The two-time Netherlands boss, who arrived in Korea last Thursday following his sudden departure from the UAE, included the players in the 23-man squad despite Song’s injury problems and Choi’s decision to step down from the national team and concentrate on his club football.
"Song was out because of injury but I know him already from Feyenoord, and if the player is fit I know he can do something for Korea," said Advocaat after announcing the roster.
Song, thought by many observers to have been the most impressive Korean player at the 2002 World Cup finals, where he played in every match of their run to a top four finish, earned a big money move to Feyenoord but his time in Rotterdam wasn’t the happiest. Ruud Gullit allowed him to join K-League champions Suwon Samsung Bluewings earlier in 2005 for half of the $4 million that the 14- time Dutch champions paid three years ago.
Since his return, the right-sided star has had injury problems but will be pleased to learn that he is part of the 'Little General’s' plans.
Meanwhile, Advocaat is also looking towards the veteran war horse Choi to add experience to the defence as the Koreans embark upon life under their third consecutive Dutch coach. The 34 year-old was a mainstay of Guus Hiddink’s defence in 2002 but told his predecessor Jo Bonfrere that he wanted to concentrate on the K-League and Chonbuk Hyundai Motors.
Choi will meet his old defensive partner Hong Myung-bo, the captain of the 2002 team when training begins later this week. The former Pohang Steelers and LA Galaxy star played 135 times for his country over four World Cups and joined Advocaat’s coaching staff last week.
The former PSV Eindhoven and Glasgow Rangers boss has called up the big guns from Europe. Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo will play their first games for the country since pulling on the shirts of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur respectively.
Ahn Jung-hwan and Cha Du-ri will also fly east from Europe but won’t be joined by Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Seol Ki-hyeon as Advocaat explained.
"He (Seol) really wanted to come, but his wife has just had their second child so we decided to give him some personal time."
Another 2002 star, Lee Eul-young had fallen out of favour with Bonfrere, who resigned on August 22, and was widely expected to be recalled by the new regime. However, the Trabzonspor star is injured and will have to wait.
The match against Iran, who like the Koreans have qualified for next year’s World Cup finals, sees the Taeguk warriors begin their build up to Germany 2006 in earnest and Advocaat believes that the Koreans have what it takes to make an impact when the planet’s greatest sporting event takes place in the central European nation for the first time since 1974.
"The Good thing for us is that the players have four years of more experience. That will help what we want to achieve next year," he said. ``Eight months is little time but we are sure we can do it."
"It’s quite simple. If you want good results, you must show your quality and you must play as a team. Otherwise you’d better stay at home."
Korea Republic squad
Goalkeepers
Lee Woon-jae (Suwon Samsung Bluewings)
Kim Young-kwang (Chunnam Dragons)
Defenders
Kim Young-chul (Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma)
Choi Jin-chul (Cheonbuk Hyundai Motors)
Kim Jin-kyu (Jubilo Iwata, JPN)
Yoo Kyung-ryul (Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i)
Kim Han-yoon (Bucheon SK)
Cho Yong-hyung (Bucheon SK)
Midfielders
Lee Young-pyo (Tottenham Hotspur, ENG)
Kim Dong-jin (FC Seoul)
Song Chong-gug (Suwon Samsung Bluewings)
Cho Won-hee (Suwon Samsung Bluewings)
Lee Ho (Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i)
Kim Jung-woo (Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i)
Park Ji-sung (Manchester United, ENG)
Kim Doo-hyun (Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma)
Baek Ji-hoon (FC Seoul)
Forwards
Ahn Jung-hwan (FC Metz, FRA)
Lee Dong-guk (Pohang Steelers)
Cha Doo-ri (Eintracht Frankfurt, GER)
Lee Chun-soo (Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i)
Choi Tae-wook (Shimizu S-Pulse, JPN)
Park Chu-young (FC Seoul)
Jung Kyung-ho (Gwangju Sangmu Phoenix)
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