German-Born Jens Castrop Makes History in South Korea World Cup Squad
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| Castrop becomes first dual-heritage player in Korea’s World Cup party |
The Taegeuk Warriors will play friendlies vs Trinidad & Tobago and El Salvador in Utah ahead of their 11th consecutive World Cup appearance.
Hwang In-beom makes the squad despite an ankle injury sustained at Feyenoord in March...
German-born Jens Castrop made history on Saturday as the first player of dual heritage named in a South Korean World Cup squad. He was included in Hong Myung-bo’s 26-man group for this year’s tournament.
The Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder has a German father and Korean mother. After playing for Germany at youth level, he switched to South Korea last year and has earned five caps since.
Son Heung-min will captain the side. South Korea’s dependence on his goals was clear, with only two other strikers called up - Oh Hyeon-gyu and Cho Gue-sung. Son has scored 54 times for his country.
Oh has been in strong form for Turkish club BeÅŸiktaÅŸ but has six international goals. Cho has netted 10 times for South Korea.
“He has not played much recently, so I would not say that his match sharpness is fully back yet,” Hong told a news conference in Seoul.
“We expect to raise that match sharpness through the two games we will play once we go to the United States.
“Our coach is putting the players through high-intensity training, and Hwang has completed the full workload. So we are somewhat reassured by that.”
There weren’t many surprises in the squad. Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in and Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae both made the cut, along with goalkeepers Jo Hyeon-woo and Kim Seung-gyu, who will compete for the starting spot.
Midfielder Hwang In-beom is set to add to his 71 caps at the World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico, even though he’s been dealing with an ankle injury at Feyenoord since March.
The Taegeuk Warriors have two friendlies lined up against Trinidad & Tobago and El Salvador in Utah before heading to their 11th consecutive World Cup.
South Korea were drawn into Group A with co-hosts Mexico, the Czech Republic, and South Africa. They open their campaign against the Czechs in Guadalajara on June 11.
South Korea Squad
Goalkeepers: Kim Seung-Gyu, Song Bum-Keun, Jo Hyeon-Woo
Defenders: Kim Moon-Hwan, Kim Min-Jae, Kim Tae-Hyeon, Park Jin-Seop, Seol Young-Woo, Jens Castrop, Lee Ki-Hyeok, Lee Tae-Seok, Lee Han-Beom, Cho Yu-Min.
Midfielders: Kim Jin-Gyu, Bae Jun-Ho, Paik Seung-Ho, Yang Hyun-Jun, Eom Ji-Sung, Lee Kang-In, Lee Dong-Gyeong, Lee Jae-Sung, Hwang In-Beom, Hwang Hee-Chan.
Forwards: Son Heung-Min, Oh Hyeon-Gyu, Cho Gue-Sung
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