Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Seoul: Korea Republic Olympic team manager Shin Tae-yong is confident that Suk Hyun-jun will justify his inclusion as one of the three ‘overage’ wildcards with a confident display upfront in Brazil after the FC Porto forward was included in the East Asian’s 18-man squad for the 2016 Summer Games.
"His power and concentration has got better," Shin said of the Portugal-based striker, who scored his fourth goal in ten matches for the senior Taeguek Warriors in the recent 2-1 friendly win over the Czech Republic.
"Suk can shake the opponent's defence, and I thought he can display powerful performances up front.”
Suk (pictured), who turns 25 on Wednesday, saw off the stiff competition from Seongnam FC forward Hwang Ui-jo to take one of the three wildcard places in Shin’s squad alongside Guangzhou R&F defender Jang Hyun-soo and 2015 AFC International Player of the Year Son Heung-min.
The trio represent three out of seven players called up who play their club football outside of Korea Republic, with the others being Austria-based Hwang Hee-chan, the Red Bull Salzburg striker who had an influential roll in the 2012 bronze-medallists qualifying campaign, Bayer Leverkusen’s Ryu Seung-woo and the Japan-based duo of Consadole Sapporo keeper Gu Sung-yun and Song Ju-hun, a defender with Mito Hollyhock.
"We may not have renowned players like we had in London but I want fans to have trust in our players and watch how they fulfil expectations,” former Seongnam Ilhwa Chunam coach Shin said while announcing his side for the 2016 Olympiad at a press conference in the South Korean capital.
"Unlike the FIFA World Cup (where you can field a 23-man squad), we can only take 18 players to the Olympics, so we had to select players who can play in multiple positions,” continued the 2010 AFC Champions League-winning coach.
The South Koreans, bronze medalists at the 2012 London Games, open their 2016 campaign on August 4 when they face Fiji in Salvador and will take on Germany three days later before facing defending champions Mexico on August 10 in Brasilia.
Korea Republic 2016 Olympic Games squad:
Goalkeepers
Kim Dong-jun Seongnam FC
Gu Sung-yun Consadole Sapporo (JPN)
Defenders
Sim Sang-min FC Seoul
Song Ju-hun Mito Hollyhock (JPN)
Choi Kyu-baek Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Jung Seung-hyun Ulsan Hyundai
Jang Hyun-soo Guangzhou R&F (CHN)
Lee Seul-chan Jeonnam Dragons
Park Dong-jin Gwangju FC
Midfielders
Park Yong-woo FC Seoul
Lee Chan-dong Gwangju FC
Lee Chang-min Jeju United
Moon Chang-jin Pohang Steelers
Ryu Seung-woo Bayer Leverkusen (GER)
Kwon Chang-hoon Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Forwards
Son Heung-min Tottenham Hotspur (ENG)
Suk Hyun-jun Porto (POR)
Hwang Hee-chan Red Bull Salzburg (AUT)
Photo: AFP