Sixteen-year-old Casey Phair was included in South Korea’s squad for the Women’s World Cup, as the United States-born striker became the first player of mixed heritage to be selected for a Korean World Cup squad.
Phair, born to an American father and a South Korean mother, was called up by coach Colin Bell as he named his final squad for the World Cup, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20.
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At 16, Phair is the youngest player to represent South Korea at a World Cup.The teen striker had been training with the Players Development Academy in New Jersey before Bell called her up for the team’s World Cup training camp late last month.
According to Bell, Phair is a good finisher and a quick learner.
“First of all, Casey has very good physicality. She is very strong with both feet and is a good finisher. She learns very quickly and has presented herself very well within the squad,” Bell told reporters on Wednesday.
‘On Merit’
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Phair impressed at the youth level for South Korea, scoring a brace in their 16-0 rout of Tajikistan and a hat trick in their 12-0 win over Hong Kong in the qualifiers for the 2024 U-17 Women’s Asian Cup.
Bell said the youngster had been included in the World Cup squad on merit and that it was his duty to protect her from publicity.
“To be honest with you, I have kept Casey away from the press these two and a half weeks just to give her that space where she can develop and show her performance – basically concentrate on that,” Bell explained.
“I know that is the first mixed-race player for Korea in men’s or women’s teams – it’s a highlight, it’s something new. But as far as I am concerned, she is still a kid, and it’s my duty to protect her, so she can just blossom and fulfil her potential. She is in the squad on merit; she deserves it.”
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Competition For Spots
Bell added that Phair’s inclusion was not just an experiment and that he wanted players to fight for their spot in the starting line-up.
“She is selected because she can help the team now, like every other player. As I said before the camp, we are not experimenting; we are bringing in players to have a look. I had seen and analyzed all the players before the camp started, and Casey has just backed up my first opinion that she is good enough to be selected,” Bell said.
“Casey is going not as a passenger but as a valuable player of the squad and has every chance of getting into the team. I also want to have that competition. These young players – Casey, Chun Ga-ram, Bae Ye-bin – are pushing the older, experienced players.”
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The South Korean squad, captained by Ji So-yun, also includes midfielders Ji So-yun and Cho So-hyun, who are tied for the most appearances with 144 caps each. Fourteen of the 23 players have played at the World Cup before.
South Korea are in Group H with Morocco, Germany and Colombia. The Koreans were knocked out in the group stage at the 2019 World Cup and reached the last 16 in 2015.
South Korea’s World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Ryu Ji-soo, Kim Jung-mi, Yoon Young-guel
Defenders: Shim Seo-yeon, Lee Young-ju, Lim Seon-joo, Kim Hye-ri, Jang Sel-ji, Choo Hyo-joo, Hong Hye-ji
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Midfielders: Kim Yun-ji, Jeon Eun-ha, Bae Ye-bin, Cho So-hyun, Lee Geum-min, Ji So-yun, Chun Ga-ram
Forwards: Kang Chae-rim, Son Hwa-yeon, Moon Mi-ra, Park Eun-sun, Choe Yu-ri, Casey Phair Yu-jin
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