Korea to shake up starting lineup in WC qualifier vs. Lebanon

The Korean national soccer team will have a new list of strikers for its third Asian qualifier for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil at Beirut’s Sports City Stadium at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday local time.

Coach Cho Kwang-rae will replace captain Park Chu-young (Arsenal), who cannot play due to suspension, and striker Ji Dong-won (Sunderland), who underperformed against the United Arab Emirates last Friday, with Son Heung-min (Hamburg) and Lee Keun-ho (Gamba Osaka).

Son and Lee, who often play for their respective pro teams, were more active against the UAE than Park and Ji, who usually sit on the bench for their English Premier League teams. The weak offense of Korea suddenly changed with the entry of Son and Lee in the second half of the UAE game.

The two subs targeted the UAE’s weakness with their quick feet and surprised defenders with quick shots. Lee scored late in the game and Son assisted Park’s score in the 2-0 victory.

Coach Cho put Son in as the attacking midfielder after soothing the player`s father, who opposed his son playing for the national squad when Son played for just a few minutes after flying to Korea from Germany. The position coordinates the speed of the offense in the midfield.

Son will play the role of shadow striker in the back and can shoot if he sees a scoring chance. This is the first time for the player to start since his national team debut against Syria in December last year.

Lee will play as the lone striker.

“Lebanon uses a four-back alignment but suddenly changed into a three-back with a thick layer of defenders. It barely misses a goal when crossing from the side. To break the Lebanese defense, Lee Keun-ho must shake them in the front and Son Heung-min must make a breakthrough in the middle,” Cho said.

Korea also made changes in other positions. Lee Seung-ki (Gwangju FC), who entered as an offensive midfielder in the second half against the UAE, was moved to left wing. He plays on either flank as an attacking midfielder for Gwangju, and will have the chance to score.

Lee Yong-rae (Suwon Bluewings) will play left-side defender and Koo Ja-cheol (Wolfsburg) has been moved from offensive to defensive midfielder. The change was to realign the shaky defense.

Korea is leading Group B with 10 points (three wins and a tie) over Lebanon (seven points) and Kuwait (five). With a win over Lebanon, the Taegeuk Warriors will qualify for the World Cup regardless of other results.

Experts say Korea should forget its 6-0 victory over Lebanon in the first qualifying round. Ranked 146th in the FIFA world rankings, Lebanon is the weakest countries among Korea (31st), Kuwait (96th) and the UAE (113rd) but is now a dark horse.

After German coach Theo Bucker took over Lebanon, the team has won two and drawn one game to rank second in the group.

yjongk@donga.com