AFC
Doha: Ahead of their last eight tie against Indonesia on Thursday, Korea Republic head coach Hwang Sun-hong declared that his side are fully focused on getting through to the semi-finals of the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™.
The 2020 champions won all three of their Group B matches without conceding a single goal to progress to the knockout stage, which maintained their status as the only team in all six editions of the tournament to qualify from the group stage at every iteration.
Korea Republic have also reached the final four on four previous occasions, the most of any team, and Hwang asserted that they are ready to start on a clean slate at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium.
“As we expected before the start of the tournament, it was obviously a difficult group for us and the matches we played were indeed very hard and tough,” the 55-year-old said.
“But the boys were determined to win every match and they performed very well so I am pleased with that.
“But that is already history and what is important is what is ahead of us, and we will do our best to prepare for tomorrow’s match and win.”
Similarly, his Indonesian counterpart Shin Tae-yong praised his charges for bouncing back from an opening-day defeat to record two consecutive wins in Group A and seal their quarter-final spot on their tournament debut, becoming the 18th different side to make it to the knockout stage.
The 53-year-old can welcome striker Ramadhan Santana back from suspension and also have defender Nathan Tjoe-an available - the SC Heereveen player was initially scheduled to depart after the group stage - as the Southeast Asians aim to become the first team to breach the Korea Republic defence.
“Korea Republic is of course strong in terms of physique, fitness and pace, and… they have strong tenacity,” Shin said. “Their defensive line is strong and concrete. It is difficult but we are working on detailed plans to break through their defensive lines.They also have strength and power and we must take care of their (prowess at) set-pieces.”
The former Korea Republic international also admitted that he would have mixed feelings about facing his compatriots, having overseen their age-group and senior teams in the past, but vowed that “sport is sport” and that he will help Indonesia give their all in search of victory.
Jeong Sang-bin and Eom Ji-sung were singled out as key threats by Shin, while in Lee Young-jun and Lee Tae-seok, Korea Republic also possess the joint-leading scorer and assist-maker (three each) of the tournament.
Hwang can also count on the return of captain Byun Jun-soo from suspension, although fellow centre-back Seo Myung-guan is likely to remain sidelined by injury.
He reiterated a desire for Korea Republic to keep their feet on the ground as they gun for a 12th appearance at the Olympics.
“Shin Tae-yong coaching them is one of the strengths of their team… he has been coaching them for a long time and they are well organised and solid,” Hwang noted.
“All their strikers are also talented but rather than thinking about the strong points of our opponents, we have to prepare well and play our own style of football tomorrow.
“We will try to control the space and not allow them to exploit it and maintain compactness as much as possible.
“This is a very important match for both of us. Regardless of whoever starts, we will prepare as a team and continue to have the same determination and will to win the match.”
Korea Republic v Indonesia
Venue: Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium (Doha)
Kick-off: 20:30 (UTC+3)