I’m looking forward to it even more because it’s the first return in five years and four months.
A player who is equipped with talent and experience but does not know the opponent’s Iraq well was “equipped” to Hong Myung-bo.
As Hwang Hee-chan and Um Ji-sung, who play in England, fell at the same time, and two wingers of K League 1 Jeonbuk, including Lee Seung-woo and Moon Sun-min, joined the national team, the formation of a match-winning lineup against Iraq, a strong Middle Eastern powerhouse, which is considered the biggest challenge to advance to the 2026 World Cup finals in Hong Myung-bo, drew attention.
In particular, with Lee Seung-woo, who is performing best this year in his third year in the K League, curiosity about Hong Myung-bo’s offense has grown.
Earlier on the 12th, the Korea Football Association said, “Hwang Hee-chan injured his left ankle and Um Ji-sung’s left knee, so he was diagnosed to be unable to play in the home game of Game 4 against Iraq scheduled for the 15th, so we decided to cancel the call-up of the national team.”
Hwang Hee-chan, who plays for Wolverhampton in the English Premier League, started as the left wing of the South Korean national team in the third Group B match of the Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup, which ended at Amman International Stadium in Jordan on the 11th, but was eventually carried off on a stretcher after collapsing from the opponent’s two “murder tackles.” Um Ji-sung, who replaced him, was also replaced early in the second half after struggling with Jordanian rough play.
Ahead of the match against Jordan, Korean soccer ace Son Heung-min complained of muscle pain behind his left thigh and fell, followed by Hwang Hee-chan, who was selected as an alternative resource for the left wing, and Hwang Hee-chan’s backup Um Ji-sung, Hong was also in trouble, but he took out Lee Seung-woo’s card from here.
In this season’s K League 1, Lee has had 11 goals and five assists. Having spent his youth with FC Barcelona La Masia, Spain, one of the world’s top promising players, Lee has played soccer for more than 10 years in Europe, including Verona in Italy, Sint Traidon in Belgium, and Portimonense in Portugal. As a result, he excels in basic skills such as ball touch, and has strengths in individual skills, depression and speed.
It has multiplayer qualities that can play not only side strikers, but also offensive midfielders, central midfielders, and even front-line strikers in the zero-top system.
As Lee Seung-woo flew so fast this year, it was expected that he would join the 2nd or 3rd Asian qualifying round for the North-China World Cup held in March, June and September, but he used to be on the list at the last minute because there were so many second-line strikers from Europe.
It was different this time. With three European players missing one after another, Lee also had a chance.
He is an alternative, but he was included in the two interviewees before training on the 13th and said a word, indicating that the national team also has high expectations for him in the Iraq match.
Lee Seung-woo’s role in the Iraq match is drawing attention right away. Korea is currently using a 4-2-3-1 formation no matter who the coach comes. 메이저사이트
In other words, three second-line strikers are needed, but Hong is expected to entrust two of the three second-line teams to two European teams, Lee Kang-in (PSG) and Lee Jae-sung (Mines). Lee Kang-in played as a right winger against Jordan on the 10th. There was no flashy performance, but the Korean national team enjoyed the effect of giving space to other players as Jordan players defended two or three times to prevent his passes or crosses.
In addition, Lee Jae-sung, who played 91 A matches, scored the first header goal in the 38th minute of the first half, changing the struggling atmosphere and leading the team to a 2-0 complete victory.
The key is who sets up the left wing, and Bae Jun-ho, who plays for Stoke City in England’s second division, is considered the top priority. Bae Jun-ho entered instead of Um Ji-sung after Hwang Hee-chan and Um Ji-sung were out of line, but he showed his ability to be recognized as the top midfielder in England’s second division by assisting Oh Hyun-kyu’s goal in the middle of the second half.