South Korea’s national soccer team, led by head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, will play Australia in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Qatar Asian Cup at Al-Zanub Stadium in Al-Wakra, Qatar, on the morning of the 3rd (Korea time).
Korea is trying to avenge its pain nine years ago. In the final match, Korea ended up as the runner-up by losing 1-2. Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur) scored an equalizer just before the end of the second half, but the team was pushed back in the playoff and allowed the winning goal.
Korea aims to win the Asian Cup title for the first time in 64 years. Analysts say that the team is the best ever. Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Lee Kang-in (Saint-Germain in Paris), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), and Cho Kyu-sung (Mit Whelan) have joined the team.
Korea boasts maximum attack capability. It has scored nine goals during the four matches of this year’s event. The team has lost seven goals, failing to display stability. However, it is positive that the team has scored whenever it needs to.
In particular, it is impressive that he scored a decisive goal in a chaotic situation at the end of the game. Over the past three consecutive games, Hwang scored in extra time in the second half. When the Korean team was losing 1-2 in the second group match against Jordan, Hwang In-beom scored a draw in the 91st minute with a sharp shot that induced an own goal. The same goes for Malaysia. Son Heung-min scored a goal in the 94th minute to take a 3-2 lead again. In the match against Saudi Arabia, Cho Kyu-sung shook the net in the 99th minute. As a result, the team was able to secure victory through extra time and a penalty shootout.
The Australian team boasts the best defense capability in this year’s event. The defense line, which is being guarded by 200-centimeter-tall central defender Harry Suta (Leicester City), is superb in physical condition and strength. Instead, the team’s speed is slow. It is important to shake the team’s defense from the side and destroy Australia’s teamwork.
Klinsmann also expressed his commitment to overcome Australia by concentrating in the second half. “What I was encouraged by the match against Saudi Arabia was that I created many opportunities in the second half and overtime. I was able to bring good results by Cho Kyu-sung’s scoring. At the match against Australia, I will focus on converting chances into goals,” he said.
BY: 스포츠토토핫