Hiddink’s Team Left to Europe Yesterday

`Hiddink’s 10th division` of the Korean national soccer team has begun its 23-day European field training.

20 individuals, including head coach Guus Hiddink, coaching staff, and `domestic players`, left to Spain on the 5th. They will begin the full-scale preparation for the World Cup’s final 16.

Apart from the players departed on the day, 5 Japan-based players like Yoon Jung-Hwan (Cerezo Osaka), Choi Yong-Soo (Ichihara), Hwang Sun-Hong and Yoo Sang Chul (both Kashiwa Reysol), and Park Ji-Sung (Kyoto Purple Sanga) will join the training session after the 18th. 3 European players, including Ahn Jung-Hwan (Perugia), Sul Gi-Hyun (Anderlecht), Shim Jae-Won (Frankfurt) will also join the team locally.

Hiddink announced that this training would mainly focus on physical strength as usual, by saying that “there will be an intense physical training session in the schedule.” He also showed his intention of bringing back Hong Myeong-Bo (Pohang Steelers), who had been excluded from the team for the past 8 months, as the midfield- defender. It would also mean a change in the team’s defense line, which operated with Song Jong-Kuk (Pusan) at the center.

During the training schedule, the Korean national team will have 3 evaluation matches with Tunisie (13th. Tunisie), Finland (20th. Spain), and Turkey (27th. Germany).

Sung-Won Joo swon@donga.com