S. Korean Olympic football coach laments about wild card situation

By Joo Kyung-don

INCHEON, May 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korean men's Olympic football head coach Shin Tae-yong on Monday lamented about his player selection for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Games, saying things aren't going as he'd hoped.

The men's Olympic football tournament of 16 nations is open to players under the age of 23, but teams can also field up to three players who are over the age limit, known as "wild cards." Shin has already said he would use Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min as one of the three wild cards, and has hinted he'd use two remaining wild card spots on defensive backs.

But the head coach said that he is frustrated about the wild card selection as nothing has been confirmed. Since Olympic football is not organized by FIFA, professional clubs are not mandated to release players over 23 for the Olympics. Shin has been contacting clubs about their South Korean players, but apparently he hasn't received a green light from the clubs.

"At this moment, the wild card situation isn't going as I'd expected," Shin said. "We originally tried to boost our defense, but since our talks with clubs aren't going well, there could be a change of plans."

Shin said he'd planned to reveal the wild cards in advance of announcing the 18-man final roster. However, the 45-year-old hinted that the names of players over 23 and the remaining 15 players can also be unveiled at the same time. The final squad is scheduled to be announced on June 27.

Shin said that he has high expectations for Son, who turns 24 in July.

"Our young players should feel comfortable around him (Son) and Son also should boost confidence for his teammates," Shin said. "If he mingles with our squad, there will be a big synergy."

While Shin is having a headache over the wild cards, his team will enter a four-nation invitational tournament this week to test those who are under 23. The tournament, which runs from Thursday to next Monday, is designed as a warm-up for the Rio Games and has invited teams that already qualified for the quadrennial event in Brazil.

South Korea will first host Nigeria on Thursday at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. The hosts will then face Honduras on Saturday at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, north of Seoul, before they wrap up the tournament next Monday against Denmark at Bucheon Stadium in Bucheon, 24 kilometers west of Seoul.

Shin said he is keeping close eyes on all 23 players he called up last week. Although some of them will be dropped for the final roster, Shin said each player should put his efforts to get the selection and that he hoped the players can all gain confidence through the tournament. His team started training at Incheon Munhak auxiliary stadium on Monday.

"There will be no surprise selection for the final squad," Shin said. "But you never know who will be on the final roster from these players."

Shin said his plan for the final roster is almost done, but there is always a concern. He added that the squad should be formed with a more "defense-oriented" mindset because tight schedule of the Olympics can burden young defenders. South Korea, making their eighth straight Olympic appearance, are paired with Germany, Fiji and Mexico in Group C.

"We should think about the players' possible injuries and decline in their conditions," he said. "We should bring those who can fill the void on defense when our core defenders are injured."

kdon@yna.co.kr
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