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Hangzhou Asian Games men’s soccer team roster announced
Group draw in Hangzhou on March 27

South Korean soccer phenom Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) will compete at the Hangzhou Asian Games as the country seeks a third consecutive gold medal.

Head coach Hwang Sun-hong held a press conference at the Football Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Thursday at 2 p.m. to announce the final 22-man roster for the men’s national soccer team at the Hangzhou Asian Games.

The Asian Games are organized by age group, but the Hangzhou Games will be played at the Under-24 (U24) level rather than the Under-23 level due to the one-year postponement of the tournament in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The most prominent name is undoubtedly Lee Kang-in. After moving to French club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) this summer, Lee will be competing at the Asian Games for the first time in his career and will be looking to win a gold medal.

Lee was named to the Korean national team at the Tokyo Olympics, where he and Kim Hak-Bum-ho were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Mexico.

Lee is eager to compete in the Asian Games, but he has yet to finalize a deal to play in the tournament. He recently moved to PSG and is still in talks with his new club.

“There was some talk with (former team) Mallorca. (But) with Lee Kang-in’s recent transfer to PSG, we have to talk again. Still, the player’s will is strong, so we are thinking positively.”

The wildcards for the 24-plus category went to defender Seol Young-woo (Ulsan), central defender Park Jin-seop and central midfielder Baek Seung-ho (Jeonbuk). Veteran striker Lee In-gyu (Ulsan), who was considered a candidate, was a last-minute addition, but was not selected.

“All three are proven players in the K League,” said Hwang. We have high expectations for them,” Hwang said.

Overseas strikers such as Oh Hyun-gyu (Celtic) and Oh Se-hoon (Shimizu Pulse), who had attracted interest, were left off the roster. K League 1’s top scorer, Lee In-gyu (Ulsan), also tried to join the roster as a wild card, but was unsuccessful. Instead, K League 2 players Park Jae-yong (Anyang) and Ahn Jae-joon (Bucheon) were given the opportunity.

“We contacted all the strikers,” Hwang said, “including those overseas. “Park Jae-yong and Ahn Jae-joon are both quick to absorb and have good development speed. They have the ability to compete as strikers. If they perform well in the main competition, they will show a good performance.”

In addition, Ko Young-jun (Pohang), Uhm Won-sang (Ulsan), Song Min-kyu (Jeonbuk), and Lee Han-beom (Seoul), who have all excelled in the K League, and Park Kyu-hyun (Dynamo Dresden), Jung Woo-young (Stuttgart), and Hong Hyun-seok (Ghent), who are playing in Europe, were also named.

Hwang plans to hold small-scale training sessions in late July and early August with players from the K League who can be called up ahead of the tournament.

Meanwhile, the draw for the main group stage of the Asian Games will be held on March 27 in Hangzhou, China.

Men’s soccer final roster for the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games (22 players)

△GK = Lee Kwang-yeon (Gangwon), Min Sung-joon (Incheon), Kim Jung-hoon (Jeonbuk)

DF = Seol Young-woo (Ulsan), Park Kyu-hyun (Dynamo Dresden? Germany), Lee Jae-ik (Seoul Eland), Lee Han-beom (Seoul), Park Jin-seop (Jeonbuk), Lee Sang-min (Seongnam), Hwang Jae-won (Daegu), Choi Jun (Busan)

MF = Jung Ho-yeon (Gwangju), Hong Hyun-seok (Ghent? Belgium), Baek Seung-ho, Song Min-gyu (Jeonbuk), Jung Woo-young (Stuttgart? Germany), Ko Young-joon (Pohang), Lee Kang-in 토토사이트 (Paris Saint-Germain? France), Uhm Won-sang (Ulsan), Cho Young-wook (Gimcheon)

FW = Park Jae-yong (Anyang), Ahn Jae-joon (Bucheon)