[골닷컴, 파주] Reporter Kang Dong-hoon = Na Sang-ho (26, FC Seoul) smiled and joined the Paju National Training Center (NFC). He broke his ankle badly enough to be carried on a stretcher the day before, raising concerns about a long-term injury, but fortunately he is with Ben Tuho as scheduled for the September match.
The Korean national football team, led by coach Paulo Bento (53, Portugal), will face Costa Rica (Goyang Sports Complex) on the 23rd and Cameroon (Seoul World Cup Stadium) on the 27th in turn. This convening is the last time for a final inspection two months before the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, with all members including overseas members convened. In fact, in this evaluation match, the final roster for the World Cup is outlined, and at the same time, it seems that the best lineup will be prepared to some extent.
Ahead of the two evaluation matches, Bentuho gathered at 2:30 pm today at Paju NFC. Some overseas players such as Kim Min-jae (25, Naples), Son Heung-min (30, Tottenham Hotspur), and Lee Kang-in (21, Mallorca) joined late due to their team schedule, while 20 players appeared on the day.
Na Sang-ho, who was the biggest concern of fans, also joined Paju NFC without limping in a bright image. He collapsed due to an injury in the second half in the 33rd round of Hana OneQ K League 1 against Daegu FC at DGB Daegu Bank Park the day before. In the process of competing for the ball with Lee Geun-ho (37), he fell tangled, in the process his left ankle severely turned outward. Covering his face, complaining of pain, he could not stand up on his own and was eventually carried out on a stretcher. Afterwards, he left the stadium with the support of the club officials.
Naturally, it was expected that Na Sang-ho would leave the national team, but he joined Paju NFC on that day. And he is said to have no major problems. An official from the national team said, “As a result of the examination, it is not a major injury such as a fracture or rupture. It is not enough to select a replacement player, so we will decide whether or not he can play after watching his recovery.”
Since Bento took office, Na Sang-ho has been called the ‘Prince’ and has been constantly wearing the Taegeuk mark. Although his sluggish appearance in recent years has led to controversy among some fans over his entry to the national team, he has scored the most attacking points for his team, Seoul, with seven goals and four assists this season. Even within his national team, he is responsible for the side by going back and forth between starting and substituting with his vigorous activity and active movement.