South Korea can 'surprise' at cup

SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korea coach Dick Advocaat named 10 World Cup veterans Thursday in his squad for the finals in Germany and hopes to repeat the semifinal showing of four years ago.

"We have a very balanced squad and a squad that can surprise a lot of people in the world," Dutch-born Advocaat said at the squad announcement.

Manchester United's Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo of Tottenham headline the 23-man squad that includes most of South Korea's Europe-based players.

Veteran Ahn Jung-hwan of German side Duisburg will spearhead the offense with Seol Ki-hyun of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Cho Jae-jin of Japan's Shimizu S-Pulse and domestic players Chung Kyung-ho, Lee Chun-soo and Park Chu-young.

Ahn, 30, rose to stardom at the 2002 World Cup, co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, with his dramatic golden goal that sent fancied Italy home after the second round.

One surprise inclusion was Song Chong-gug playing for domestic K-League's Suwon Samsung.

Song, 27, was a member of the country's 2002 squad, but has not been included in the national team since Advocaat took it over last September.

South Korea stunned the world in 2002 with its amazing run to the semifinals, beating Portugal, Italy and Spain on the way.

It was the first time an Asian squad made it so far since North Korea reached the quarterfinals in England in 1966.

The South Korean squad, ranked 30th by FIFA, will play France, Switzerland and Togo in group G at Germany.

Advocaat included 13 players who will make their first appearance at the sport's showpiece contest, scheduled for June 9-July 9 in Germany.

In the run-up to the finals, the Koreans will play four warmups against Senegal, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Norway and Ghana.

South Korea Squad:

Goalkeepers: Lee Woon-jae (Suwon Samsung), Kim Young-kwang (Chunnam Dragons), Kim Yong-dae (Busan I.Park)

Defenders: Lee Young-pyo (Tottenham), Kim Sang-shik (Seongnam Ilhwa), Cho Won-hee (Suwon Samsung), Kim Young-chul (Seongnam Ilhwa), Choi Jin-cheul (Chonbuk Hyundai), Kim Jin-kyu (Jubilo Iwata), Kim Dong-jin (FC Seoul), Song Chong-gug (Suwon Samsung)

Midfielders: Park Ji-sung (Manchester United), Kim Nam-il (Suwon Samsung), Lee Ho (Ulsan Hyundai), Baek Ji-hoon (FC Seoul), Lee Eul-yong (Trabzonspor), Kim Do-heon (Seongnam Ilhwa)

Strikers: Ahn Jung-hwan (Duisburg), Seol Ki-hyun (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Cho Jae-jin (Shimizu S-Pulse), Chung Kyung-ho (Gwangju Sangmu), Lee Chun-soo (Ulsan Hyundai), Park Chu-young (FC Seoul).

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