It is time for Lee Kang-in (23, Paris Saint-Germain) to shine again.
Lee Kang-in’s left foot aims at the Palestinian goal. He is set to play against Palestine in the first Group B match of the third qualifying round of the 2026 FIFA North-China World Cup at Seoul World Cup Stadium at 8 p.m. on the 5th. Unless something unexpected happens, Lee Kang-in is expected to start and be at the center of Hong Myung-bo’s attack.
He joined the national team amid a steep rise. Lee Kang-in scored consecutive goals at the opening and second rounds of the 2024-25 French League 1 for Paris Saint-Germain. He scored a total of three goals in the league last season, but he has already scored two goals in the opening three games. As he has played as a substitute in the last two consecutive games, he is under less pressure from his physical stamina. It is no exaggeration to say that he is in the best condition among European strikers.
Lee Kang-in has consistently played a role of “solver” in the national team. In fact, Lee Kang-in has been cited as his biggest strength in sharp passes that catch his opponent off guard. This was why the focus was on helping other strikers, including Son Heung-min (Tottenham), to maximize their scoring ability. However, more and more scenes have been shaken in the national team recently.
Lee Kang-in scored in both the second consecutive World Cup qualifiers against Singapore (2 goals) and China (1 goal, final goal) under the interim coach Kim Do-hoon in June. He has six goals and two assists in 11 A matches held this year. He has the second highest number of goals among the national team players after Son Heung-min (7 goals) during the same period. This is why Lee Kang-in became at the center of the national team’s attack at once.
In the match against Palestine, much attention is paid to Lee Kang-in’s left foot. Palestine, whose FIFA ranking is 96th, 73 spots lower than Korea (23rd), is likely to play defensively. In order to break down the dense defense, it is necessary to eventually make a crack through mid-range shooting. Just in time, Lee Kang-in is shaking the net with bold shots from both the national team and his team. More expectations are bound to be placed on his left foot.
The key is how Hong Myung-bo, who will return to the national team for the first time in 10 years, will use Lee Kang-in. Former German coach Jurgen Klinsmann or former interim coaches Hwang Sun-hong and Kim Do-hoon classified Lee as a right flanker. He is a left-footed player, but on the right, Lee mainly penetrated into the center and led the attack. 메이저사이트
This Hong Myung-bo team has a lot of side attack resources. In addition, Lee Kang-in’s use may be different in that he can play various positions. The key is that Lee Kang-in’s skills, which have been steep recently, should be maximized. If Lee Kang-in scores in the match against Palestine, he will score three consecutive A matches. It is the second time since October and November last year.