Advocaat in confident mood
11 May 2006 - 22:24:08
South Korea coach Dick Advocaat has named three English based players in his squad for the World Cup finals.
Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung, Tottenham full-back Lee Young-pyo and Wolves forward Seol Ki-hyun will spearhead the Koreans' efforts to reach the last 16 in Germany.
Advocaat has a lot to live up to after his predecessor Guus Hiddink steered the team to the semi-finals in 2002, but is confident he has the players to reach the knockout stages of the tournament.
"We think we have a very balanced squad and one that can surprise a lot of people in the world," said Advocaat.
"We are capable of at least the second round. We have players who have already played in the World Cup finals."
South Korea have been drawn against France, Switzerland and Togo in Group G.
South Korea Squad:
Goalkeepers: Lee Woon-jae (Suwon Samsung), Kim Young-kwang (Chunnam Dragons), Kim Yong-dae (Busan I.Park).
Defenders: Lee Young-pyo (Tottenham), Kim Sang-shik (Seongnam Ilhwa), Cho Won-hee (Suwon Samsung), Kim Young-chul (Seongnam Ilhwa), Choi Jin-cheul (Chonbuk Hyundai), Kim Jin-kyu (Jubilo Iwata), Kim Dong-jin (FC Seoul), Song Chong-gug (Suwon Samsung).
Midfielders: Park Ji-sung (Manchester United), Kim Nam-il (Suwon Samsung), Lee Ho (Ulsan Hyundai), Baek Ji-hoon (FC Seoul), Lee Eul-yong (Trabzonspor), Kim Do-heon (Seongnam Ilhwa).
Strikers: Ahn Jung-hwan (Duisburg), Seol Ki-hyun (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Cho Jae-jin (Shimizu S-Pulse), Chung Kyung-ho (Gwangju Sangmu), Lee Chun-soo (Ulsan Hyundai), Park Chu-young (FC Seoul).