Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Paju: The Taeguk Warriors face Bolivia and Colombia over the next week as Bento works with his squad for the first time since their AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 campaign ended in a quarter-final defeat to Qatar.
The 27-player squad Bento has called up is missing Ki Sung-yueng and Koo Ja-cheol, two stalwarts who announced their international retirements following the AFC Asian Cup.
While both former captains will be missed, Bento is already looking forward and has included three uncapped youngsters in the squad - 18-year-old Lee Kang-in, Kim Jung-min (19) and Paik Seung-ho (22).
The Portuguese said all three, Lee and Paik - who play for Spanish sides Valencia and Girona respectively - and Kim, who is with Austrian second division outfit FC Liefering, will be given every opportunity to impress.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/afc_asian_cup_2019_-_korea_republic_vs_qatar_1_1.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Just over six weeks since the end of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019, national teams from across the Continent regroup for the first international window of the year as they prepare to kick off their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaigns.
After two exciting rounds of AFC Champions League and AFC Cup action, all eyes turn to international football this week as national teams from across Asia regroup to take part in friendly matches and tournaments.
There have been changes aplenty following the AFC Asian Cup, as teams look to build for the next period with managerial appointments and fresh call-ups.
So, here are five things to watch in the upcoming series of friendlies.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Barcelona: Barcelona forward Luis Suarez has been ruled out of playing in the China Cup with Uruguay after spraining his ankle for his club at the weekend.
Suarez, 32, is expected to miss between 10 and 15 days after limping off late in Sunday's 4-1 win at Real Betis in La Liga.
"He will... undertake his recovery with the FC Barcelona medical team, having been withdrawn from the Uruguayan national team squad," the club said in a statement Monday.
Suarez's absence adds to that of Edinson Cavani for Uruguay after the Paris Saint-Germain striker failed to shake off a thigh injury for the trip to China PR.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Shanghai: Italian FIFA World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro was named head coach of China PR on Friday.
The 45-year-old former defender will combine the job with being head coach of Chinese Super League (CSL) giants Guangzhou Evergrande.
He takes the post vacated in January by his mentor and compatriot Marcello Lippi, under whom Cannavaro lifted the FIFA World Cup in 2006.
The 70-year-old Lippi will be a consultant under the new coaching set-up named for next week's China Cup, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) said.