The key facts

  • Son Heung-min will remain captain of the South Korea national team, coach Robert Moreno has said
  • Kim Min-jae, Hwang Hee-chan and Hwang In-beom were included in the squad for the friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Qatar
  • Moreno's contract expires after the two friendlies; a decision on his role at the Asian Cup has not yet been made

Moreno confirms Son's captaincy

Son Heung-min will keep the captain's armband for the South Korea national team despite reports of a rift between the team's veteran and its senior players. Interim head coach Robert Moreno announced this while presenting the squad for friendly matches against Saudi Arabia and Qatar next month, AFP reports. Asked about the leadership role of the 34-year-old LAFC forward, Moreno replied briefly: 'The captain is Son Heung-min. I have nothing more to say.'

The squad and talks instead of training

Alongside Son, Moreno called up the experienced European trio — Kim Min-jae, Hwang Hee-chan and Hwang In-beom — who, according to media reports, were ready to leave the national team last month. The Spanish specialist, who took charge of the side on a temporary basis after the disappointing World Cup in North America, said that since his appointment he had devoted a great deal of time to talking with the players: 'I spent more time on communication than on training.' He added that 'even in the best teams people can have different opinions — what matters is how those disagreements are resolved.'

Background: a conflict after the World Cup and the Venezuela match

Rumours of discord intensified after Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae furiously threw his boots when being substituted in the second half of the home friendly against Venezuela (0-0). After the match he said that 'every player must bow their head and give everything,' fuelling talk of a split in the dressing room. Moreno stated that 'the team is healthy' and expressed confidence that the players would be able to work together. Earlier, the Korea Football Association called on fans to stop 'excessive personal attacks' on the players.

What's next

Moreno's contract expires after the two friendlies, but South Korean football's leadership may keep him on for the Asian Cup, which will be held in Saudi Arabia in January. The national team has been under pressure since the World Cup, where the side failed to get out of the group and head coach Hong Myung-bo left his post. The November matches will therefore be a test for the interim coach and the revamped squad both in terms of results and of the atmosphere within the team — although no final decision on Moreno's future has been announced so far.