South Korea consistently ranks among the top five teams in Asia and is a familiar name in the World Cup arena. The team boasts many stars playing in Europe, the most famous of whom is Son Heung-min. However, the Tottenham striker is not the only South Korean player to have made his mark in top-tier tournaments around the world .
Kim Min-jae
Kim Min-jae is currently the new idol of South Korean football. This player rose rapidly after just one season with Napoli. The Italian club paid €18 million to acquire him from Fenerbahce and then sold him to Bayern Munich for €50 million. The South Korean center-back was also a target for Manchester United in the 2023 summer transfer window.
Kim Min-jae has a tall and muscular physique, similar to European footballers. (Photo: Getty)
Kim Min-jae is a rare Asian defender who has achieved success in European football. His physique is a standout feature of the 26-year-old. His height of 1.90m and weight of 84kg give him an advantage in challenges, even against taller European players.
Facing Kim Min-jae is a significant challenge for Vietnamese attacking players like Nguyen Hoang Duc, Nguyen Van Toan, and Pham Tuan Hai.
Hwang In-beom
The 26-year-old midfielder plays a crucial role in the South Korean national team's style of play. He acts as a link between the defense and the attack.
Hwang In-beom is a highly skilled midfielder for the South Korean national team. (Photo: Getty)
Hwang In-beom's strengths lie in his ball control, passing, agility, and sound decision-making. Along with Park Yong-woo, the Red Star Belgrade player forms a preferred central midfield pairing for coach Jurgen Klinsmann, ensuring effective ball circulation and counter-attacking capabilities.
Vietnamese midfielders like Do Hung Dung and Nguyen Tuan Anh will find it very difficult to control the ball and compete in the midfield area against Hwang In-beom.
Hwang Hee-chan
Hwang Hee-chan scored the decisive goal that led to Manchester City's first defeat of the 2023/2024 Premier League season. The Wolverhampton star's forte is playing as a left-wing forward. He possesses impressive physical fitness and incredible speed. Even top Premier League center-backs – such as Virgil van Dijk – struggle against Hwang Hee-chan's dribbling and feints.
Hwang Hee-chan possesses a playing style that is strong in speed and physical strength. (Photo: Getty)
Players on the right flank of the Vietnamese team, such as Do Duy Manh and Truong Tien Anh, need to coordinate with each other to deal with Hwang Hee-chan. Facing this striker without the best full-backs will be a major challenge for Coach Troussier's defense.
Lee Kang-in
Lee Kang-in was the name most frequently mentioned by the South Korean media when Son Heung-min was injured. The striker, born in 2001, performed very well in the victory against Tunisia, replacing Son Heung-min and playing freely alongside center forward Cho Gue-sung.
Lee Kang-in was once considered a prodigy of South Korean football. (Photo: Getty)
The player, born in 2001, was once considered a prodigy of South Korean football. He played in Europe at the age of 10, wearing the youth jersey of Valencia before making his mark at Real Mallorca. Lee Kang-in was signed by PSG for 22 million euros in the summer 2023 transfer window.
Lee Kang-in is capable of playing in multiple attacking positions. Therefore, coach Jurgen Klinsmann can use him flexibly to create synergy with other attacking stars. The German coach is considering options to use both Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in in the lineup.
Son Heung-min
Son Heung-min is currently the best player in South Korean football. His class has been proven at Tottenham and in the Premier League for many years. This season, after Harry Kane's departure, Son shouldered the responsibility of scoring goals for the club and he started the season impressively with 6 goals in 8 matches.
Son Heung-min is the spearhead of South Korea's attack. (Photo: Getty)
In the South Korean national team, Son Heung-min is often deployed in a free role alongside striker Cho Gue-sung. However, the 1992-born player is not guaranteed to play in the match against Vietnam. The star suffered a minor injury and did not play a single minute against Tunisia. It is likely he will be brought on at a later point in the match.
Son Heung-min has faced several members of the Vietnamese national team during the 18th Asian Games. In that match five years ago, the Tottenham star didn't score, but he played outstandingly, showcasing his class and causing significant difficulties for the Vietnamese Olympic defenders – including Do Duy Manh.
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