Jurgen Klinsmann stamps his final list for AFC Asian Cup

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Jurgen Klinsmann stamps his final list for AFC Asian Cup

Published: 28 Dec. 2023, 12:12 Updated: 28 Dec. 2023, 12:21

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

From left: Mainz midfielder Lee Jae-sung, Korean national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann and FC Midtjylland forward Cho Gue-sung pose for a photo during the AFC Asian Cup final roster announcement event held at I'Park Mall in central Seoul on Thursday. [NEWS1]

Korean national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann announced his final roster for the AFC Asian Cup on Thursday, sticking to what he knows best.

The final 26-player roster shows little change from Klinsmann's previous lineups over his 10-month spell as national team manager.

Regular captain Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur will lead the team alongside Europe-based players such as midfielders Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain, Hwang In-beom of Red Star Belgrade, Jeong Woo-yeong of VfB Stuttgart and Lee Jae-sung of FSV Mainz 05.

Hwang Hee-chan of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Park Yong-woo of Al Ain, Hong Hyun-seok of KAA Gent, Lee Soon-min of Gwangju FC, Moon Seon-min and Park Jin-seob of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Yang Hyun-jun of Celtic join them on the midfield lineup.

One standout name in the midfield is Yang, who has not played as a regular pick under Klinsmann. He was only included in Klinsmann’s squad twice in the two games against Wales and Saudi Arabia and just played seven minutes during the Wales game and was on the bench for the match against Saudi Arabia.

Park Jin-seob is also returning to the final roster after making his first-ever cap during the World Cup qualifier against China last month.

Over on the defense, Kim Min-jae of Bayern Munich will be back on the field alongside Kim Young-gwon, Jung Seung-hyun, Seol Young-woo, Kim Tae-hwan of Ulsan HD, Kim Ju-sung of FC Seoul, Lee Ki-je of the Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Kim Jin-su of Jeonbuk and Kim Ji-soo of Brentford.

Kim Ji-soo comes to the Asian Cup squad despite having zero senior caps under his belt. His inclusion comes perhaps as a surprise, as he has not even made it onto the pitch for Brentford, where he transferred this summer after the U-20 World Cup.

In goal, three regular picks Kim Seung-gyu of Al Shabab, Jo Hyeon-woo of Ulsan and Song Bum-keun of Shonan Bellmare are on the roster.

And two regular forward picks Cho Gue-sung of FC Midtjylland and Oh Hyeon-gyu of Celtic complete the 26-man squad.

The upcoming Asian Cup will be a test for Klinsmann as he looks to bring home what would be his biggest 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.

The Asian Cup will begin on Jan. 12 next year.

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