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South Korea coach Choi Kang-Hee proves he is bold with mainly K-League-based squad for vital qualifier
The Taeguk Warriors are reportedly in crisis, so what does the new coach do? Name a vastly new squad with only three foreign-based players. Ben Somerford argues he's on the money
Feb 13, 2012 9:00:00 AM
By Ben Somerford
Getty Images
COMMENT
By Ben Somerford | Asian Football Editor
New South Korea coach Choi Kang-Hee has certainly been bold with his first ever national team squad; he has opted to select only three foreign-based players for a World Cup qualifier where his side must get a result or face elimination from qualifying for Brazil 2014. That's something the Taeguk Warriors haven't done since 1982.
There's been some critics in Korea who have claimed the Taeguk Warriors are in crisis and coach Cho Kwang-Rae's sacking in December has been used as evidence of that. While the other regional powerhouses such as Japan, Australia and Iran have already booked their spots in the fourth and final round of qualifying, Korea are still battling it out and they're far from assured of their place in the next phase.
On the final matchday (February 29), Korea host Kuwait in Seoul, while group surprise-packets Lebanon meet UAE in Abu Dhabi. Expectations are Lebanon, who have been a revelation in qualifying after losing to Korea 6-0 in their opening fixture, will at least get a result against the group whipping boys UAE, meaning the Taeguk Warriors must avoid defeat against a tricky Kuwait side. There's certainly no guarantees for Choi Kang-Hee's side.
Indeed, in this context, Choi has selected his first ever national team squad, focussing solely on this upcoming fixture. Promising youngsters have been ignored and European-based stars short on game-time overlooked, in favour of players he is more familiar with, namely six from his former club Jeonbuk Motors.
Among those to miss out are Augsburg's Koo Ja-Cheol, Sunderland's Ji Dong-Won and Celtic's Cha Du-Ri, as well as talented youngsters like Yoon Bit-Garam, Seo Jung-Jin and Nam Tae-Hee (all six of whom played in Korea's last qualifier, the shock 2-1 loss to Lebanon which initiated Cho's dismissal). That's certainly some talent to ignore.
Instead, Choi has called up a squad consisting mainly of K-League talent, and plenty of veterans. The 52-year-old, who worked as Jeonbuk Motors coach for the past seven years, guiding them to two K-League titles and the 2011 ACL final, will be familiar with these players and will feel he knows what to expect from them. But there is an element of risk about it, given the K-League is currently in pre-season, so players may not be match fit or sharp.
Then again, Choi has voiced his concerns about the lack of preparation time for the clash, given that it falls on a Wednesday, meaning European-based stars will arrive right on the eve of the game and would miss the February 25 warm-up friendly against Uzbekistan. That's certainly played a part in his decision-making process, although he couldn't ignore national team captain Park Chu-Young or Celtic starlet Ki Sung-Yueng despite those concerns.
In January, Choi explained: "We’ll take it (the Kuwait game) as if it’s a final and I need to select the best players regardless of how old they are or which clubs they play for. The most important thing is to pick the right ones so they can perform to their fullest."
At Friday's squad announcement in Seoul, he added: "We've brought together players that can come through in the clutch, in situations like this. We wanted experience and veteran presence."
Choi has turned to the likes of 32-year-old 2009 and 2011 K-League MVP winner Lee Dong-Gook, who had an unconvincing return to the national team in October, along with players such as Jeonbuk's 35-year-old midfielder Kim Sang-Sik and ex-West Bromwich man Kim Do-Heon.
More than anything, it's a bold move by Choi. Get it wrong and he's a fool, get it right and he did what was expected. But Choi, as proven by his successful time at Jeonbuk, is a man of conviction who will back his judgement 100 per cent of the time. On his Jeonbuk record, more often than not he gets it right.
By Ben Somerford | Asian Football Editor
New South Korea coach Choi Kang-Hee has certainly been bold with his first ever national team squad; he has opted to select only three foreign-based players for a World Cup qualifier where his side must get a result or face elimination from qualifying for Brazil 2014. That's something the Taeguk Warriors haven't done since 1982.
