Absence of Key Players and Tough Competition Raise Hurdles for U-23 Squad

Courtesy of Korea Football Association

South Korea's U-23 men's football team is set to participate in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup, serving as the qualifiers for the Paris Olympics. Coached by Hwang Sun-hong, the team will compete in Group B alongside the United Arab Emirates, China, and Japan.

The tournament, featuring 16 teams, offers Olympic berths to the top three nations, while the fourth-place team will contend in an intercontinental playoff against Guinea later this year.
 

▲ Korean players train for the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Asian Cup / Courtesy of Korea Football Association

Korea's campaign begins with a match against the United Arab Emirates at 6:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha, Qatar. This will be followed by encounters against China on Friday and Japan the following Monday.

With four groups of four, the top two teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals, scheduled for April 25 and 26. Semifinals are slated for April 29, with the third-place match and final scheduled for May 2 and May 3, respectively. 

▲ Korean players train for the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Asian Cup / Courtesy of Korea Football Association

Korea has a rich history in Olympic football, participating in every tournament since 1992. However, this year's qualification poses challenges, particularly in light of recent difficulties against Japan across all age groups and the physical prowess of China's team.

Moreover, the absence of key players adds complexity to Korea's campaign. Notably, Yang Hyun-jun, Kim Ji-soo, and Bae Jun-ho have been withheld by their clubs, leaving only Kim Min-woo and Jeong Sang-bin available from the overseas-based group.

▲ Korea head coach Hwang Sun-hong(left), gives instruction to his players during a training session for the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Asian Cup / Courtesy of Korea Football AssociationDue to the AFC tournament's scheduling outside of FIFA's international match calendar, clubs are not obligated to release their Asian players. Coach Hwang acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding player availability and prepared contingency plans.

Among domestic-based players, FC Seoul midfielder Paik Sang-hoon overcame a knee injury to join the national team later in the preparation phase.

Coach Hwang remains optimistic despite the challenges, emphasizing the team's resilience and determination to secure an Olympic berth.

Sayart

Blue YIM, yimyoungseo1010@naver.com