Cymru will prepare for a huge game against Latvia on Monday night with the visit of South Korea to the Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday as the two teams meet for the first time in their history.
South Korea sit 28th in the FIFA world rankings, seven places higher than Cymru (35).
Cymru Squad:
Rob Page announced his 25-man squad on Wednesday 30th August for the friendly v South Korea and Monday night’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Latvia.
No big surprises in the squad, but interesting to note that it includes four goalkeepers and that Joe Morrell and Kieffer Moore are in even though they are suspended from playing against Latvia. Morrell also suspended from playing against Croatia!
Absences from the previous squad – Dan James, Ollie Cooper, Luke Harris and Joe Low. Dan James out due to injury. This is the first Cymru camp that James has missed since he won his first cap back in November 2018 (losing 1-0 v Albania). Injury doubts – Wayne Hennessey (still recovering from knee surgery) Brennan Johnson (reported to have suffered a hamstring injury). Tom Lockyer had to pull out of the squad with a thigh injury on Monday morning.
South Korea squad:
The Korean Football Association (KFA) announced on Monday August 28th the list of 25 names to face Wales and Saudi Arabia in September under head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. The squad has a handful of prominent players, including Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min, Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae and Mainz 05 midfielder Lee Jaesung.
Form:
Wales have only one win in the last ten or so games. That win came at home against Latvia in March.
South Korea have won three of their last ten games but are on a pretty bad run at the moment since the notable 2-1 win v Portugal in the World Cup – 5 games without a win. But, a better record than Cymru!
It hasn’t been the best of starts for Jürgen Klinsmann, as the new manager of South Korea, but he is still in his experimental phase with the team. 4 games, 2 draws and two losses.
The Team:
Rob Page will be expected to make a number of changes being a fantastic opportunity to experiment with players such as Josh Sheehan who has been playing well for his club, Bolton Wanderers in League One.
Page speaking with Sioned Dafydd on Wednesday afternoon – “There will be changes already planned for half time, the hour mark, for 80 minutes, because of the game on Monday which is the all-important one for us.”
There may be an opportunity to shine for a few players who haven’t won caps to date, namely Tom King, Morgan Fox and Liam Cullen.
