Korea Will Play Stars Against Syria

All the players on the Korean national soccer team do not have the level of skills Park Ji-sung (Manchester United) or Seol Ki-hyeon (Reading) has. Coach Pim Verbeek calls this “difference in level.” The second-level players need to acquire more experience in games. They had an opportunity to realize the difference in level and leap forward again when they were selected to play in the match with Ghana on October 8. Korea lost to Ghana, 1-3.

However, the preliminary match with Syria for the 2007 Asian Cup to be held at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the evening of October 11 will be different. Verbeek said, “Our best players will make it the best game.” The key players in the game will be Seol and Lee Young-pyo (Tottenham Hotspur) who are currently playing in the England Premier League.

The national team trained at the National Football Team Training Center in Paju on October 9.

Seol and Lee led the players as the right wing striker and the left defender, respectively.

Seol led the offensive line with more mature play as he made scores with a volley shot and a heading shot. Seol did not play in the match with Ghana but showed his dynamic skills leading the offensive line in a three-top formation with Choi Seong-gook (Ulsan) and Cho Jae-jin (Shimizu).

Lee also led the defensive line with better play. Positioned in the defensive line together with Song Jong-gook (Suwon), Lee controlled the ball with his unique play using skills such as a windmill faint kick. Verbeek expressed his satisfaction by saying, “You can trust Lee in defense.”

Verbeek is confident about the match with Syria in which Seol and Lee will lead the national team.

Kim Doo-hyeon (Seongnam) will be positioned as an offensive midfielder and Kim Nam-il (Suwon) and Kim Jeong-woo (Nagoya) as defensive midfielders. Kim Dong-jin (Zenit) and Kim Sang-sik (Seongnam) will play as center defenders.

yjongk@donga.com