Kim Min-jae Excluded from Starting Lineup Due to Leg Injury... Hwang Hee-chan with Hamstring Injury Also on Bench
Cristiano Ronaldo Starts... First National Team Matchup with Son Heung-min
[Asia Economy Reporter Seo Mideum] In the must-win match against Portugal to advance to the round of 16, coach Paulo Bento has chosen Lee Kang-in as a starter.
Lee Kang-in (Mallorca) was included in South Korea's lineup announced about an hour before the final third match of Group H in the 2022 Qatar World Cup between South Korea and Portugal.
This is Lee Kang-in's first start since the Korea-Japan match last March (0-3 loss). Previously, he was brought on as a substitute in the second half against Uruguay in the first match (0-0 draw) and Ghana in the second match (2-3 loss). In the Ghana match, Lee Kang-in was substituted in at the 57th minute when South Korea was trailing 0-2 and created a chance for Jo Gyu-seong (Jeonbuk) to score a goal just one minute later.
Jo Gyu-seong, the first Korean player to score multiple goals in a World Cup, will start for the second consecutive match. Son Heung-min (Tottenham) will be positioned on the left wing of the attack, and Lee Jae-sung (Mainz) on the right wing. The midfield will be handled by Hwang In-beom (Olympiacos) and Jung Woo-young (Al Sadd).
The back four defensive line from left to right will be Kim Jin-su (Jeonbuk), Kwon Kyung-won (Gamba Osaka), Kim Young-gwon (Ulsan), and Kim Moon-hwan (Jeonbuk). The goal will be guarded by Kim Seung-gyu (Al Shabab).
Kim Min-jae (Napoli), who suffered a right calf injury in the match against Uruguay, was excluded from the starting lineup.
For Portugal, 'superstar' Cristiano Ronaldo will start. Son Heung-min (Tottenham) will face his 'idol' Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr) in their first A-match encounter.
Portugal's attack will be led by Ronaldo, Ricardo Horta (Braga), and Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain). The midfielders are Jo?o M?rio (Benfica), R?ben Neves (Wolverhampton), and Matheus Nunes (Wolverhampton).
The back four defensive line will be Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Ant?nio Silva (Benfica), Pepe (Porto), and Jo?o Cancelo (Manchester City).
The goal will be guarded by Diogo Costa (Porto).
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