Lee Min-seong-ho, the 192cm high-altitude bomber as the 'final puzzle'... Lee Young-jo warms up in Switzerland and joins Nagoya: "Increased offensive power" [Aichi Nagoya AG]

*This content was translated by AI.

With the arrival of 'the final puzzle' Lee Young-jo (23, Grasshopper), the squad finally completes its full 23-man roster.

The U-23 national team, led by head coach Lee Min-seong-ho, will face Saudi Arabia in the second group stage match of Group D at Mizuho Park Rugby Stadium in Nagoya, Japan, at 7 p.m. on the 22nd. With Iraq withdrawing from the competition, only three teams remain in Group D. After defeating Qatar 4-1 in the opening match thanks to a hat-trick by Eom Ji-seong and others, South Korea has already secured its spot in the quarterfinals and now aims to clinch first place in the group against Saudi Arabia.

With the decisive match approaching, the national team's roster is now at 100%. According to the Korea Football Association, forward Lee Young-jo, whose call-up was delayed due to his club's schedule, joined the Do Chak-hae (CEO) team in Nagoya on the afternoon of the 21st.

Lee Young-jo's original scheduled arrival date had been set for the 14th. However, following a recent change in the club's front office, the club notified the association of a delay in his release. Through direct negotiations conducted by an association official dispatched to Switzerland, Lee's eventual joining on the 21st was achieved through dramatic efforts.

Although his arrival was delayed, Lee is in peak match condition. On the 20th, he made his presence felt in an away match against Lucerne in Round 9 of the Swiss Super League held at ThermoPlan Arena in Lucerne, Switzerland, by recording his first assist of the season. Substituted into the game in the 16th minute of the second half while his team trailed 0-3, he assisted Samuelle Bengondo's consolation goal just 15 minutes after stepping onto the pitch. This meaningful performance broke a three-game scoring drought following back-to-back goals in two league matches. Lee has recorded three goals and one assist in official matches this season.

With the addition of 192cm tall striker Lee Young-jo, the national team's offensive power is expected to become even more formidable, bolstering its front line alongside rich resources such as Bae Jun-ho and Yang Min-hyeok. Having already secured a spot in the quarterfinals, the match against Saudi Arabia will serve as an opportunity to secure first place in the group while preparing for the tournament stage. Managing Lee Young-jo's physical condition after his long journey and monitoring the accumulation of yellow cards for Eom Ji-seong and Kim Ji-soo, who received yellows in the first match, are identified as key challenges.

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*This content was translated by AI.