Categories: Asian FootballAustraliaSouth Korea

Paulo Bento names South Korea squad for Aussie friendly

Paulo Bento has mixed the old with the new for his squad against Australia and Uzbekistan

Coach Paulo Bento has named a 24-man squad for the friendly in Brisbane on November 17 and Uzbekistan three days later including three new faces. The majority of the players are based in Asia, though some do play in Europe.

Na Sang-ho, a forward at Gwangju FC; Kim Jung-min, a midfielder who plays with Austrian side FC Liefering; and Lee You-hyeon, a defender at Jeonnam Dragons, earn their first senior national team call-up. Na and Kim are members of the South Korean team that won the gold medal at the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia.

Along with the new blood, three new faces, Bento also selected veteran midfielders for the first time since he took the helm in August. Lee Chung-yong of VfL Bochum and Koo Ja-cheol of FC Augsburg returned to the national team, while Kwon Kyung-won of Tianjin Quanjian also was selected to the national team for the first time since June.

Koo Ja-cheol plays for Bundesliga side FC Augsburg, while Hwang Hee-chan plays for 2. Bundesliga outfit Hamburger SV. Meanwhile, Aussie Robbie Kruse looks set to face Vfl Bochum teammate Lee Chung-yong. Suk Hyun-jun plays for Ligue 1 side Stade de Reims.

Tottenham’s Son Heung-min will not go to Australia following an agreement between the Korea Football Association and the London club.

The full squad

Goalkeepers: Kim Seung-gyu (Vissel Kobe), Kim Jin-hyeon (Cerezo Osaka), Jo Hyeon-woo (Daegu FC)

Defenders: Kim Young-gwon (Guangzhou Evergrande), Park Joo-ho (Ulsan Hyundai), Lee Yong (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Hong Chul (Suwon Samsung Bluewings), Kim Min-jae (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Jung Seung-hyun (Kashima Antlers), Kwon Kyung-won (Tianjin Quanjian), Kim Moon-hwan (Busan IPark), Park Ji-soo (Gyeongnam FC), Lee You-hyeon (Jeonnam Dragons)

Midfielders: Lee Chung-yong (VfL Bochum), Koo Ja-cheol (FC Augsburg), Nam Tae-hee (Al-Duhail), Jung Woo-young (Al-Sadd), Hwang Hee-chan (Hamburger SV), Moon Seon-min (Incheon United), Kim Seung-dae (Pohang Steelers), Hwang In-beom (Daejeon Citizen), Lee Jin-hyun (Pohang Steelers), Na Sang-ho (Gwangju FC), Kim Jung-min (FC Liefering)

Forwards: Hwang Ui-jo (Gamba Osaka), Suk Hyun-jun (Reims)