Hong Myung-bo, head coach of the South Korean national team, explained the background of Lee Hyun-joo (21, Hanover 96)’s surprise selection.
Coach Hong Myung-bo announced the list of A-match call-ups to be joined by Kuwait and Palestine in Group B 5 and 6 of the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America at 11 a.m. on the 4th at the soccer center in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
The match against Kuwait will be held at Ardiya Jabeur Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait at 11 p.m. on the 14th, and the match against Palestine will be played as a neutral match at 11 p.m. on the 19th, five days later, at Amman International Stadium in Amman, Jordan.
Team Hong Myung-bo, who departed amid concerns, seems to be safely making his way to the World Cup despite concerns. It secured three wins, one draw and 10 points in four games to lead the team alone, and boldly experimented with young players, displaying an appropriate performance with the technological philosophy pursued by the Korea Football Association (KFA).
As many as four new faces have joined the list. Kim Kyung-min (Gwangju FC), Lee Tae-seok (Pohang Steelers), Kim Bong-soo (Kim Cheon-sang-moo), and Lee Hyun-joo have joined the competition for each position. Lee Young-joon (Grathhopper Club Zurich), who was considered likely to be selected for the first time, was rejected.
The only overseas player among the four players is Lee Hyun-joo. A former Pohang youth team player, Lee Hyun-joo joined Bayern Munich in January 2022 as a multiplayer who can play all two seasons, and has since built up a real sense while being expected as one of the best prospects in the team. He went on loan at SV Behen Wiesbaden last season, and this season, he played for the prestigious Hanover in the Bundesliga and scored one goal in eight games. 메이저사이트
His selection is somewhat surprising. Above all, the competition is fiercer than ever before for the second term in the Korean national team. With outstanding resources including Lee Jae-sung (1. FSV Mainz 05), Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur), and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers), it is difficult to pass through the needle hole with any kind of performance.
Asked about the background of Lee Hyun-joo’s selection, Hong said, “I have been checking constantly, and I am displaying very good performance by extending the playing time. It will be a good option as he is not a type of player in the national team,” adding, “There are some types of players who improve their play when they have space, but Lee Hyun-joo is an influential player even in limited space. It is a suitable resource considering an opponent who is likely to defend from a low position.”