South Korea's Ambition to Win the Asian Cup: A Detailed Look at the Team's Composition and Hopes
South Korea's Ambition to Win the Asian Cup: A Detailed Look at the Team's Composition and Hopes
Blog Article
The much-anticipated 2023 Asian Cup is about to commence, with every team gearing up for their final chance to iron out flaws and aim for top performances in the competition. Under the guidance of Jurgen Klinsmann, South Korea's team harbors a singular ambition for this Asian Cup: to exert every effort to secure the championship and reestablish their dominance in Asian football. Even as a recognized Asian football powerhouse, the Taeguk Warriors' absence of a victory in 64 years is noticeable, and the Korean public's yearning for a win is unmistakable.
According to the AFC's official data, the total market valuation of the 24 competing teams stands at 840 million euros, with an average team value of about 35.02 million euros, though only Japan, South Korea, Iran, and Australia have actually attained this level. Consequently, they are the frontrunners for the championship, with the ultimate victor expected to come from among them.
South Korea's roster comprises 26 players worth a total of 193 million euros, an impressive figure yet less than Japan's 317 million euros, suggesting a disparity in team depth. The team's strength is not lacking in prominent players, led by Asia's top talent Son Heung-min, but their second-tier players don't quite measure up to Japan's Samurai Blue in terms of strength. The slight inferiority in the strength of their substitutes might be a disadvantage in the longer format of the tournament.
Offensively, South Korea features an impressive lineup including Son Heung-min and Wolverhampton's Hwang Hee-chan, who has notably hit double figures in Premier League goals in just half a season and commands the team's top salary, reaching his peak performance this season. This Asian Cup is set to be a highlight for him. Players like Jeong Woo-yeong of here SC Freiburg and Hwang In-beom of Celtic also consistently deliver strong performances in Asian competitions, particularly the formidable striker Jeong, who is keen to make his mark.
In the midfield, Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain captures the spotlight with his remarkable performances in Ligue 1 and the Champions League, displaying solid skills, strategic gameplay, and aptitude in both offensive and defensive transitions, though he must control his temperament. Europe-based players such as Jeong Woo-young, Lee Jae-sung, Hwang Hee-chan, and Yang Hyun-jun also exhibit versatility, frequently switching roles during matches, contributing to the Taeguk Warriors' formidable and unpredictable nature. Having proven themselves in the World Cup qualifiers, the Asian Cup should relatively be a less daunting challenge for them.
Defensively, Kim Min-jae stands as the team's backbone, particularly after his move to Bayern Munich, where he has consistently demonstrated elite center-back skills, dominating European forwards and naturally excelling in Asian competitions. The 2023 South Korean Player of the Year, Kim Min-jae, aims to validate his award with a strong performance in the Asian Cup. Beyond him, the defense includes a mix of veterans and newer talents, including recognized names in China like Kim Young-gwon, Kim Jin-su, and Kim Tae-hwan, and K League players like Lee Ki-je and Jeong Seung-hyun, who lack international exposure, indicating a slight gap in skill levels.
Regarding goalkeepers, Kim Seung-gyu, Song Bum-keun, and Jo Hyeon-woo hold stable positions, though Jo Hyeon-woo is no longer the primary choice, which might lead to missing out on his remarkable makeup skills.
In summary, the South Korean squad possesses substantial star quality and influential players capable of controlling matches, yet their comparative lack of depth in reserves, especially against Japan, could be decisive in important encounters. To triumph over their primary rivals, South Korea might need to depend on the tactical wisdom of their head coach.