Anything is possible for Taegeuk Warriors

South Korea’s Son Heung-min, center, battles for the ball during their AFC Asia Cup quarterfinal soccer match in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday. / AP-Yonhap

By John Duerden

SYDNEY ― Korea has been here before. A third consecutive appearance at an Asian Cup semifinal. In 2011, Japan emerged triumphant after a thrilling 2-2 tie ended in penalties. Four years before that and there was another penalty shootout defeat ― at the hands of Iraq.

It's Iraq again. Tonight, in Sydney, Korea takes on the 2007 champion, hoping to reach a first final since 1988, a necessary step towards winning a first title since 1960. At this stage, anything is possible.

These have been a strange few weeks in Australia. The Taeguk Warriors have played four games and not once has the defense been breached. Few would have thought this likely given the past problems but here we are.

In Australia, there is a growing sense that the final will be between the host nation and Korea yet Stielike will be taking nothing for granted. Iraq is a little fortunate to get this far. The Lions of Mesopotamia played a thrilling quarterfinal with Iran that ended 3-3 before a penalty shootout. Yet, had Aussie referee Ben Williams not wrongly sent off an Iranian player early in the game, then it is likely that the opposition today would be Persian.

Korea will not admit it but there is a little satisfaction that it is not. Iraq has talent and a talisman in the form of striker Younis Mahmoud, the star of the 2007 triumph, but playmaker Yasim Kaser is suspended for this game. Without the English-based star, the team loses much of its creativity. Still, it is going to be a tough game, but if Korea plays to its potential, there should only be one winner.

Playing to its potential has not been much in evidence in recent years but there is a growing confidence in the camp and rightly so. The first two wins, both 1-0, against Oman and Kuwait were unconvincing but doing the same against Australia in Brisbane really lifted spirits and belief. Then came a tricky quarterfinal against Uzbekistan. It was goalless after 90 minutes but in extra time, Korea took control of the game to deservedly win 2-0.

Son Heung-min got both goals and all of the headlines. He is the one Iraq will be scared of, despite the fact the German-based star left the field exhausted on Thursday. One of the players hit by a virus in the first week of the tournament, a fit and confident Son could be the difference. Ki Sung-yeung, captain, is already one of the players of the competition so far and with Cha Du-ri marauding on the right side, it could be a classic against an Iraq team with one rest day less.

Perhaps the big question is, how the team will play with the big prize now coming into view? Losing a semifinal is cruel as you go home, soon forgotten after working hard, to watch the final two enjoy the hype and attention. There is serious pressure and there is also a doubt as to how the team will handle it.

After the Kuwait game, Stielike talked of the lack of a strong mentality in the national team, and players who could do it in training but fell to pieces when it mattered. “We have to make the priority our mental preparation,” he said. It’s a lot of pressure as everyone wants to go to the final. We have to find a way to come out without this pressure, just to have fun to play football.”

That may be a tall order, semifinals are rarely fun but Korea knows better than most that failure at this stage is painful. It is in the hands of the players and coach.