Klinsmann’s eyes were not on In-Jin Gyu (33-Ulsan HD) this time around.
The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced the roster for the national team’s domestic training camp in preparation for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar next January.
The roster is comprised of K League players who are on the shortlist for the Asian Cup, as well as some overseas players who are available for training during the break.
“With many of our players coming into the tournament with a lot of fatigue from the end of the season, the aim of this call-up is to ensure that they are properly rested and trained so that they can travel to Qatar in the best possible condition,” said national team coach Jürgen Klinsmann.
One area to watch is the strikers. Klinsmann called up only Cho Kyu-sung (Mittwillan), who plays for Denmark, for this training session.
Looking at Klinsmann’s roster, Cho Kyu-sung, Hwang Eui-jo, and Oh Hyun-gyu are the frontline strikers.
The variable is Hwang Ui-jo. The Korean Football Association recently announced that Hwang will not be called up to the national team for the foreseeable future due to “illegal filming allegations,” leaving one spot open for a frontline striker.
All eyes naturally turned to Lee In-jong-kyu, the top scorer in the K League this season. Despite being a veteran in his 30s, he has yet to earn a call-up to the A team, making him the most desperate for a Taegeuk mark.
However, Klinsmann once again overlooked the player, who has been in peak form this season, and his chances of making the national team, let alone the Asian Cup, are virtually zero.
It’s not surprising that he was left out of the national team. He has excellent goal-scoring ability and a strong physical build that allows him to play the so-called “scrimmage”. However, his weaknesses include slow feet and not having a wide range of movement, which can cause problems with the current wingers on the national team.
The national team’s offense is centered around Hwang Hee-chan and Son Heung-min, the left and right wingers, respectively, and it was widely believed that Inhabigyu would be less mobile and wouldn’t work well with them.
The problem is Plan B. Hwang Eui-jo is not available for selection. Add to that the fact that the roster for the Asian Cup has been expanded from 23 to 26 players, giving Klinsmann more room to maneuver.
The final roster announcement will be made on the 28th, and soccer fans are eagerly anticipating how the frontline strikers will be organized.