Yongin: South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo has announced his intention to test new defensive players during the upcoming East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Football Championship hosted in South Korea. The tournament, which features teams from China, Hong Kong, and Japan, begins on Monday and provides an opportunity for Hong to experiment with his squad ahead of the FIFA World Cup next year.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the EAFF tournament is not part of FIFA's official international match calendar, allowing clubs to retain their players. As a result, Hong has selected 23 players from South Korea's K League 1 for his 26-man squad. Hong emphasized that the tournament will serve as a platform to evaluate potential World Cup players, particularly within his defensive lineup.
Hong's squad includes ten defenders, five of whom lack prior experience with the senior national team. Park Jin-seob, the most experienced defender at 29 years old with six international caps, has been appointed vice-captain. Park expressed the team's determination to make the most of this opportunity and aims to win each match and secure the tournament trophy.
South Korea, ranked 23rd by FIFA, is second only to Japan in the tournament standings, with China and Hong Kong trailing as underdogs. Hong cautioned against underestimating the competition, noting that each team presents unique challenges. Japan's coach, Hajime Moriyasu, echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of using the tournament as preparation for the World Cup.
Japan's Yuto Nagatomo, aged 38, aims to mentor the team's younger players, while China's head coach Dejan Djurdjevic sees the EAFF event as a chance for team reform amid a period of transition. Chinese forward Zhang Yuning highlighted the significance of integrating new players into the national team.
Ashley Westwood of Hong Kong acknowledged the disparity in team strengths but emphasized the importance of gaining experience against high-caliber opponents. Defender Lee Ka Ho, set to make his international debut, intends to seize the opportunity to secure future national team call-ups.