S.Korean defender Kwak out of the World Cup

South Korea defender Kwak Tae-Hwi has had to pull out of the World Cup after injuring his knee in a warm-up match against Belarus over the weekend, South Korea’s football association announced Monday.

The Kyoto Sanga player will be replaced by Kang Min-Soo, who was cut from the preliminary squad named earlier this month by coach Huh Jung-Moo, the association added.

Huh is due to announce Tuesday the final list of 23 players who will travel to South Africa for the June 11-July 11 World Cup.

South Korea, who have been training in Austria for the past week, play a last warm-up match against Spain on Thursday in Innsbruck.

In the group stage of the World Cup, the Koreans will face Argentina, Greece and Nigeria.