Qatar World Cup Round of 32 Tour · Group H Korea
At noon on November 12, Beijing time, the South Korean team announced the 26-man squad for the Qatar World Cup, led by Son Heung-min with an eye injury, and Kim Minya, Son Joon-ho and Kim Young-kwon, who are familiar to Chinese fans. However, it is regrettable that 28-year-old South Korean centre-back Park Ji-so, who played for Guangzhou, is injured.
There are many acquaintances in the South Korean team.
At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, South Korea lost to Sweden and Mexico in the group stage and were eliminated early. In the case of an early exit, "Taiji Tiger" burst into a big cold in the final round. Facing 2014 World Cup champions Germany, South Korea overturned the German chariot 2-0 at the end of the match with goals from Kim Young-kwon and Son Heung-min, unexpectedly pulling the World Cup champions as a cushion to end their World Cup journey in Russia with a victory.
South Korea's Kim Young-kwon (center) celebrates scoring in Kazan on June 27, 2018, during the group stage of Group F of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. In the end, South Korea won 2-0 against Germany. Xinhua News Agency
In this World Preliminary Round, South Korea was in the same group as Iran in the round of 12, and finally qualified for the final round with the second place in the group. This is the 11th time that South Korea has qualified for the World Cup finals, and "Taiji Tigers" have not missed a final match since the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Looking back at the South Korean team's previous 10 World Cup trips, the most striking was the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, where the Korean team achieved the best result in the history of the final four as the host, which is also the best result achieved by an Asian team in the World Cup.
South Korea's Son Heung-min (second from left) celebrates with his teammates after a match on June 13, 2021. On the same day, in Group H of the Asian Round of 40 in the World Preliminary Round, South Korea defeated Lebanon 2-1. Xinhua News Agency
As a traditional Asian powerhouse, the Korean team has shown certain advantages in terms of talent reserve. "Asian brother" Son Heung-min, after another World Cup cycle, became stronger, not only won the 2020 Puskas Award with a shocking goal, but also won last season's Premier League Golden Boot award. But Son Heung-min suffered a fractured eye in Tottenham's final Champions League group stage match against Marseille on 2 November, and he underwent successful surgery, which once made the outside world worry about whether he could catch the World Cup. Son Heung-min himself said on social media: "Even if there is only a 1% chance, I will run forward (to participate in the World Cup) in the shortest possible time." The outside world is likely to see a masked "Asian king" galloping through the green field in Qatar.
In addition to sitting on the "Asian brother", the forward line of "Taiji Tigers" also includes Huang Hee-chan, who plays for Wolves in the Premier League, Li Gangren, a teenager who represents Mallorca in La Liga, Huang Yisuke, who is currently on loan at Olympiacos, and Zheng Youying, who plays for Freiburg in the Bundesliga.
South Korea's Hwang Hee-chan (right) celebrates scoring during a match on June 6. On the same day, in an international football friendly match in Daejeon, South Korea, South Korea defeated Chile 2-0. Xinhua News Agency
The midfielders include Li Zaicheng, who has been living in Germany for many years and has experienced him, Zheng Yourong, who has played for Chongqing Lifan in the Chinese Super League and is currently in Al Saad, Qatar, and Sun Zhunhao, who is currently firmly in the main position of Shandong Taishan's midfield.
In the back line, there are more faces who have played for Chinese Super League teams, such as Kim Young-kwon, who has left footprints in the Guangzhou Evergrande Dynasty, Quan Jingyuan, the ace "grenadier" who once played for Tianjin Quanjian, and Jin Minya, who complained that he was tired of partnering with Yu Dabao in Guoan and now performs well in Napoli.
Shandong Taishan player Sun Zhunhao (right) attacks during a match on June 3. Xinhua News Agency
It can be said that the South Korean team is the team with the deepest connection with the Chinese Super League in the round of 32 of the World Cup in Qatar.
Coach Paulo Bento, who took up after the 2018 World Cup in Russia, previously coached defunct Chinese Super League side Chongqing Contemporary, and led the team to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil as Portugal manager. He has a distinguished and experienced resume and will lead South Korea to face his native Portugal in this World Cup.
When the World Cup first came to Asia 20 years ago, the South Korean team created a miracle that belonged to the "Asian Red Devils". This year's World Cup came to Asia for the second time, and South Korea was in the same group as Uruguay, Portugal and Ghana, and the signing was really unlucky.
To reach the round of 16 again after the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, South Korea will need to build on the victory over Ghana and then draw points from Uruguay and Portugal. Although the outside world is not optimistic that the Korean team can break through in the group, the Taiji Tiger, which has always been known for its tenacity, may cause a lot of trouble for the two teams aiming for the Hercules Cup.
Nandu reporter Tao Xinlei Intern Wu Junjie
South Korea's group stage schedule
24 November 21:00 South Korea vs Uruguay
28 November 21:00 South Korea VS Ghana
2 December 23:00 South Korea VS Portugal