Stielike ready for another Iran test on road to World Cup
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) General Secretary Windsor John holds the country name card of South Korea in the draw for 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Asian qualifiers final round in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Tuesday. Iran and South Korea were the top-seeded teams in Group A, which also includes China, Uzbekistan, 2022 World Cup host Qatar and Syria. / AP-Yonhap
By John Duerden
KUALA LUMPUR ― South Korea has been drawn with Iran in the final round of qualification for the 2018 World Cup, the third successive time that the two rivals have met at this stage.
They were placed in Group A along with Uzbekistan, China, Qatar and Syria. The top two from the group will qualify automatically with the third-placed team entering a series of two playoffs.
The Taeguk Warriors will kick off the campaign at home to China on September 1 before taking on Syria five days later.
“The opening game at home to China will be a good one to start,” Korea coach Uli Stielike told The Korea Times. “We will have a full stadium and we hope it will be a good game. We will be looking to get a good start.”
It is a tough group with Qatar and Uzbekistan both winning their groups in the second round with some comfort but the German is ready for the challenge.
“This is the final round. All the games are going to be tough and all the teams are going to be strong,” he added. “We have to focus on what we do and playing as well as we can. We know the teams well and they know us.”
As well as Iran, Uzbekistan and Qatar also faced Korea at the same stage four years ago. Park Ji-sung was not part of the team then but has played at three World Cups.
“It is not a good draw or a bad one,” the former Manchester United man told The Korea Times. “It is important to prepare well and do the best we can.”
Despite qualifying for the last eight World Cups, Korea has never defeated Iran in Iran. Park scored in a 1-1 tie in qualification for the 2010 tournament and believes that the present crop of players could make history.
“Iran is a good team and always has been in Asia,” he said. “Tehran is a tough place to go but we have the players to get good results anywhere in Asia. It doesn't matter if we finish first or second, the important thing is just to qualify.”
Iran coach Carlos Queiroz was the coach four years ago when Iran and Korea crossed swords in bad-tempered clashes in Tehran and Ulsan.
“We are not surprised to play Korea again,” said Queiroz. “We know that Korea are a strong team and are full of players in Europe and around the world. They will be great games and we are looking forward to them.”
In Group B, Australia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Thailand were drawn together.