Revamped Taeguk Ladies to face Japan on Oct. 26

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Revamped Taeguk Ladies to face Japan on Oct. 26

Published: 15 Oct. 2024, 12:10 Updated: 15 Oct. 2024, 13:34

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

Korea's Ji So-yun, center, in action during the EAFF E-1 Women’s Football Championship against Japan at Ibaraki Kashima Soccer Stadium in Japan on July 19, 2022. [KFA]

Seattle Reign midfielder Ji So-yun leads the 23-member Korean women’s football team roster announced by new manager Shin Sang-woo on Monday for a friendly against Japan on Oct. 26.

Ji, the most-capped player in Korean national team history regardless of gender, at 160, joins a squad that includes Levante Badalona midfielder Lee Young-ju, Birmingham City's Lee Geum-min and new pick INAC Kobe Leoness midfielder Lee Su-bin.

Alongside Lee Su-bin, five other players were called up for the first time: Mungyeong Sangmu midfielder Noh Jin-young, Gyeongju KHNP defender Lee Si-ho, Hwacheon KSPO defender Lee Min-hwa, Suwon FC defender Lee Yu-jin and Hwacheon forward Choi Yoo-jung.

Over in goal, Suwon’s Kim Kyeong-hee joins the team alongside Hwacheon’s Min Yu-kyeong and Seoul City Amazones’ Ryu Ji-su.

Regular defender picks Jang Sel-gi of Gyeongju KHNP, Kim Hye-ri and Choo Hyo-joo of Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels, in addition to Kim Jin-hui of Gyeongju KHNP and Lee Hyo-kyong of Sejong Sportstoto complete the defense lineup.

Veteran midfielder Jeon Eun-ha of Suwon is also on the roster with Lee Min-a of the Red Angels.

Four other forwards Moon Mi-ra of Suwon, Mun Eun-ju of Hwacheon, Lee Eun-young of Changnyeong and Han Chae-rin of the Amazones complete the squad.

There are some conspicuous absenses from the usual Taeguk Ladies lineup.

Casey Phair of Angel City, who became the youngest player to make a World Cup debut at 16 years and 26 days at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in July last year, is not available as she is competing for Korea at the U-17 Women's World Cup in the Dominican Republic.

Also absent are veteran pair Choe Yu-ri and Cho So-hyun, both of Birmingham City, who have both been a core element of the Korean lineup for the past decade. Both have seen fairly inconsistent playing time in the league so far this season, with Choe starting off strong but then slipping out of the lineup.

Monday’s roster is the first called up by new manager Shin, who was appointed last week to replace former manager Colin Bell.

Bell’s departure came after a five-year stint during which he led the team to two World Cups in 2019 and 2023, both of which ended with Korea exiting in the group stage.

Since crashing out of the 2023 World Cup group stage, Korea has faced disappointing results on the international stage, finishing their Hangzhou Asian Games run in the quarterfinals and failing to qualify for the Paris Olympics.

The Taeguk Ladies did secure wins against the Czech Republic and the Philippines in friendlies this year.

The Korean women's football team, in red, reacts after winning a friendly match against the Philippines at Icheon Sports Complex in Icheon, Gyeonggi on April 8. [NEWS1]

Korea’s upcoming friendly against Japan marks the first head-to-head clash since July 2022, when Japan beat Korea 2-1 in the EAFF E-1 Women’s Football Championship. Japan head to the friendly on the back of three straight wins, having won their last match against Ghana 4-0 in July.

Korea, meanwhile, will be in action after suffering 4-0 and 3-0 losses in a two-game series to the United States in June. The Taeguk Ladies have not picked up a win since a 2-1 victory over the Philippines in April.

Shin will hold his first press conference as national team manager at KFA House in central Seoul on Thursday, before jetting off to Japan with his squad on Oct. 21.

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