South Korea will play at least 10 friendly matches before competing at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the national football governing body said Tuesday.
In a 2018 World Cup roadmap set by the Korea Football Association technical committee, the men's national football team is scheduled to play at least 10 friendlies before the top FIFA event kicks off on June 14, 2018. South Korea secured their ninth consecutive World Cup appearance earlier this month, after finishing runners-up in Group A in the final Asian qualifying round.
The Taeguk Warriors, led by head coach Shin Tae-yong, have so far confirmed only one friendly match with the World Cup hosts Russia in Moscow on Oct. 7. They're currently trying to schedule a match with African side Morocco on Oct. 10 in Switzerland after Tunisia pulled out of a friendly due to "internal reasons."
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In this file photo taken on Sept. 7, 2017, South Korea men`s national football team head coach Shin Tae-yong speaks at Incheon International Airport after his team returned home from Tashkent. (Yonhap) |
Following international action in Europe, the KFA said South Korea will host a friendly on Nov. 9 and another match five days later. The opponents for these two matches on home turf have yet to be decided.
After the World Cup draws in Moscow on Dec. 1, the KFA said it will start analyzing South Korea's three group stage foes and inspect the match venues. It will also confirm South Korea's training camp for the World Cup.
South Korea will then participate in the EAFF East Asian Cup in Japan between Dec. 8 and 16. The KFA said Europe-based players will not be summoned for the four-nation tournament that also features China, North Korea and Japan.
In January 2018, the KFA said it plans to have a two-week overseas training camp as well as two friendly matches. In March, the national team will play two tune-up matches on March 22 and March 27 at home, according to the KFA.
The KFA said South Korea's 30-man preliminary World Cup roster will be announced the first week of May, and the 23-man final squad will be unveiled two weeks later. South Korea will begin training sessions with the final 23 players starting May 21 and the squad will arrive in Russia on June 10.
Before flying to Russia, the KFA said Shin's side will try to play three friendly matches -- one in front of home fans and two in foreign countries -- and then wrap up their World Cup preparations.
The KFA technical committee chief Kim Ho-gon said the national team may not display impressive performances in its World Cup preparations, but asked fans for a lot of support until South Korea reach their peak form. Shin took over the helm in July after Uli Stielike's exit and has so far coached only two matches with the national team.
"I think the national team will probably be able to show its true form in March next year," Kim said during a press conference at the KFA House in Seoul earlier Tuesday. "I believe the three-week training session in May will be the most critical in our road to the World Cup." (Yonhap)
