⚽️ LIVE RADIO COMMENTARY & PREVIEW
🎙 Wales host South Korea in a friendly in preparation for their Euro 2024 qualifying restart
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Preview written by Dan Perkins, Radio City Lead Football Commentator:
Tonight’s fixture may only be a friendly encounter, but Rob Page will be eager to grab a victory after a rocky start to the Euro 2024 Qualifying Campaign.
His position has been called into question by some, but this Welsh squad is undergoing major transition following a series of retirements including the talismanic Gareth Bale.
After some early signs of positivity, taking four points from the opening six away to Croatia and home to Latvia, a 4-2 defeat at home to Armenia and a 2-0 loss in Turkey leaves Wales fourth in the group and already chasing the leading pack.
In fact, it isn’t just the recent run of international results which is putting pressure on Page, with just two wins from the last 15, which includes nine defeats, a turnaround is needed sooner rather than later.
Wales have also struggled in friendlies, not tasting victory since beating Mexico 1-0 in March 2021, and failing to win any of the last four.
South Korea have their issues too, They are targeting their first win since edging out Portugal in the 2022 World Cup group stages.
In fact, it is new boss Jurgen Klinsmann who is targeting his first taste of victory as South Korea manager after Paulo Bento was dismissed following their elimination to Brazil in the last 16 of the Qatar tournament.
A draw to Colombia was quickly followed by losses to Uruguay and Peru, and most recently, a late equaliser for El Salvador left the Taegeuk Warriors still searching for that elusive win under the German.
Defensively, they have conceded in each of their last eight internationals, and they’ll be hoping to capitalise on Wales’ misfortunes ahead of another friendly with Saudi Arabia next week.
TEAM NEWS:
Wales are unable to call upon the services of Tom Lockyer and Dan James, who are both ruled out through injury. Rangers forward Rabbi Matondo, who has 11 caps to his name, has been called up after being left out of Page’s initial squad. The Wales boss has also included the uncapped trio of Tom King, Morgan Fox and Liam Cullen, while Josh Sheehan has been recalled to the squad for the first time since 2021.
As for South Korea, Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in has stayed with his club, as he continues to recover from a muscular injury which has kept him out of his side’s last two Ligue 1 matches. Klinsmann has called up the uncapped quartet of Kim Jun-hong, Kim Ji-soo, Lee Soon-min and Yang Hyun-jun. Son Heung-min will captain his country, and he will be in a confident mood after scoring a hat-trick in Tottenham Hotspur’s 5-2 win over Burnley at the weekend.
Wales possible starting lineup:
Ward; Roberts, Mepham, Rodon, Williams; Ampadu, Ramsey; Brooks, Wilson, Broadhead; Moore
South Korea possible starting lineup:
Seung-gyu; Young-woo, Seung-hyun, Min-jae, Ki-jee; Hee-chan, Yong-woo, In-beom, Jae-sung; Ui-jo, Heung-min
MATCH FACTS
This will be the first time the two teams meet.
Facing Asian teams, Wales has nine matches played, where they have five wins, two draws and two losses.
Facing European teams, South Korea has 114 matches played, where they have 38 wins, 32 draws and 44 losses.
South Korea are unbeaten in five meetings against European teams, winning the last four, including a 2-1 win over Portugal in the group stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Wales last faced an Asian nation at the 2022 World Cup, losing 2-0 to Iran. Before that, they beat China PR 6-0 in the China Cup in March 2018.
Wales have won just one of their last 12 matches in all competitions (D3 L8), a 1-0 home win over Latvia in March in a European Championship qualifier.
South Korea are winless in their last five matches (D2 L3) since beating Portugal 2-1 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Wales have won just four of their last 21 friendly matches (D7 L10) and none of their last four (D3 L1) since a 1-0 home win over Mexico in March 2021.
Wales have one win in seven friendlies, while South Korea have two wins in seven friendlies.
Since scoring 10 consecutive goals from open play between September 2020 and March 2021, only 14 of Wales’ last 30 goals have been netted in open play (47%), their other 16 goals coming via corners (6), penalties (5), throw-ins (2) and free-kicks (3).
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