HONG KONG, JUNE 3 (AFP/APP/DNA):European club trophy winners Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in will hope to fire South Korea to the World Cup in the coming days with four remaining automatic spots from Asia up for grabs.
Japan and Iran have already sealed their berths at the tournament next year in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
South Korea are guaranteed to join them on Thursday if they avoid defeat against Iraq in Basra.
Even if they lose, they will have another opportunity at home to Kuwait next Tuesday in Group B.
South Korea and Spurs captain Son did not have his best club season but the 32-year-old attacker finished it off by lifting the Europa League trophy.
Attacking midfielder Lee on Saturday collected a Champions League winner’s medal with Paris Saint-Germain after they thrashed Inter Milan 5-0 in Munich, although he remained on the bench for the final.
South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo suggested he could use Son sparingly at the end of a long campaign in which the country’s talisman has struggled for form and fitness.
“Since we have two matches coming up, I will not push him too hard,” said Hong, who believes Son will have a role to play even if he does not feature against an Iraq side now coached by former Australia boss Graham Arnold.
“We will probably play in a hostile environment in front of partisan fans,” Hong said. “We have some players who have had experience playing in these situations.”
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