Klinsmann trains with scaled-down squad ahead of Asian Cup

The Korean national team led by manager Jurgen Klinsmann [YONHAP]

The Korean national team began their five-day training for the AFC Asian Cup in Seoul on Tuesday as the team prepares its campaign to win the tournament for the first time since 1960.

The team, led by manager Jurgen Klinsmann, will train through Sunday at a hotel in Seoul ahead of a friendly with Iraq on Jan. 6 before the Asian Cup begins in Qatar on Jan. 12.

Klinsmann called up a total of 16 players for this week’s training, with 11 players from the K League and five players based overseas.

The five players based overseas are forward Cho Gue-sung of FC Midtjylland, midfielder Lee Jae-sung of FSV Mainz 05, midfielder Jeong Woo-yeong of VfB Stuttgart, goalkeeper Song Bum-keun of Shonan Bellmare and Hwang In-beom of Red Star Belgrade, who was absent on Tuesday but will join the training later this week.

Song is the only player from the J1 League in Japan, while the four others all play in Europe.

Regular goalkeeper pick Jo Hyeon-woo of Ulsan HD is also on the roster alongside Song.

Over in defense, Ulsan defenders Kim Young-gwon, Kim Tae-hwan, Seol Young-woo and Jung Seung-hyun join Kim Ju-sung of FC Seoul, Kim Jin-su of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Lee Ki-je of the Suwon Samsung Bluewings.

In midfield, Moon Seon-min and Park Jin-seob of Jeonbuk and Lee Soon-min of Gwangju FC complete the lineup with Lee Jae-sung, Jeong and Hwang In-beom.

Cho was the only forward called up for this week’s training. Another regular forward pick Hwang Ui-jo was not included on the roster as the Korea Football Association (KFA) suspended him from the national team last month due to allegations he filmed sex videos without his partner's consent.

The KFA said he will not play for the national team until the end of an ongoing investigation.

The current 16 players, however, are not the final members heading to the Asian Cup.

Klinsmann did not call up other regular picks like Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur or Hwang Hee-chan of Wolverhampton Wanderers as they are busy with the ongoing Premier League schedule. But they will likely head to Qatar as well, considering both are among the Premier League's top scorers this season.

The KFA also said earlier this month that most overseas-based players will join the squad in the United Arab Emirates, where the final tune-up friendly with Iraq will take place on Jan. 6, before heading to Qatar on Jan. 10.

Klinsmann is set to announce the final Asian Cup roster on Thursday.

The upcoming Asian Cup will see whether Klinsmann’s tactics can lead his squad to a big continental victory.

His attacking football did not produce ideal results in the beginning, as he recorded two losses and three draws in his first five matches in charge, but he has won all five games since a 1-0 win against Saudi Arabia in September.

The improvements in attack and defense were clear during those five matches, with the team scoring 19 goals and conceding zero.

Winning the Asian Cup would be a historic moment for both the national team and Klinsmann. It would be Korea’s first Asian Cup victory since 1960, and Klinsmann would be the first-ever foreign manager to win the title with Korea.

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