The Hong Myung-bo team is in a state of emergency. The defensive linchpin Kim Min-jae (29, Bayern Munich) collapsed due to injury. A substitute player is urgently needed.

The national soccer team, led by coach Hong Myung-bo, will face Oman on the 20th at Goyang Stadium in the '2026 North and Central American World Cup Asian Third Qualifying Round, Match 7.' Subsequently, South Korea will have its 8th match against Jordan on the 25th at Suwon World Cup Stadium.

South Korea, which belongs to Group B, is currently leading the group with 4 wins, 2 draws, and 14 points. Iraq is in 2nd place (11 points), and Jordan is in 3rd place (9 points). If South Korea wins both matches in this doubleheader, it will secure its qualification for the North and Central American World Cup early.

Coach Hong Myung-bo announced the roster of 28 players on the 10th. He was aware that the condition of the defensive linchpin Kim Min-jae was not good.

Coach Hong Myung-bo noted, "Kim Min-jae has Achilles tendon pain, but he continues to participate in games with his club Bayern Munich. It was not possible to put Kim Min-jae on the bench, so he continues to play. Although there are difficulties, Kim Min-jae has been approaching the games positively," preparing for any eventuality.

Eventually, the incident occurred. Kim Min-jae played the full match against Bayer Leverkusen on the 12th and further aggravated his injury. He missed the match against VfL Bochum on the 8th due to injury and returned after just one game, but the injury recurred.

Bayern Munich officially announced Kim Min-jae's injury. Coach Vincent Kompany confirmed at a press conference on the 14th, ahead of the Union Berlin match, "Kim Min-jae is injured. I hope it won't take long for him to recover, but he will not be able to play for at least a few weeks."

The Korea Football Association also formalized Kim Min-jae's absence and began selecting a substitute player. Due to Kim Min-jae's injury, only Jo Yu-min (Sharjah), Jeong Seung-hyun (Al Wasl), and Kwon Kyung-won (Khor Fakkan) remain as center backs in the national team. Although all three players are veterans who have experienced major tournaments, considering injuries and other unexpected variables, it is necessary to select one more center back.

South Korea must win against Oman and Jordan to secure its entry into the World Cup finals early. It seems more likely that existing players who have previously been selected will be brought back rather than picking new faces.

The most likely substitute candidate is Hong Myung-bo's favorite, Kim Young-gwon. Having played both at the 2012 London Olympics and at Ulsan, he understands the coach's soccer philosophy well. With abundant national team experience, Kim Young-gwon requires no additional instructions.

Kim Young-gwon raised some concerns last year due to a drop in form. Recently, he has regained his condition by being selected as one of the best 11 in rounds 3 and 4 of K League 1.

Ulsan will play against Suwon FC on the 16th. While most of the defensive players are overseas players, Kim Young-gwon remains in the country, which is advantageous for controlling his condition. Having participated in multiple World Cups, Kim Young-gwon is commendable in terms of experience and teamwork.

Of course, there is also the possibility that coach Hong Myung-bo will select another player who is in better form in K League. Whoever it is, the absence of Kim Min-jae is significant, but enhancing the team is essential.

[March A-match call-up list]

Goalkeepers: Jo Hyun-woo (Ulsan), Kim Dong-heon (Gimcheon), Lee Chang-geun (Daejeon)

Defenders: Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Jo Yu-min (Sharjah), Jeong Seung-hyun (Al Wasl), Kwon Kyung-won (Khor Fakkan), Seol Yeong-woo (Red Star Belgrade), Hwang Jae-won (Daegu), Park Seung-wook, Jo Hyun-taek (both Gimcheon), Lee Tae-seok (Pohang)

Midfielders: Park Yong-woo (Al Ahli), Baek Seung-ho (Birmingham City), Won Doo-jae (Khor Fakkan), Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City), Yang Min-hyeok (Queens Park Rangers), Eom Ji-sung (Swansea City), Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic), Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), Lee Dong-kyung (Gimcheon)

Forwards: Oh Hyun-kyu (KRC Genk), Joo Min-kyu (Ulsan), Oh Se-hoon (Machida Zelvia)

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