Never letting up

BRISBANE, Australia (Yonhap) ― Despite having already secured a berth in the quarterfinals at the ongoing AFC Asian Cup, South Korea will go all out against Australia in its upcoming Group A showdown, a national team official said Friday.

The Korea Football Association official rejected the possibility that South Korea will rest some regulars against Australia, when the two countries meet Saturday at Brisbane Stadium.

“Our plan is definitely to have the best players in our lineup to play the best match we can,” the official said.

Though both countries have clinched spots in the knockout stage, much remains at stake.

They’re tied with six points after two matches, with Australia ahead thanks to a superior goal differential. 

South Korea can take the group with a victory, while Australia only needs a draw to win the group.

The Group A winner will travel to Melbourne to face the runner-up from Group B. Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan are fighting for that spot. The Group A runner-up will remain in Brisbane and take on Group B winner China, which has clinched the spot with two straight victories.

Those who have played at Brisbane Stadium have complained about poor pitch conditions, and South Korea, whose head coach Uli Stielike often stresses smart passing and ball possession, would do well to leave after one match.

South Korea is also hoping to build some positive momentum heading into the knockout stage, after a pair of mediocre matches that somehow resulted in victories.

Stielike is expected to have back most of the players who missed the team’s second match against Kuwait with illnesses.

Australia coach Ange Postecoglou may or may not rest his star players, after his side scored a tournament-high eight goals in two matches.

Players, for their part, are saying no one wants to sit out the group finale before home fans.

Focused on winning Group A

On the eve of South Korea’s match against Australia here, with the top seed in Group A on the line, Stielike said he won’t settle for anything less than a victory.

“I am not the type who plays for a draw,” Stielike said at the prematch press conference at Brisbane Stadium.

“We’ll go after the victory over Australia and the first place in our group.”

Stielike said defeating Australia will be important for South Korea’s long-term benefit.

“If we can beat Australia and then win the championship, it will be a huge boost to our confidence,” he added.

“A win tomorrow will have a positive impact on our squad and the rest of the tournament. This is why we absolutely have to win tomorrow.”

Stielike was shorthanded in the second match against Kuwait on Tuesday, with a handful of players sidelined with injuries and illnesses. He said he won’t make an excuse out of the team’s current situation.

“We’ve experienced a lot of problems over the past five days with some sick players, but we still have to do our best on the field,” he said.

“I don’t know who will start tomorrow’s match. I will have to discuss with our trainers to get a clearer answer.”

Stielike noted, however, that the ones who sat out the Kuwait match, including winger Son Heung-min and attacking midfielder Koo Ja-cheol, have returned to full strength.

Stielike has been tinkering with his defensive combinations since taking over South Korea in October. When asked if his juggling acts might have compromised some defensive stability, Stielike said he had no choice but to make changes because of injuries and illnesses.

“When I first arrived in South Korea, I wanted to test different sets of players,” he said.

“But so far at this tournament, I was forced to make the moves I made. I couldn’t put in players who weren’t 100 percent. I am not here to win the tournament by switching my lineup. That’s never been my intention.”

Stielike added that he doesn’t feel any extra pressure of facing the host nation, and the goal is to put on an entertaining show “for the fans who pay a lot of money for their tickets.”