On the 14th, the South Korean national soccer team announced its squad for the 9th and 10th rounds of the World Cup qualifiers. For the Korean national soccer team, which has already locked up its ticket to the World Cup, the immediate goal is to improve its FIFA world ranking. According to the schedule, South Korea will face Iran at the World Cup Stadium in Seoul on the 24th, and the hosts UAE at the Al Maktom Stadium in Dubai, UAE on the 29th.
Notably, the South Korean roster did not feature two Chinese Super League stars, Kang Sang-woo and Son Jun-ho. Head coach Bento explained this at a press conference after the list was announced.
Bento said, "I want to provide more options for the two key positions of midfield and wing-backs. Even though Kang Sang-woo and Son Jun-ho failed to make the cut this time, we will continue to monitor their performances and give them opportunities in the future."
Speaking about the much-anticipated final roster for the World Cup, Bento revealed that the principle of selection for the Korean team has not changed. He emphasized that the team will finalize its roster through training sessions in March, June and September, as well as warm-up matches.
Responding to South Korea's long history of being the underdogs against Iran, Bento said, "Iran is a formidable opponent who is not only tactically and physically superior, but also has a group of experienced players. We will do our best to beat Iran and finish first in the group."
