Qatar Asian Cup 2023 kicks off on July 13 South Korea opens Group E against Bahrain on the 15th
Klinsmann’s men will seek a first Asian Cup title in 64 years
Jürgen Klinsmann arrived in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday (Feb. 11-Feb. 13) for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) 2023 Qatar Asian Cup. South Korea, who are in Group E (Korea Bahrain Jordan Malaysia), will open their campaign against Bahrain on Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
The four teams that finish first, second, and third in the group will advance to the round of 16.
South Korea is seeking its first title in 64 years after winning the tournament in 1956 and 1960.
With a prize pool of $5 million (6.6 billion won) for the winner and $3 million for the runner-up, the tournament kicks off on Wednesday at 1 a.m. with the opening match between hosts Qatar and Thailand.
Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, Hwang Hee-chan, and more.
Coach Klinsmann, who emphasizes attacking soccer, is full of confidence. At the beginning of the year, he vowed to “win the championship for the first time in 64 years.” Of the 26 players, 14 are foreigners and 11 are Europeans.
The most prolific are Son Heung-min (Tottenham), who is tied for third in the English Premier League in goals this season (12), and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), who is sixth (10).
Then there’s Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), a trickster who can dribble, kick, and break free, and the Bundesliga’s “iron wall” Kim Min-jae (Munich) at the back.
Big-stage hacks like Oh Hyun-gyu (Celtic), Cho Kyu-sung (Mitwillan), Hwang In-beom (Zvezda) and Lee Jae-sung (Mainz) have also laced up their boots. Bookmakers are listing Japan, South Korea, Iran and Australia as favorites to win the tournament.
Beyond the ‘three variables’ of the Middle East, injuries, and officiating
South Korea has had a few bad experiences in the Middle East.
They lost 2-6 to Iran in the quarterfinals of the 1996 Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates and went down 1-2 against Bahrain in the second round of the 2007 Asian Cup group stage.
They’re the underdogs, but there’s always a chance they’ll be upset. In the 2019 tournament, they were knocked out by Qatar in the quarterfinals, and in the 2011 World Cup, they lost 1-2 against Lebanon in the third qualifying round. 카지노사이트777
This is a result of not adapting to the climate and other conditions in the Middle East.
Injury risk must also be avoided.
South Korea has a disparity in performance between their best 11 and their backups.
They need to use their team energy properly to stay at full strength.
No team should be underestimated from the group stage, but the injury bug shouldn’t be a factor in crucial matches.
The team will also need to be smart in refereeing situations after Lee Kang-in was sent off with two cautions in the second half of the 1-0 win over Iraq on June 6.
South Korea could face Iran in the quarterfinals, Australia or Saudi Arabia in the semifinals and Japan in the final.
Japan has won the title four times (1992-2000-2004-2011), while Saudi Arabia and Iran have won it three times.
Klinsmann’s fortunes are also being tested at the Asian Cup
. Since his appointment last year, Klinsmann has rattled off six straight wins after a difficult opening five-match winless streak.
His attacking football has been a fan favorite, but it’s been mainly a trial run, and the tournament will be a test of his abilities, as the team’s numerical disadvantage has left them vulnerable in midfield and allowing counterattacks.
Commentator Kim Dae-gil said, “The fans’ expectations are high and the competition is fierce.
It will be a tough fight from the quarterfinals onwards, so Klinsmann will have a lot to think about.”
Meanwhile, the tournament will feature some familiar faces, including Malaysia’s Kim Pang Gon, Indonesia’s Shin Tae Yong, and UAE’s Paulo Bento.
