Latest news with #LeeKangIn
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
World Cup: South Korea near qualification as Uzbekistan chase history
Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in – fresh off European trophy wins – aim to lead South Korea to the World Cup, with four remaining automatic spots from Asia up for grabs. Japan and Iran have already sealed their berths at the tournament next year in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. South Korea are guaranteed to join them on Thursday if they avoid defeat against Iraq in Basra. Even if they lose, they will have another opportunity at home to Kuwait next Tuesday in Group B. South Korea and Spurs captain Son did not have his best club season, but the 32-year-old attacker finished it off by lifting the Europa League trophy. International teammate Lee collected a Champions League winner's medal with Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday after they thrashed Inter Milan 5-0 in Munich, although he remained on the bench for the final. Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in touches the Champions League trophy. Photo: Xinhua
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
South Korea on cusp, Uzbeks eye historic World Cup spot
Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min (right) and PSG's Lee Kang-in will be available for the match against Iraq in Basra. (EPA Images pic) HONG KONG : European club trophy winners Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in will hope to fire South Korea to the World Cup in the coming days with four remaining automatic spots from Asia up for grabs. Japan and Iran have already sealed their berths at the tournament next year in the US, Canada and Mexico. South Korea are guaranteed to join them on Thursday if they avoid defeat against Iraq in Basra. Even if they lose, they will have another opportunity at home to Kuwait next Tuesday in Group B. South Korea and Spurs captain Son did not have his best club season but the 32-year-old attacker finished it off by lifting the Europa League trophy. Attacking midfielder Lee on Saturday collected a Champions League winner's medal with Paris St-Germain after they thrashed Inter Milan 5-0 in Munich, although he remained on the bench for the final. South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo suggested he could use Son sparingly at the end of a long campaign in which the country's talisman has struggled for form and fitness. 'Since we have two matches coming up, I will not push him too hard,' said Hong, who believes Son will have a role to play even if he does not feature against an Iraq side now coached by former Australia boss Graham Arnold. 'We will probably play in a hostile environment in front of partisan fans,' Hong said. 'We have some players who have had experience playing in these situations.' China in deep trouble Japan were the first country to qualify for North America after running away with Group C. With the top two from the three Asian groups automatically qualifying, second-placed Australia are in pole position to go through with Japan with two match days left. The Socceroos host Japan in Perth on Thursday knowing that if they win and third-placed Saudi Arabia fail to do the same at Bahrain, they will qualify. Most likely however qualification will go down to the final round of matches on Tuesday when Australia travel to Saudi Arabia for a winner-takes-all blockbuster. 'We've put ourselves in a good position within the group to be in control of our destiny,' said coach Tony Popovic, who took over the Socceroos in September following Arnold's resignation. Indonesia are still mathematically in the running for an automatic place out of Group C, four points behind Australia and one behind the Saudis. Patrick Kluivert's Indonesia host China in Jakarta on Thursday followed by a trip to Japan. China's World Cup hopes are hanging by a thread at the bottom of the group. Even if teams do not finish in the top two of their pool, their World Cup hopes are not over. Third and fourth go into a further round of Asian qualifying. In Group A, where Iran have already qualified, Uzbekistan are on the cusp of their first World Cup. Avoid defeat to third-placed United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi and the Central Asian country will make history. For Asian champions Qatar, the best they can hope for is to come third or fourth and go into the next qualifying round. They host Iran before travelling to Uzbekistan and will be coached for the first time by former West Ham United, Real Madrid and Spain boss Julen Lopetegui.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Arsenal transfer rumours: Lee Kang-in, Mohammed Kudus
Arsenal are considering another move for Paris St-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in, 24, after failing to strike a deal for the South Korea international in January. (Sun, external) West Ham and Ghana winger Mohammed Kudus, 24, is the subject of fresh interest from Arsenal. (Talksport, external) Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport
The Sun
06-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Arsenal consider cut-price transfer for PSG midfielder, 24, following Champions League semi-final
ARSENAL are considering another move for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-In. Mikel Arteta was interested in the South Korean in January, and new Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta will encourage him to make room in his squad for the 24-year-old. 1 Berta was the driving force behind a failed bid from Atletico Madrid for Lee in 2023 when he left La Liga outfit Mallorca for the Parc des Princes. But it has not worked out for him in Paris as he remains a fringe member of Luis Enrique 's squad after almost two seasons at the club. The former Valencia playmaker has started 18 league games this season, the same number as in his first season at the club, but doubled his 2023-24 goal tally by registering six times in Ligue 1. Last week, L'Equipe named Lee on a list of players the French champions will look to offload this summer. PSG want to recoup their £18.7m outlay and will not listen to any offers below £17m. The French sports daily reported that Lee is dissatisfied with his playing time, and indicated that he will seek a new team this summer. He was an unused substitute for PSG in their 1-0 Champions League semi-final first-leg win at the Emirates. He started their Ligue 1 match against Strasbourg on Saturday but left the 2-1 defeat at half-time because of a shin injury that looks set to keep him out of the return leg. Enrique has deployed Lee as a winger, central midfielder and false nine, viewing the Korean as a player with the tactical awareness to switch positions seamlessly. A move for Lee could be completed relatively quickly because of PSG's desire to sell and that could mean the Korean is on board the plane when Arsenal jet out to the Far East for their pre-season matches in Singapore and Hong Kong.
