SEOUL — South Korea has included six European-based players in its 2015 Asian Cup squad announced Monday in Seoul but there was no place for former Arsenal striker Park Chu-young. The 23-man squad for the two-time continental champion includes in-form stars such as Son Heung-min of Bayer Leverkusen, one of four players from the Bundesliga, and Swansea City's English Premier League midfielder Ki Seung-yeung. Park, who left Arsenal early in 2014 and had a poor World Cup as Korea collected just one point, recently joined Al-Shabab of Saudi Arabia but did not make the final cut. Injured strikers Lee Dong-gook and Kim Shin-wook have also been omitted. Korea, looking for a first Asian Cup win since 1960, is in Group A along with host Australia, Kuwait and Oman. “The decision not to select Park was a very difficult one,” coach Uli Stielike said. “In the end, I was worried about his lack of goals,” he added, referring to the fact that Park has scored only twice in the whole of 2014. Stielike also decided against calling other European players. Hong Jeong-ho, defender with Augsburg in the Bundesliga, and Yun Suk-young, left back with Queens Park Rangers in the English Premier League, fail to make the cut after struggling with injuries. Ji Dong-won pays the price for a lack of game time with Borussia Dortmund. Cahill going strong Australia's all time leading goal-scorer Tim Cahill is feeling as fit as ever and thinks he could continue playing for another four seasons into his 40th year. With his weight and body fat ratio unchanged since he was 17, Cahill said he would be looking for a two or three year contract when his deal with Major League Soccer (MLS) club New York Red Bulls expires next year. The 35-year-old forward said he could yet return to the English Premier League, where he spent nine years with Everton before making the switch stateside. The host nation will be looking to Cahill for a good few more from Jan. 9-31 as the Socceroos look to win Asia's biggest tournament for the first time at the third attempt. — Agencies
