23인의 축구 국가대표팀 오스트리아로 출국
In the world of sports.
The 2018 world cup is right around the corner.
After testing their chemistry in a couple of friendlies at home, the South Korean men's football team travels to Austria.
Part of their final preparations ahead of the big stage in Russia.
Won Jung-hwan turns the spotlight to the new look taeguk warriors, and the challenge they face.
Head coach Shin Tae-yong and his 23 players left for their pre-World Cup camp in Leogang , Austria over the weekend after playing two friendly matches last week.
South Korea beat Honduras two-nil on Monday,… but lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina three-one in their final home World Cup warm-up match on Friday.
After their game against Bosnia,… Shin announced his final roster of 23 players ahead of FIFA's June 4th deadline.
South Korea's head coach had to cut three players, including midfielder Lee Chung-yong, from the provisional squad that he tried out during the two friendly matches against Honduras and Bosnia.
29-year-old Lee had played at the two previous tournaments, but couldn't seize the chance to appear in a third World Cup.
Kim Jin-su and Kwon Kyung-won were also cut from the provisional squad.
With Lee Chung-yong not making the cut,… Ki Sung-yueng, the captain, will be the only player on the squad making his third World Cup appearance.
As captain,… he expressed his determination to work hard for the players who weren't chosen for the squad and the players who missed out through injury.
"We will try our best to give everything we've got for the players who were dropped from the squad."
The 23-man squad includes 11 overseas-based players, and 12 domestic K-league players.
Among the chosen players, Lee Seung-woo, a 20-year-old attacking midfielder, is the youngest Korean player going to Russia for the tournament.
When the Taegeuk Warriors arrive in Austria,... they will have two more warm up games against Bolivia on Thursday and Senegal on June 11. And after the Senegal game,... they will head to their training ground in the Russian city of Saint Petersburg on June 12 before their first game against Sweden on June 18.
South Korea are the underdogs in Group F.
The other teams in South Korea's group are Germany, Sweden and Mexico..
Germany, the defending champions and the current world number one, are among the favorites to win the trophy at this year's World Cup.
South Korea, who are aiming for the round of 16, have made it through the group stage twice before, in 2002, and most recently in 2010.
Won Jung-hwan, Arirang News.
