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The South Korean national football team celebrates a 1-0 victory over Uzbekistan during their World Cup qualifying soccer match at World Cup Stadium in Seoul on Tuesday. ( Yonhap News) |
On the verge of qualifying for its eighth consecutive FIFA World Cup, South Korea is hoping for a quick recovery of an injured veteran, national team officials said Wednesday.
South Korea defeated Uzbekistan 1-0 on Tuesday at Seoul World Cup Stadium, taking a major step forward in its quest to advance to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Kim Nam-il, a 36-year-old midfielder who has played in three World Cups, wasn’t on the team that fought off Uzbekistan. A left hamstring injury forced Kim out of the lineup, only a week after he had played in a 1-1 draw against Lebanon in Beirut.
A national team official said Kim is eyeing a return to the roster for South Korea’s final Asian qualifier against Iran next Tuesday in Ulsan, about 410 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
“Kim is currently undergoing treatment on his left hamstring,” the official said. “We’re trying our best (with the treatment and rehab) so that he’ll be ready against Iran.”
The win over Uzbekistan keeps South Korea at the top of Group A at 14 points. Iran, which defeated Lebanon 4-0 at home Tuesday night, is in second place at 13 points, followed by Uzbekistan at 11.
The top two teams from the group will earn automatic berths at the 2014 World Cup. South Korea will advance with at least a draw and theoretically, even a loss to Iran could put South Korea in the World Cup finals.
If Uzbekistan defeats Qatar and South Korea falls to Iran next Tuesday, then South Korea and Uzbekistan will be tied at 14 points. South Korea, however, currently holds a substantial advantage in the goal difference tiebreaker, plus-7 to plus-1. This means Uzbekistan will need to rout Qatar and hope Iran does the same against South Korea.
South Korean head coach Choi Kang-hee insisted Tuesday night that his team will go all out against Iran and try to qualify for the tournament with a victory before a home crowd. Kim Nam-il, if healthy, could assume an integral role in Choi’s plans.
The match against Lebanon was Kim’s first international appearance since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. He had largely been overshadowed by younger and more athletic midfielders in ensuing years, but Choi was duly impressed with Kim’s performance with Incheon United in the K League Classic, the top league in South Korea, and tabbed him to be his starting midfielder in Beirut.
The player known as “Vacuum Cleaner” for his defensive prowess played the entire match but struggled mightily against the Middle Eastern players. And before he even got his second chance, Kim sustained the injury during practice on Sunday.
Park Jong-woo, a key player on the bronze medal-winning South Korean team at the London Olympics, and national team rookie Lee Myoung-ju assumed the roles as defensive midfielders on Tuesday. Lee had a breakout performance on both ends and was named the Man of the Match, while Park was at his usual, steady self.
Park, however, received a yellow for his second consecutive international contest and has been ruled ineligible against Iran, leaving another hole in midfield.
After his impressive international debut, Lee will likely get another starting nod against Iran. And national team officials are hoping Kim will recover in time to provide some leadership and stability alongside Lee.
“Athletes are so fit that they can recover from injuries like this a lot faster than normal people,” said a second national team official. “Kim’s injury is not too serious, and he should be available against Iran.” (Yonhap News)
