There’s been a lot of excitement and anticipation over Lee Kang-in’s inclusion in the Hangzhou Asian Games soccer roster, but another variable has made his early arrival even more difficult, as the team hasn’t yet finalized a loan agreement.안전놀이터
Lee Jung-chan is a reporter.
Lee Kang-in, who is considered a key resource for both Klinsmann’s national team and Hwang Sun-hong’s Asian Games squad, was expected to join Klinsmann during the A-match next month, just before the Asian Games.
“Coach Klinsmann strongly wants Lee Kang-in,” a source from the Korean Football Association told SBS, “and he will join the national team when it convenes in Europe on the 4th of next month.”
This is an embarrassment for Hwang Sun-hong, who had pushed for Lee’s early inclusion in hopes of Klinsmann’s consideration.
Initially, the Asian Games squad had planned to convene in Korea as a “full squad” on the 4th of next month, and then travel to Hangzhou for organizational purposes, which would have meant Lee’s arrival on the 18th, the day before their first group game.
Klinsmann, who has yet to win a game since taking over, is reportedly planning to call up two or three more Asian Games representatives, in addition to Lee, to make the squad as elite as possible.
At the Jakarta Asian Games five years ago, when the likes of Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan played, the overseas contingent came in earlier than expected and laid the groundwork for victory.
It’s time for better coordination between the two national teams and active mediation by the federation.