Korea to face off Lebanon in Asian qualifying match of World Cup

"We will regain confidence in play through the national team’s matches."

This is the commitment made by members of the Korean national soccer team, who will have a showdown with Lebanon for its seventh match of the second Asian regional qualifying round for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The national team includes a number of strikers who have scored few goals, and players who have seen their performance deteriorate because they were given few chances to play in matches in their teams of foreign professional leagues. These players vow to regain performance and playing capacity in the match against Lebanon, which is weaker than Team Korea. In past matches, Korea has dominated by posting eight wins, two draws and one loss versus Lebanon.

Strikers Hwang Ui-jo (Seongnam) and Lee Jeong-hyeop (Ulsan) played two matches in the K League, but have had no chance to score. “I will use the match (27) against Lebanon and an exhibition match against Thailand on Sunday as opportunities to improve my performance and capacity,” Hwang said. “I will overcome ‘the obstacle’ of close marking by opponent teams’ fullbacks.”

Lee has yet to regain performance and capacity after recovering from his injury. He said, “I will seek to score a goal with commitment and desperation that I will survive in the national team.” Coach Uli Stielike said, “Suk Hyun-joon (FC Porto) will not be able to play as starting member in the match against Lebanon because he could not exercise adequately due to busy schedule, and only joined the team on Tuesday.” As a result, Hwang Ui-jo or Lee Jeong-hyeop will likely start as frontline strikers in the game against Lebanon.

Many players active in foreign leagues, who are considered pillars of the national team, have lost sense of play in actual matches. Lee Chung-yong with Crystal Palace in the English Premier League has had no chance to play in six consecutive matches. “The player is also responsible for not having chances to play in matches," Lee said. "I will display good performance as a national team member before continuing momentum in the EPL.” Ki Sung-yueng (Swansea City) is also having a hard time recovering conditions after suffering minor injuries.

Team Korea already confirmed its advance to the final Asian regional qualifying round of the World Cup soccer finals. Hence, the match against Lebanon provides a golden opportunity for players who are in slump to regain their performance and capacities without feeling big mental burden.

Coach Stielike said, “I will check performance levels by also giving players who are not key players in their team to play in the matches.” Korea will seek to break the record of most consecutive wins in matches without a lost goal (seven games) ever, and most consecutive games without any score (eight matches including 0-0 draw) in the match against Lebanon and the exhibition match against Thailand.

정윤철기자 trigger@donga.com