Lee Kang-in flanked by Ko Young-joon in final…injured Uhm Won-sang benched
The long-awaited final is upon us, and the South Korean soccer team has been named as they go for gold against arch-rivals Japan.
Hwang Sun-hong’s side will face Japan in the men’s football final at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games on Sunday at the Huanglong Sports Center Stadium in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. They meet their ‘nemesis’ in the final gateway to the title.
It’s a rematch of the Jakarta-Palembang final five years ago. South Korea defeated Japan 2-1 to win the title.
South Korea is the reigning Asian Games champion with five titles and the most finals appearances (nine). South Korea, which has won two consecutive podium finishes since the last edition in Incheon in 2014, will be looking for its third straight Asian Games title.
With a gold medal earning them a military exemption, they will be highly motivated. South Korea has fielded its strongest team yet.
They have three wildcard spots for players under the age of 24: Baek Seung-ho, Park Jin-seop (Jeonbuk), and Seol Young-woo (Ulsan). They are joined by six overseas players: Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), Jung Woo-young (Stuttgart), Hong Hyun-seok (Ghent), Lee Han-beom (Mitwylan), Park Kyu-hyun (Dynamo), and Kim Tae-hyun (Vegalta Sendai).
Japan, on the other hand, did not draw any wildcards in preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Nine of the 22 players on the roster are collegiate players, and only two of the 13 professionals are overseas, Kane Sato (Werder Bremen 2nd Team-Germany) and Daiki Matsuoka (Gremio-Brazil).
While South Korea has the edge in power, Japan has the physical advantage. Unlike the other groups in the tournament, Japan was placed in a three-nation Group D and played only two games against Qatar and Palestine. That’s one less game than South Korea.
There are no excuses as the two teams go head-to-head with their respective advantages. The winner will be at the top of the podium with gold around their necks, while the loser will have to settle for silver.
South Korea will play a 4-2-3-1 formation. Cho Young-wook (Gimcheon Commerce) will lead the attack up front, with Lee Kang-in, Jung Woo-young, and Ko Young-joon (Pohang) supporting him in the second line. Baek Seung-ho and Jung Ho-yeon (Gwangju FC) will coordinate the play in the midfield. Park Kyu-hyun, Lee Han-beom, Park Jin-seop, and Hwang Jae-won (Daegu FC) will form the defense, with Lee Kwang-yeon (Gangwon FC) in goal.토토사이트
Key player Uhm Won-sang (Ulsan), who went down with an injury in the quarterfinal against Uzbekistan, has been left out of the starting lineup. He will start the game from the bench, but his quick recovery will be a key factor in his timing.
‘Ace’ Lee Kang-in will start, partnering for the first time with his teammate Ko Young-joon in the same position. Hwang will try a new combination for the final, having previously alternated between the two players. Lee Kang-in will fill the right flank spot left vacant by Uhm Won-sang, and will link up with Go Young-joon to lead the attack.