Lee injury adds to Korea woes

SEOUL: Veteran striker Lee Keun-ho was Thursday ruled out of South Korea’s World Cup squad after tearing a knee ligament, the latest in a string of injuries to plague the Asian team ahead of Russia.

“Lee Keun-ho has been ruled out of the World Cup,” spokesman at the Korea Football Association told AFP.

“He sustained a torn ligament on his right knee during a K-League 1 game last Saturday.”

The 33-year-old Gangwon FC forward was stretchered off the field during Saturday’s match against Gyeongnam and team doctors had hoped he would quickly recover.

But later testing revealed more severe damage that will take him out of the game for weeks with the World Cup kicking off on June 14.

Lee’s inability to play in Russia next month will pile pressure on the Taeguk

Warriors who have already been battered by injuries.