Overseas Training Ends With Mexico

The Korean national soccer team will play an evaluation match against Mexico on February 16 at 12:30 p.m. (Korea time) at the Los Angeles Coliseum. The match will wrap up the Korean team’s 41-day overseas training camp.

The 2006 Germany World Cup will be Mexico’s 12th appearance in the World Cup main round. Ranked seventh in the world by FIFA, Mexico is considered to be the strongest team Korea will face during its overseas training.

In the three-forward system Korea employed on offense during its overseas training, Lee Dong-guk had the most success at the central striker position, while Lee Chun-su made his mark on the right. Park Ju-young and Jeong Gyeong-ho each took turns at the left forward position.

But the question remains: who will be Team Korea’s best men?

The team’s midfielder positions will likely be given to Baek Ji-hun, Yi Ho, and Kim Nam-il. Jo Won-hee and Kim Dong-jin have been sealing their claim on the left and right wings. A major experiment has been conducted at the center-back position throughout the overseas training period, however. Choi Jin-cheol, Kim Jin-gyu, Kim Sang-sik, Kim Yeong-cheol, and Yoo Gyeong-ryeol are all leading candidates for the position.

In other news, team manager Dick Advocaat hastily left for Holland yesterday on the news of his mother-in-law’s death. He left Pim Verbeek in charge of the Mexico match and left the training schedule for the remainder of the overseas camp behind in writing.

Won-Hong Lee bluesky@donga.com