Is South Korea a worthy opponent without Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham)?
The Chinese Football Association dismissed coach Branko Ivankovic on the 14th after the Chinese national team failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America. On the 20th, China announced that Dejan Jurjevic, who was in charge of the U20 Chinese national team, would be promoted to head coach of the senior national team.
Interestingly, Jurjevic's debut match is against South Korea. China will face host South Korea in the first match of the 2025 EAFF E-1 Championship (East Asian Cup) on July 7 at Yongin Mir Stadium.
The Korea Football Association announced the roster for the East Asian Cup on the 23rd. The East Asian Cup, which does not take place during the A-match period, was primarily composed of K League and J League players. European players can participate in consultation with their clubs, but none were selected.
Coach Hong Myung-bo formed the squad with 20 K League players and 3 J League players out of the 23-player roster. Existing national team members Jo Hyun-woo, Kim Joo-seong, Lee Tae-seok, Kim Jin-kyu, Park Jin-seob, Jeon Jin-woo, Moon Sun-min, Lee Dong-kyung, and Oh Se-hoon were selected.
A total of 7 players, including Kim Tae-hyun (Kashima), Bae Jun-soo (Gwangju), Seo Myung-gwan (Ulsan), Kim Tae-hyun (Jeonbuk), Seo Min-woo (Gangwon), Lee Seung-won (Gimcheon), and Lee Ho-jae (Pohang), were selected for the A national team for the first time. Na Sang-ho (Machida) returns to the national team after two years since being called up in June 2023.
Although European players are absent, South Korea is a force that cannot be disregarded. However, the new coach's view in China is different. The simple calculation is that it is manageable without Son Heung-min.
Chinese football media 'Shoot China' evaluated that "there is no Son Heung-min in South Korea's East Asian Cup roster. There is no mandatory participation clause for overseas players. There are 20 from the K League and 3 from the J League. China can compete with them."
As a player to watch, they pointed out Na Sang-ho, who played in the Qatar World Cup. The media noted, "Na Sang-ho has not been selected for the national team since June 2023. He has scored 4 goals this season in the J League."
#EAFF E1 Championship men's national football team roster
GK: Kim Dong-heon (Incheon United), Lee Chang-geun (Daejeon Hana Citizen), Jo Hyun-woo (Ulsan HD)
DF: Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon Hana Citizen), Kim Joo-seong (FC Seoul), Kim Tae-hyun (Kashima Antlers, Japan), Kim Tae-hyun (Jeonbuk Hyundai), Bae Jun-soo (Gwangju FC), Seo Myung-gwan, Jo Hyun-taek (all from Ulsan HD), Park Seung-wook, Lee Tae-seok (both from Pohang Steelers)
MF: Kim Jin-kyu, Park Jin-seob, Jeon Jin-woo (all from Jeonbuk Hyundai), Kim Bong-soo (Daejeon Hana Citizen), Na Sang-ho (Machida Zelvia, Japan), Seo Min-woo (Gangwon FC), Moon Sun-min (FC Seoul), Lee Dong-kyung, Lee Seung-won (both from Gimcheon Sangmu)
FW: Oh Se-hoon (Machida Zelvia, Japan), Lee Ho-jae (Pohang Steelers)
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