The under-24 (U-24) soccer team led by head coach Hwang Seon-hong (55) is about to make its first sortie in China. The biggest topic is the competition for the ‘second line striker’ located under the striker. Koh Yeong-jun (22, Pohang), Song Min-gyu (24, Jeonbuk), and Eom Won-sang (24, Ulsan), who have already made their mark in the professional league, are expected to compete fiercely.
Hwang Sun-Hong will play a friendly match against the Chinese under-24 (U-24) national team on the 15th (7:00 pm) and the 19th (8:35 pm) at the Jinhua Stadium in Zhejiang Province, China. Zhejiang Stadium is the venue for the Hangzhou Asian Games (AG) soccer matches in September. It is the best place to adapt to the local environment three months before the competition. Coach Hwang Seon-hong also announced through the Korea Football Association (KFA) on the 12th before leaving the country, “It is the final stage of finding stones, and this evaluation match was planned to adapt to the local area.”
This is the first time the U-24 national soccer team has played an official match. Last year, when Hangzhou AG was postponed for a year due to Corona 19, the participation age was changed. Previously, AG was subject to participation by players under the age of 23, but the competition was postponed and the restriction was eased to ‘born after 1999’ in February.
Since then, the first convocation of the U-24 soccer team took place in March. At that time, Hwang Sun-Hong-Ho played two friendly matches against local clubs in Qatar. The full-fledged start will be made in this Chinese expedition.
Hwang Seon-Hong-Ho’s biggest topic is ‘second-line striker’. Up to 24-year-old players can participate in the tournament, and coach Hwang Seon-hong has more options and has a happy worry. Born in 1999, Jung Woo-young (Freiburg) Song Min-gyu and Um Won-sang already have experience with the A national team. Ko Jae-hyeon (24, Daegu), Yang Hyeon-jun (21, Gangwon), and Ko Young-jun, who have established themselves in the K-League, will also compete.
When comparing the records of players in the K-League, “Shinseong” Koh Young-jun stands out. Ko Young-jun recorded 6 goals and 1 assist in the league, and was nominated for the K-League Player of the Month in April and May. Subsequently, Song Min-gyu (4 goals, 2 assists), Um Won-sang (3 goals, 3 assists), and Ko Jae-hyun (5 goals, 1 assist) all recorded 6 attack points.메이저놀이터
It is difficult to say that one person is significantly ahead of everyone on the upward trend. Rather, Yang Hyun-jun, who scored 8 goals and 4 assists in the league last season, is somewhat sluggish with 1 goal and 1 help this year. Jung Woo-young also had a hard time scoring only one goal in the German Bundesliga.
Meanwhile, Lee Kang-in (22, Mallorca) and Hong Hyun-seok (24, KAA Gent), who were named in the A national team, are also candidates for selection. If you win the AG gold medal, you can also receive military exemption benefits, which inevitably motivates players. Korea has recently won two gold medals in a row.
The AG final roster will have 22 on board. There are 19 field players excluding three goalkeepers. Up to two candidates per position are expected to be selected. If you include three wild cards that can be selected without age restrictions, the competition becomes even fiercer. Before leaving the country on the 12th, coach Hwang Seon-hong said through the Korea Football Association, “(The wild card) has a pool of about 10 people. I have an idea in my head, but nothing has been confirmed.”