*This content was translated by AI.
The starting lineup of the South Korean national soccer team, which will compete in the third place of the 2026 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 (U-23), has been unveiled.
South Korea, led by head coach Lee Min-sung, will play the third-place match against Vietnam at the King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, at 0 a.m. on the 24th (Korea time).
South Korea lost 0-1 to Japan in the semifinals of the tournament and failed to advance to the final, before being pushed to the third place final.
Coach Lee Min-sung changed six players compared to the starting lineup for the last semifinal against Japan.
In Korea, Jung Seung-bae (Suwon FC) and Jung Jae-sang (Daegu FC) form two-top, while Kim Do-hyun (Gangwon FC) and Jung Ji-hoon (Gwangju FC) are on both sides. Bae Hyun-seo (Gyeongnam FC) and Kim Dong-jin (Pohang Steelers) will work together in the midfield.
The defensive line will be built by Jang Seok-hwan (Suwon Samsung), Cho Hyun-tae and Shin Min-ha (Gangwon) and Kang Min-joon (Pohang). Hwang Jae-yoon (Suwon FC) will protect the goal for the first time in this tournament.
Compared to the last match between Korea and Japan, Baek Ga-on (Busan I'Park), Kim Yong-hak (Pohang), Kang Sung-jin (Suwon), Lee Hyun-yong (Suwon FC), Lee Kun-hee (Suwon Samsung) and Hong Sung-min (Pohang, GK) were excluded from the starting lineup.
South Korea beat Australia in the quarterfinals after barely passing Group C with one win, one draw and one loss in the group stage of this tournament, but lost to Japan, two years younger.
Vietnam beat the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to reach the semifinals for the first time in eight years after passing Group A in first place, but lost to China 0-3 and fell to the third place final.
South Korea is undefeated with six wins and three draws in the past between South Korea and Vietnam's U-23 national team. South Korea has lost both of its previous third-place matches to stay in fourth place.
This year is not the year when the Olympics will be held, so it has nothing to do with the performance of this event and the right to participate in the Olympics. Instead, the results of this tournament will be reflected in the allocation of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup finals draw port (seed) two years later, when it will also serve as an Olympic qualifier in Los Angeles (LA).
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*This content was translated by AI.
