Bae Jun-ho, Yang Min-hyuk and Lee Young-jun all start as Korea unveils lineup for 'four-peat bid' in Asian Games final... Head-on clash with Japan's European-based defender Ichihara [Aichi-Nagoya AG]

*This content was translated by AI.

Korea's Nam Ja-chuk-gu (CEO) team, aiming for a fourth consecutive gold medal at the Asian Games, has announced its starting lineup for the "fated" match against Japan.

The South Korea U-23 national football team, led by coach Lee Min-seong, will face Japan in the men's football final of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Toyota Stadium in Japan at 7:30 p.m. on the 3rd.

The starting lineups for both teams were announced ahead of the decisive match.

Kim Jun-hong (Suwon Samsung) will guard Korea's goal.

Kim Ji-soo (Brentford), captain Lee Gi-hyuk (Gangwon FC), Uhm Ji-seong (Swansea City), Lee Seung-won (Gangwon FC), Lee Young-jun (Grasshopper Club Zurich), Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City), Choi Seok-hyeon (Ulsan HD), Yang Min-hyuk (Tottenham Hotspur), Bae Hyun-seo (Gyeongnam FC) and Shin Min-ha (Gangwon FC) will start.

The attacking line features Bae Jun-ho and Yang Min-hyuk, who are active in Europe, along with 192-cm tall striker Lee Young-jun. Wildcard Uhm Ji-seong also starts, aiming to break through Japan's defense.

Korea's attacking resources, which have been potent throughout the tournament, will all take the field in the final. They are expected to aggressively target Japan's defensive line from the opening minutes.

Above all, how to break down Ichihara Lion (AZ Alkmaar), the core of Japan's defense, will be the key factor.

Ichihara, a center-back playing for AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, is also the captain of the Japanese national team and serves as the pillar of their defense. Ahead of the final, he expressed strong resolve for revenge, stating, "We have rarely been able to beat Korea at the Asian Games. I want to reverse that trend with our generation."

Japan's other starting players should also be watched closely.

Midfielder Ojiki Yuto (Kawasaki Frontale), along with strikers Ishii Hisatsugu (Shonan Bellmare), Enwadike Uche Brian Seo (Aalborg BK) and Yokoyama Yumeki (Cerezo Osaka), are also named in the starting lineup.

How effectively to contain Japan's young players, who rely on rapid attacking transitions and momentary penetrations, is another important point.

Korea is challenging for the first-ever four consecutive titles in men's football at the Asian Games.

They won gold medals consecutively at the 2014 Incheon, 2018 Jakarta-Palembang and 2022 Hangzhou Games. Notably, they defeated Japan in the finals of the last two tournaments to claim the top spot.

In contrast, Japan's last title was at the 2010 Guangzhou Games, 16 years ago.

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*This content was translated by AI.