PAJU (Yonhap News) ― South Korean men’s football team opened its training camp on Monday ahead of two friendly matches scheduled for this month, as players braced themselves for competition for playing time.
Coached by Hong Myung-bo, South Korea will host Haiti at 8 p.m. on Friday at Incheon Football Stadium, just west of Seoul. Then on Sept. 10, Croatia will visit Jeonju World Cup Stadium, about 240 kilometers south of Seoul, also for an 8 p.m. kickoff. His team will prepare for the matches at the National Football Center in Paju, north of Seoul.
Hong has coached South Korea in four international matches since taking over the team in June. The two September matches will be the first time he will have the services of players based in Europe.
Of the 25 players on the roster, eight are with European clubs.
Defensive back Hong Jeong-ho became the latest to sign with a European side, inking a four-year deal with FC Augsburg in Germany’s Bundesliga over the weekend.
Joining them will be players from clubs in South Korea, Japan, China and Saudi Arabia. Hong Myung-bo has repeatedly said no one will be guaranteed a roster spot for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, and he will encourage friendly competitions among players at all positions.
As they entered the NFC, players said they’re all looking forward to battling each other for playing time.
“It’s great to have guys from Europe with a lot of experience,” said Ha Dae-sung, midfielder from FC Seoul in the domestic K League Classic. “There are bound to be competitions. I hope everyone can gel together and play good matches.”
Yun Il-lok, Ha’s teammate on FC Seoul, put together a breakthrough performance at the East Asian Cup held in South Korea in July. In the tournament’s three games, Yun was the only South Korean to score a goal.
A dynamic midfielder who can play on either wing, Yun will have to battle Son Heung-min, a Bayer Leverkusen star coming off a 12-goal season in Bundesliga.
