It’s temporary, but the stakes are higher than ever, and all eyes are on the mouth of the ‘stork’.
Interim national soccer team coach Hwang Sun-hong will unveil the first and last roster of the interim regime at the Shinmunro Soccer Hall in Seoul on Wednesday. After failing to win the Asian title for the first time in 64 years, the A team will transition to the 2026 North and Central American World Cup. The team will face Thailand at home and away on Sept. 21 and 26 in the third and fourth rounds of the second Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North American Championship. South Korea, who fired head coach Jürgen Klinsmann, will start the two-game series under interim coach Hwang Sun-hong. 카지노사이트 With a 2-0 record, South Korea can virtually guarantee a spot in the final qualifying round with a win in Thailand.
While the Koreans are the clear favorites on paper, the situation is far from simple. Hwang has a big task ahead of him to turn things around. The scars left by Klinsmann are too deep. Despite his interim status, Hwang’s appointment is the first step in the healing process. Hwang watched Jeonbuk-Daejeon, Gwangju-Seoul, Jeonbuk-Ulsan, Suwon FC-North Korea, and Seoul-Incheon at the start of the K League. It was a 180-degree departure from his predecessor. The new coaching staff, including Michael Kim and Chung Jo-guk, also traveled to the opening matches between Ulsan and Pohang.
The biggest question is whether Lee Kang-in (23, Paris Saint-Germain) will be selected. Lee has been at the center of controversy over the past month. Ahead of the Asian Cup quarterfinal against Jordan, Lee clashed with his captain, Son Heung-min (32, Tottenham), and was instantly labeled a “hater”. Lee eventually flew to London to apologize, and Son Heung-min embraced him. Lee also reached out to other seniors and colleagues and bowed his head. He also apologized to his fans. However, Lee Kang-in is still not looked upon favorably. In the midst of the debate over his selection, Hwang holds the key. Hwang has reportedly reached out to senior members of the national team, including Son Heung-min, to ask for their opinions. For now, it appears that the consensus is in favor of a frontline attack.
It’s also worth noting the ‘new faces’ in the squad. Klinsmann selected the same faces from September last year until the Asian Cup finals. Naturally, the competition within the team disappeared and the players’ motivation dropped. Hwang’s flurry of moves also drew attention to the prospect of selecting players different from Klinsmann. The first name that comes to mind is K-League’s leading goalkeeper, Lee Min-kyu (34-Ulsan). He was a ‘hot potato’ in Klinsmann’s system under former coach Paulo Bento, scoring 22 goals for Jeju in 2021 and becoming a ‘goal king’ again last year with 17 goals for Ulsan. Despite being considered one of the best strikers in the K League, he has never been linked to Taegeukmark. This time, it’s more likely than ever. Cho Kyu-sung (26-Mitwillan) and Oh Hyun-kyu (23-Celtic) are currently out of form, and Hwang Eui-jo (32-Alanespor) is still under suspension for illegal filming. Given the lack of resources up front, it’s likely that Inhabi-Gyu will fill in for them.
In addition to Lee Min-kyu, Jung Ho-yeon (24, Gwangju) is also in the running for his first selection. The 24-year-old shared a gold medal with Hwang at the last Asian Games in Hangzhou and has been in sensational form this season. With the midfield currently considered a weakness for the national team, Chung could be the answer. Unlike the Ventura era, it is likely that many players who were overlooked under Klinsmann will be called up. Overseas players such as central midfielder Baek Seung-ho (27-Birmingham City), who moved to Birmingham in the English Championship (second division), right fullback Kim Moon-hwan (29-Alduhail), and center back Cho Yoo-min (28-Sharjah), as well as “left-footed center back” Kwon Kyung-won (32), “Korean Messi” Lee Seung-woo (26-Isangsu Suwon FC), and “Song Star” Song Min-kyu (25-North Korea) are reportedly on Hwang’s mind.
Olympic-age players such as Hwang Jae-won (Daegu), Yang Hyun-joon (22-Celtic), Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City) and Kim Ji-su (21-Brentford) have reportedly been tipped for selection to the Olympic squad, which will convene on Sunday.