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There's been some critics in Korea who have claimed the Taeguk Warriors are in crisis and coach Cho Kwang-Rae's sacking in December has been used as evidence of that. While the other regional powerhouses such as Japan, Australia and Iran have already booked their spots in the fourth and final round of qualifying, Korea are still battling it out and they're far from assured of their place in the next phase.
On the final matchday (February 29), Korea host Kuwait in Seoul, while group surprise-packets Lebanon meet UAE in Abu Dhabi. Expectations are Lebanon, who have been a revelation in qualifying after losing to Korea 6-0 in their opening fixture, will at least get a result against the group whipping boys UAE, meaning the Taeguk Warriors must avoid defeat against a tricky Kuwait side. There's certainly no guarantees for Choi Kang-Hee's side.
| AS IT STANDS | Group B |
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | ||
 |
South Korea | 5 |
3 | 1 |
1 |
12 | 4 |
+8 | 10 |
 |
Lebanon |
5 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
10 |
-2 |
10 |
 |
Kuwait | 5 |
2 | 2 |
1 | 8 |
7 |
+1 | 8 |
 |
UAE | 5 |
0 |
0 | 5 |
5 | 12 |
-7 | 0 |
Indeed, in this context, Choi has selected his first ever national team squad, focussing solely on this upcoming fixture. Promising youngsters have been ignored and European-based stars short on game-time overlooked, in favour of players he is more familiar with, namely six from his former club Jeonbuk Motors.
Among those to miss out are Augsburg's Koo Ja-Cheol, Sunderland's Ji Dong-Won and Celtic's Cha Du-Ri, as well as talented youngsters like Yoon Bit-Garam, Seo Jung-Jin and Nam Tae-Hee (all six of whom played in Korea's last qualifier, the shock 2-1 loss to Lebanon which initiated Cho's dismissal). That's certainly some talent to ignore.
| THE MISSING TRIO |
| Koo Ja-Cheol | Ji Dong-Won | Cha Du-Ri |
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|
|
| New club? | Too little action? | Injury concern? |
Instead, Choi has called up a squad consisting mainly of K-League talent, and plenty of veterans. The 52-year-old, who worked as Jeonbuk Motors coach for the past seven years, guiding them to two K-League titles and the 2011 ACL final, will be familiar with these players and will feel he knows what to expect from them. But there is an element of risk about it, given the K-League is currently in pre-season, so players may not be match fit or sharp.
Then again, Choi has voiced his concerns about the lack of preparation time for the clash, given that it falls on a Wednesday, meaning European-based stars will arrive right on the eve of the game and would miss the February 25 warm-up friendly against Uzbekistan. That's certainly played a part in his decision-making process, although he couldn't ignore national team captain Park Chu-Young or Celtic starlet Ki Sung-Yueng despite those concerns.
In January, Choi explained: "We’ll take it (the Kuwait game) as if it’s a final and I need to select the best players regardless of how old they are or which clubs they play for. The most important thing is to pick the right ones so they can perform to their fullest."
| "We've brought together players that can come through in the clutch, in situations like this. We wanted experience and veteran presence" - Choi Kang-Hee
|
 |
At Friday's squad announcement in Seoul, he added: "We've brought together players that can come through in the clutch, in situations like this. We wanted experience and veteran presence."
Choi has turned to the likes of 32-year-old 2009 and 2011 K-League MVP winner Lee Dong-Gook, who had an unconvincing return to the national team in October, along with players such as Jeonbuk's 35-year-old midfielder Kim Sang-Sik and ex-West Bromwich man Kim Do-Heon.
More than anything, it's a bold move by Choi. Get it wrong and he's a fool, get it right and he did what was expected. But Choi, as proven by his successful time at Jeonbuk, is a man of conviction who will back his judgement 100 per cent of the time. On his Jeonbuk record, more often than not he gets it right.
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