S. Korea to clash with perennial rival Japan

Captain Park Ji-sung expected to join century club after joining squad in 2000

By Yoon Chul

South Korea will face off against archrival Japan in a semifinal of the Asian Cup in Doha at 10:25 p.m., Tuesday.

The South Korean squad, 39th in the FIFA world standings, leads Japan with a 40-21-12 record in head-to-head matches, though Japan is currently ranked 29th.

In the last 10 games Korea leads Japan 4-4-2 but Japan has reaped better results in the Asian Cup over the past few years.

While Korea is looking to win the trophy for the first time in 51 years, Japan which won three of the last five Asian Cups including back-to-back triumphs in 2000 and 2004, is aiming to be the first country to win a fourth title.

Both of the teams have struggled. Korea has allowed three goals including two penalties, because of Kwak Tae-hwi’s unnecessarily tough challenges while Japan has conceded one spot kick out of the two goals they let in during the group stage.

Both managers have lost the services of key defenders ― Lee Jung-soo of Korea and Maya Yoshida of Japan ― and need to reorganize their back lines.

Korean coach Cho Kwang-rae may give Kwak another opportunity but South Africa World Cup squad members Cho Yong-hyung and Hong Jung-ho are also strong contenders to come in to the side.

Atsuto Uchida’s return to right back is good news for Japan. But Masahiko Inoha, who will return to center back has only played two international matches.

In attack two Korean English Premier League players, Park Ji-sung of Manchester United and Lee Chung-yong of Bolton Wanderers have led the team to dominate the middle of the pitch despite not having any offensive points.

Among Korea’s eight goals in four games only one has come from a striker, through Ji Dong-won while rising star Koo Ja-cheol has netted four times.

“Though our forward hasn’t scored a lot, unexpected players like me have found the net. I think it is more positive,” Koo said.

The Japanese team also expects a lot from its overseas players and forwards.

Among their 11 goals nine have come from strikers Shinji Okazaki (3), Shinji Kagawa (2), Ryoichi Maeda (2) and Makoto Hasebe of VFL Wolfsburg and Takuya Honda of CSKA Moscow have one each.

Cho will again look to exert strong pressure on his opponents from the middle of the park.

Along with Park, Lee and Korea’s leading scorer Koo rising star Lee Yong-rae of Suwon BlueWings will try to press the Japanese squad with their quick movement.

The problem for the Korean side is they seem to be slightly more tired than their Japanese counterparts.

The Korean footballers had a tough match that went to extra time in their quarterfinal against Iran on Sunday with only one days rest compared with Japan which beat Qatar 3-2 on Saturday.

The Japanese media has predicted that chances for their team will come in the second half when the Korean squad starts to tire.

However, the Korean players, who have shown a strong spirit in every game against Japan, will try to maintain their strength.

Korean captain Park is set to join the century club for his country. Park, who made his international debut on April 5, 2000 against Laos, won his 99th cap against Iran.

Park would become the eighth Korean to achieve this feat.

Hong Myung-bo holds the record for the most caps, appearing in 135 games.