A healthy Hwang In-beom (Tsubena Zvezda) returns.
Midfielder Hwang In-bum was a “crown prince” under former coach Paulo Bento. He grew up with Bento’s trust and became a mainstay of the national team. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he played a key midfield role and helped the team reach the round of 16 for the first time in 12 years.
After the arrival of Jürgen Klinsmann, Hwang continued to be called up to the national team. However, he did not play in October. Hwang was named in the starting lineup for the first match of the October A match against Tunisia (4-0), but suddenly felt discomfort in his left thigh during warm-ups. He also missed the 6-0 win over Vietnam.
Despite Hwang’s absence, the South Korean team managed to pull off a multi-goal victory in both games. The team started with a new combination in the midfield. Park Yong-woo (Al Ain) was replaced by Hong Hyun-seok (KAA Ghent) and Lee Sun-min (Gwangju FC). With Klinsmann at the helm, new faces and internal competition are inevitable.
Hwang In-beom was also called up by Klinsmann for this call-up. He is ready to make his mark. He is 100 percent fit. Since last September, he has also gained experience by playing in the UEFA Champions League, which is a dream come true. 무지개토토
At a press conference on the 13th, Hwang In-bum said, “Internal competition is inevitable, and watching the team play well from the outside has given me a lot of motivation. I was happy to see the team become stronger,” he said, emphasizing that “no player is selected for the national team by default. You have to prove why you are called up to the national team often.”
In the center of the second line, Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) has been a favorite of Klinsmann. He is an all-rounder who can play in the center and on the flanks. He is also heavily involved in ball-keeping and distribution, which makes him a viable competitor for Hwang In-Beom, who is primarily a ‘playmaker’ for the national team. Hong Hyun-seok, who played a key role in the gold medal-winning performance at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games, also contributes with his link-up play and excellent passing.
He will also have to contend with Park Yong-woo and Lee Sun-min if he drops to the third line. It’s also time for Hwang In-beom, the “crown prince” of his predecessor’s team.