'Bull' Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), who is rehabbing from an injury, will be the first official press conference runner.

The South Korean national soccer team, led by coach Jürgen Klinsmann, will play Bahrain in the first match of Group E of the Qatar Asian Cup at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, on Nov. 15 (KST). South Korea will be looking to return to the tournament for the first time in 64 years. South Korea last won back-to-back titles in 1956 and 1960. However, they haven't finished on top since.

Klinsmann will appear at the official press conference held by the organizing committee on the 14th, one day before kickoff. Officially, the head coach and one key player will sit in front of the microphone. The KFA will use Hwang Hee-chan as the interviewer for the first game. "Hwang Hee-chan will accompany us to the official press conference for the first game," an official from the KFA said earlier.

Hwang is an iconic figure in South Korean soccer. He has been a key part of the attack for the national team through the age groups and now the A team. He scored the winning goal in the final group game of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar against Portugal to help South Korea reach the round of 16.

He has been in top form this season. He scored 10 goals in the first 20 games of the 2023-2024 English Premier League (EPL) season. Man City manager Pep Guardiola has even dubbed him the "Korean Guy" for his performances. Hwang recently signed a long-term contract with Wolverhampton through 2028, with an option for a one-year extension. 카지노사이트777 

Considering his reputation, he's a "perfect fit" for an official press conference. The problem is Hwang's physical condition. Earlier, an official from the Korean Football Association announced Hwang's injury. Hwang is rehabilitating from muscle fatigue in his left hip. He didn't show up for the first official training session at Al Agla Training Center in Doha, Qatar, on Nov. 11. On the 12th and 13th, he was at the training ground but went through a separate program. He was mainly seen cycling and checking his fitness. It's unlikely he'll be available for the first or even second group game.

It's highly unusual for Hwang Hee-chan to hold an official press conference when his participation is uncertain due to injury. There's a reason. Since arriving in Qatar, Hwang has been training around 10:30 a.m. every day. On the 14th, a day before the first match, he also scheduled a 10 a.m. training session. Klinsmann is a big believer in training 'routines'. However, the organizers scheduled the official press conference for noon on the 14th. It was unilateral. It's a 30-minute drive from the training center to the press conference. It's physically impossible to attend a press conference after training. The Football Association explained the situation to the organizers and asked them to reschedule the press conference. The answer was no.

"We would have liked to coordinate the press conference, but it's not possible. It's difficult to accommodate only one team, and there are other teams playing in the afternoon.