If we can't fill the holes in our defense
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Prior to the start of the Asian Cup, South Korea had the second-best odds of winning the tournament (14.3% - sports statistician Opta), behind Japan (24.6%), but that dropped to 11% after the group stage. Fifth place behind Japan (18.2%), Qatar (16.8%), Australia (14.7%), and Iran (12.2%). This was a reflection of performance and bracket. Japan is down a bit, but still in first place.
Many would argue that they deserved it based on their performance so far. Eight goals and six conceded in three group games. This is tied for the most goals conceded in the first three games since the first Asian Cup in 1956, when Japan conceded six in three games (nine). The most goals conceded in a group stage since the 1972 Asian Cup, when the tournament format was changed, was five in 1996. Furthermore, their opponents were Bahrain (86th in the FIFA rankings), Jordan (87th), and Malaysia (130th). Among the round of 16 teams, South Korea and Indonesia conceded the most goals in the group stage (6).
The key: shaky defense. The team is stuck in a rut. They have a great central defensive resource in Kim Min-jae (28), but the flanks are shaky. In the group stage, there were repeated crises where the flanks were breached and goals were conceded. 안전놀이터 Even the late penalty against Malaysia was the result of a sloppy pass that allowed a flanker to break through and the ball to fall to the center. In the 26-man roster announced by coach Jürgen Klinsmann last month, there were only four flankers, including the controversial Lee Ki-je (33). To make matters worse, as the tournament progressed, injuries to the flankers narrowed the options, forcing the team to move right-back Seol Young-woo (26) to the left against Malaysia. "We didn't have a plan B for each position," is the growing criticism.
Saudi Arabia, who will face South Korea in the round of 16, made nine changes to their starting lineup for the third match against Thailand after securing a spot in the round of 16. The match ended in a 0-0 draw, but it showed that non-starters can be integrated into the tactics of Saudi coach Roberto Mancini (60-Italy). This paves the way for a wider selection of players. South Korea, on the other hand, had seven players with one caution, six of whom were sent off in the third period, and one more in the third, for a total of eight yellow cards. Son Heung-min (32), Kim Min-jae, and Hwang In-beom (28). If they receive one more caution, they will miss the next game. Core players Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in (23) have played three games without a substitution. Their fitness could be an issue going forward. Six players, including Moon Sun-min (32) and Yang Hyun-joon (22), have yet to step on the pitch as the team battled to the end of the group stage.
Four days until the round of 16, the first game of the tournament. That's not a lot of time to drastically improve your tactical perfection. If anything, they need to 'fine-tune'. Commentator Park Moon-sung said, "In this tournament, South Korea had a tendency to pass the ball from a long distance due to the gap in the midfield, which resulted in dull passes. They need to narrow this gap." It's up to the coach to adjust the positions of the players according to their activity level and passing ability to improve the overall organization. Change is needed for the Saudi game. It's worth considering freshening up the starting lineup. Commentator Lee Sang-yoon said, "It gives the players an impetus to think, 'If I have a chance, I must take advantage of it.'" Striker Cho Kyu-sung, 26, has been somewhat disheartened by the tournament's goalless record and frequent missed chances.
Saudi Arabia lost 0-1 to South Korea in an exhibition match last September. But since then, they are unbeaten in their last eight matches (6 wins, 2 draws). They are not without their weaknesses. Last year, the Saudi league was flooded with big-name European players in the name of "oil money," and Saudi players actually lost a lot of playing time in their own league. In a high-pressure tournament, this can lead to a lack of late-game awareness. That's when a penetrative player like Hwang Hee-chan, 28, who has returned from injury, can shake up the defense. "Saudi Arabia is practically a 'semi-secure country,' so it will be a tough match, but if Korea wins, it will have a great psychological effect of restoring confidence," said Lee Sang-yoon.
The all-time series between the two countries is 5 wins, 8 draws, and 5 losses. However, in the last five meetings, South Korea has won two and drawn three. Statistics firm Opta gives South Korea a 52.7 percent chance of beating Saudi Arabia this time around. It's a narrow edge. If South Korea wins in the round of 16, their quarterfinal opponent will be Australia (ranked 25th), who will face Indonesia.
