Lee Kang-in praises teammate Lee Dong-gyeong's free-kick goal

"If I went in here, wouldn't it naturally go in (in Ligue 1) too?"

Lee Kang-in (25, Paris Saint-Germain) gave a thumbs-up to the performance of Lee Dong-gyeong (28, Ulsan), a teammate in the same position and a 'close friend' on the national team.

The South Korean national football team, led by coach Hong Myung-bo, won 1-0 against El Salvador in a friendly match held at South Field of Brigham Young University near Provo, Utah, USA, with Lee Dong-gyeong's free-kick goal in the 12th minute of the second half being the decisive strike.

Four days prior, in the match against Trinidad and Tobago, Lee Dong-gyeong assisted Cho Gue-sung's (Midtjylland) goal with a precise left-footed out-step cross, contributing to a 5-0 victory. This time, he scored the winning goal with a left-footed free-kick, leading Hong Myung-bo's team to two consecutive wins in pre-camp evaluation matches.

Lee Kang-in, who plays for the world-renowned club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), is an undisputed second-line attacker for the Hong Myung-bo team. Lee Dong-gyeong is Lee Kang-in's backup.

However, if Lee Dong-gyeong's performance surpasses Lee Kang-in's in the remaining period, coach Hong's choice could change.

Coach Hong said after the match, "Lee Dong-gyeong is full of mental confidence. In the final tournament, the player in good condition will play." This means Lee Kang-in is not exempt from the competition for a starting spot.

But Lee Kang-in was relaxed. He said, "I'm so close with Dong-gyeong hyung that we played together at the (2020 Tokyo) Olympics and eat meals together," adding, "We share our strengths and weaknesses, and I'm trying hard to observe and learn from Dong-gyeong hyung's strengths."

Regarding Lee Dong-gyeong's free-kick goal that day, he said, "He scored so well that I hope he can score goals like that in the World Cup." He smiled broadly, saying it was a free-kick that would have resulted in a goal even in France's Ligue 1.

The Hong Myung-bo team has been training in Salt Lake City since the 18th of last month for the 2026 North American World Cup.

They are undertaking 'long-term training' before the tournament to adapt to the high-altitude environment of Guadalajara, Mexico, where they will play their first and second group stage matches, and to improve their physical condition.

However, Lee Kang-in only joined the national team on the 2nd, arriving late. He was delayed due to playing in the UEFA Champions League final with his club.

Lee Kang-in, who plays as a backup at PSG, only watched the final from the bench.

When asked about his feelings about winning the championship without playing, he replied, "Of course, as a player, I have regrets about not being able to play, but just going to the final, feeling the atmosphere, and being there on-site was very helpful."

He added, "I always try to see the positive aspects as much as possible rather than the negative ones. We won the Champions League, so it was good, wasn't it?" he said, smiling broadly once again.

Lee Kang-in was substituted into the match in the 18th minute of the second half and played for about 27 minutes.

He said, "I was the last one to join the squad, so I had a strong desire to return to the national team quickly and be with the players. It was great to return and play like this."

Four years ago, in the 2022 Qatar World Cup match against Ghana, Lee Kang-in made a strong impression by providing an assist shortly after being substituted in.

Fans expect him to deliver another decisive attacking contribution in this tournament, having matured further.

However, Lee Kang-in said, "I don't think I've ever been very greedy for attacking points since I was young." He added, "It's not something that changes just because I try to change now, so I will do my best to help the team as I have done so far."

Lee Kang-in recently dyed his hair a light brown with a grayish tint.

When asked if he changed his hairstyle to show his determination for the World Cup, he firmly replied, "Not at all."

He then said with a laugh, "It's better to dye it when I'm younger, and it might be a bit awkward if I dye it when I'm older, so I just did it because I wanted to try it."

The Hong Myung-bo team concluded its pre-camp schedule in Salt Lake City after the El Salvador match. They will travel by chartered flight on the 6th to Guadalajara, Mexico, the site of their group stage matches and their base camp.