S. Korea sets rosters for World Cup qualifiers

SEOUL, May 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's football body added two fresh faces
Thursday to its 25-player roster for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against
Middle East football powerhouses as it seeks its seventh consecutive berth at
next year's tournament in South Africa.
Athletes playing in European leagues, including Park Ji-sung of English
Manchester United, Park Joo-young of French AS Monaco and Lee Young-pyo of German
Dortmund FC, will join the national squad later this month, the Korea Football
Association (KFA) said.
The team will go up against the United Arab Emirates on June 6 after a friendly
match with Oman on June 3.
South Korea ranks top among five nations in the regional group with 11 points at
the Asian preliminary round, followed by North Korea and Saudi Arabia tied at 10
points. Only the top two teams from each group advance to next year's finals.
"I chose players who are performing well and in peak condition," Coach Huh
Jung-moo told reporters. "I will win the ticket to the World Cup finals for the
seventh consecutive time."
Lee Keun-ho of Japan's Jubilo Iwata, who scored three goals in seven qualifiers,
and Kim Chi-woo of South Korea's FC Seoul, whose free kick goal led to the 1-0
victory against North Korea in the April 1 match, were also chosen by Huh.
Veteran midfielder Choi Tae-wook of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC, who has five goals
and four assists on his record this year in the K-League, made the team after a
three-year absence.
Huh also recruited emerging young players in the K-League, including rookie Yoo
Byung-soo of Incheon United and Yang Dong-hyung of Busan I-Park FC.
"These young players are improving rapidly and will contribute well to the team,"
Huh said.
The team will depart Seoul for Dubai on May 30 for the match against the UAE.
They will wrap up the qualifying round after taking on Saudi Arabia on June 10
and Iran on June 17, both in Seoul.
brk@yna.co.kr
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