Chu-young, loaned out to Watford from Arsenal this term, showed enough in the friendly game against Greece last March to get the call. Park, along to midfielders Ki Sung-yueng, Lee Chung-yong, Kim Bo-kyung and goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong, was part of the 2010 World Cup squad. Midfielder Park Jong-woo, who lead South Korea to a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics and currently playing for Guangzhou R&F in China, also get the call despite the thigh injury he suffered. The spot that gave most issues was at left-back where Park Joo-ho of Mainz has been replaced by QPR's Yun Suk-young. Hong  also named  4 J-Leaguers in Kashiwa Reysol's Kim Chang Soo and Han Kook Young, Kim Jin Soo of Albirex Niigata and Hwang Seok Ho of Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Only three players have been selected from the K-League. Pohang Steelers attacking midfielder Lee Myung-joo, the best player of the 2014 domestic league, was surprisingly not included. Hon praised Lee but opted to pick more defensive minded midfielders as Park Jung-woo and Han Kook-young. "Brazil is going to be the biggest challenge," said Hong, "but we go as one team to give the best performance that we can. We have a team with a lot of international experience and we have the players who can show what they can do at the highest level."

 

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Jung Sung-ryeong (Suwon Bluewings), Kim Seung-gyu (Ulsan Horang-i), Lee Bom-young (Busan I'Park)

Defenders: Kim Jin-soo (Albirex Niigata, Japan), Yun Suk-young (QPR, England), Kim Young-kwon (Guangzhou Evergrande, China), Hwang Seok-ho (Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Japan), Hong Jeong-ho (Augsburg, Germany), Kwak Tae-hwi (Al Hilal, Saudi Arabia), Lee Yong (Ulsan Horang-i), Kim Chang-soo (Kashiwa Reysol, Japan).

Midfielders: Ki Seung-yeung (Sunderland, England), Ha Dae-sung (Beijing Guoan, China), Han Kook-young (Kashiwa Reysol, Japan), Park Jung-woo (Guangzhou R&F, China), Son Heung-min (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Kim Bo-kyoung (Cardiff City, Wales), Lee Chung-yong (Bolton Wanderers, England), Ji Dong-won (Augusburg, Germany).

Forwards: Koo Ja-cheol (Mainz, Germany), Lee Keun-ho (Sangju Sangmu), Park Chu-young (Arsenal, England), Kim Shin-wook (Ulsan Horang-i).