S. Korea names emerging youngsters to team ahead of Olympic football qualification

(ATTN: CORRECTS date in lead; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, June 9 (Yonhap) -- Rising forward Ji Dong-won and wingback Kim Young-kwon were among 23 footballers named to the South Korean men's Olympic squad on Thursday, as the team prepares for continental qualifications this month for the 2012 London Games.
South Korea will take on Jordan in the home-and-away format of the second round of the Asian qualifications. South Korea will be the home team on June 19 and will travel to Amman on June 23, with the aggregate score determining the winner.
Only players who are younger than 23 are eligible for the Olympics, but countries can select up to three players over the age limit, also called "wild cards."
Ji, 20, and Kim, 21, starred for the South Korean senior team in two recent friendly matches. Last Friday, Kim scored once and set up another goal in a 2-1 win over Serbia. Then on Tuesday, Ji scored the opening goal in South Korea's 2-1 victory over Ghana.
Ji has six goals in just 11 international matches at the senior level. He has been linked to Sunderland in the English Premier League.
Kim is auditioning for South Korea's left wingback position, after veteran Lee Young-pyo retired from international play in January.
Among other youngsters from the senior team, midfielder Yoon Bitgaram and defender Hong Jeong-ho will also play for the Olympic team.
Hong Myung-bo, the Olympic team head coach, said he expects "big things" out of Kim and Hong Jeong-ho on defense.
"I think their presence will have a positive effect on the rest of the team," the coach said. "They have known each other a long time, and both have important roles on the senior team. Kim would be a central defender on our team, but with his talent, he could play anywhere."



Forward Koo Ja-cheol, a 22-year-old for VfL Wolfsburg in Bundesliga, didn't make the team because his German club refused to release him. Koo led all scorers at the Asian Cup tournament in January.
South Korea is seeking its seventh straight Olympic appearance but has never won a football medal at the quadrennial competition. It has made it out of the first round only twice in eight appearances overall.
South Korea beat Jordan 4-0 at last year's Asian Games in Guangzhou, China. Coach Hong said South Korea has overhauled its team while Jordan has kept its squad intact, with its cohesion likely improved.
There are 24 teams in total in the second round. The 12 winners of the second round will be paired into three groups of four in the third round.
Only the top-ranked countries from those three groups will secure automatic berths to the London Games, while the winner of a three-way playoff among No. 2 seeds will enter an international playoff for a final chance to qualify.
jeeho@yna.co.kr