"Kim Min-jae showed signs of injury since last year."

The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced on the morning of the 17th that "Kim Min-jae was released from the A national team's March roster, and Kim Ju-seong has been selected as a replacement." Kim Min-jae recently dropped out of the national team due to an Achilles tendon injury. He has been overworking with his club Bayern this season and had been playing with the Achilles tendon injury since October of last year. Kim Min-jae initially requested rest from the team but was unable to take a break due to the number of injured players.

Ultimately, trouble arose. Bayern manager Vincent Kompany noted before the previous match against Union Berlin, "Kim Min-jae is in a state of injury," and stated, "I hope it's not too bad, but it seems he will be absent for a few weeks."

Fortunately, surgery was avoided, but it is now a time that requires careful management. Manager Kompany stated, "It is already known that there is a problem with (Kim Min-jae's) Achilles tendon," and added, "We must manage him to avoid excessive burden." Naturally, Kim Min-jae's participation in Hong Myung-bo's squad did not materialize.

After much deliberation, manager Hong Myung-bo selected Kim Ju-seong as a replacement. Born in 2000, Kim Ju-seong has been a young center-back talent since entering the professional stage in 2019. Having been recognized early as a next-generation center-back, he has played in all five league matches this season, performing as a key defender for Seoul.

This selection can be interpreted as considering generational change. Since taking over the national team in July of last year, manager Hong Myung-bo has consistently expressed a desire for generational change. Kim Ju-seong's inclusion can be seen in the same context.

The South Korean national team, led by manager Hong Myung-bo, will play two matches during the A match period this March against the Central and North America World Cup qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They will face Oman at Goyang Stadium on the 20th and then move to Suwon World Cup Stadium to play Jordan on the 25th.

Currently, South Korea is in first place in Group B with 14 points (4 wins, 2 draws). If they win both matches in this home doubleheader, they will secure their 11th consecutive qualification for the World Cup finals.

The national team began official training on the 17th. According to the KFA, a total of 17 players participated in the first training session, including 10 K League players and Won Du-jae, Park Yong-woo, Jeong Seung-hyun, Jo Yu-min, Kwon Kyung-won, Oh Se-hoon, and Oh Hyun-kyu.

Captain Son Heung-min and European players also joined the national team. Son Heung-min, Lee Jae-sung, Baek Seung-ho, Hwang Hee-chan, Yang Min-hyeok, Bae Jun-ho, Um Ji-sung, and Yang Hyun-jun arrived at the accommodation late on the 17th. They will begin training with domestic players from the 18th.

The disappointing aspect is the absence of Kim Min-jae, a key player in defense. Although Kim Ju-seong, chosen to replace Kim Min-jae, is performing at a top level in the K League this season, the absence of a solid defensive pillar is undoubtedly disappointing. Manager Hong Myung-bo expressed his regret, saying, "It is unfortunate to have to compete without an important player in a crucial match," while also stating, "It was not appropriate from a player protection standpoint to have Kim Min-jae play right now, so I decided to give him a bold rest."

Meanwhile, reports emerged in Germany regarding manager Hong Myung-bo's comments. German publication Kicker stated, "South Korea is in a strong position to qualify for the World Cup. They can secure World Cup qualification faster than any other country in the world," adding, "Nevertheless, manager Hong Myung-bo criticized Bayern's management regarding Kim Min-jae's absence."

This outlet explained, "Manager Kompany spoke about managing Kim Min-jae immediately after his injury. However, manager Hong Myung-bo expressed regret that Bayern should have managed him sooner," noting that "Kim Min-jae has actually been enduring a demanding schedule since last year."

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