Seoul: For South Korea's two upcoming World Cup qualifying matches at home, head coach Hong Myung-bo expressed a preference for including more K League players in his midfield lineup. Ideally, he wanted a better balance between domestic players and those based overseas to foster healthy competition for playing time. However, Hong noted that K League players were overly eager to impress, which affected their performance.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Hong announced his 28-man squad for the matches against Oman on March 20 and Jordan on March 25. He mentioned that K League players were given ample consideration, as they do not face the jetlag challenges that overseas players encounter. Despite this, he was disappointed with the performance of some players who had previously been on the national team.
Hong observed changes in the players' performance compared to the previous year, noting unnecessary movements and a lack of decisiveness. He attributed these issues to overconfidence and an eagerness to impress. Assistant coach Kim Jin-kyu agreed with Hong's assessment during a press conference at the Korea Football Association House in Seoul. Hong emphasized that the doors are not closed for these players and encouraged improvements in their performance.
The current squad includes 12 overseas-based midfielders and one K League player, Lee Dong-gyeong from Gimcheon Sangmu FC, with a total of nine K Leaguers in the team. Earlier this year, Hong and his staff scouted South Korean players in Europe. Despite the challenges posed by injuries and inconsistent performances, Hong concluded that Europe-based players remain superior.
The overseas group is led by captain Son Heung-min, who recently scored a penalty goal for Tottenham Hotspur. Although Son's goal-scoring pace has slowed, Hong acknowledged his contributions and plans to discuss his role in the national team.
South Korea's matches will be played outside Seoul due to poor pitch conditions at Seoul World Cup Stadium. The Oman match will be held at Goyang Stadium, and the Jordan match at Suwon World Cup Stadium. These venue changes result in reduced gate revenue due to smaller stadium capacities.
Hong emphasized the importance of pitch quality, stating that it impacts both player performance and fan experience. He urged maintenance workers to ensure better pitch conditions to enhance the quality of play.