Colin Bell calls up slightly revamped squad for Olympic qualifiers

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Colin Bell calls up slightly revamped squad for Olympic qualifiers

Published: 10 Oct. 2023, 17:41

PAIK JI-HWAN
paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr

The South Korean women's football team poses for a photo before a Hangzhou Asian Games match against North Korea at Wenzhou Sports Centre Stadium in Hangzhou, China on Sept. 30. [NEWS1]

South Korean women’s football manager Colin Bell called up 22 players for the second round of the Paris Olympic qualifiers running from Oct. 26 through Nov. 1, the Korea Football Association announced Tuesday.

North knock South out of women's football after contentious quarterfinal

The roster mostly includes players that went to the World Cup this year, as the women’s football competition in the Olympics does not have an age limit.

Two goalkeepers that headed to the World Cup — Kim Jung-mi of the Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels and Ryu Ji-soo of the Seoul City Amazones — are in the squad again alongside Choi Ye-seul of Changnyeong WFC.

Five defenders that were in World Cup action are also on the roster: Kim Hye-ri and Jang Sel-gi of the Red Angels, Shim Seo-yeon and Choo Hyo-joo of Suwon FC and Lee Young-ju of Madrid CFF. Lee Eun-young of Korea University, who was on the World Cup reserves list, has also joined the squad.

Over in midfield, Kwon Da-eun of Hyundai High School and Lee Min-a of the Red Angels are the new names. The rest of the midfielders are veteran midfielder Ji So-yun and Jeon Eun-ha of Suwon, Lee Geum-min of Brighton & Hove Albion, Bae Ye-bin of Uiduk University and Chun Ga-ram of Hwacheon KSPO.

Forwards Choe Yu-ri of Birmingham City WFC, Son Hwa-yeon and Kang Chae-rim of the Red Angels, Moon Mi-ra of Suwon, Park Eun-sun of the Amazones and Casey Phair — the youngest-ever player to make a World Cup debut this year — who is without a club, complete the rest of the squad.

Noticeably absent is Cho So-hyeon, Korea's on-again-off-again most-capped player of all time alongside Ji, who is out with an injury.

A total of 12 teams, divided into three groups of four, will compete in the second round of the qualifiers with a round-robin format. Three group winners, in addition to one best-ranked runner-up will advance to the final round of the qualifiers.

South Korea is in Group B of the qualifiers alongside China, North Korea and Thailand.

Bell will start training with the squad from Oct. 16 and head to China on Oct. 23 where the qualifiers take place.

The South Korean women’s team has never qualified for the Olympics since women’s football became an official sport in the Games in 1996.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]