Australia’s favourite footballing son Tim Cahill will have to be at his best in the frontline as the Socceroos take on South Korea to decide the 2015 Asian champions, in the final in Sydney on Saturday.

DPA/Sydney

Australia are confident of avenging their group stage loss to South Korea when the teams meet again in the Asian Cup final on Saturday.
The South Koreans have kept five clean sheets out of five so far in the tournament and one of those came in the 1-0 victory over the hosts in Brisbane to conclude Group A.
But the Socceroos maintain they were the better side in that contest despite losing and that they will have the last laugh in the rematch at Stadium Australia in Sydney.
“We had a few chances against them in the first game but unfortunately we just didn’t put those chances away,” defender Jason Davidson told the media Wednesday.
“We’ll definitely create those chances again and it’s up to us and it’s our job to make sure we’re clinical and we put them away. This is the business end and this is when you want to be winning games. We’re full of confidence and I’m sure whatever the game plan is we have to make sure we complete it as best as we can.”
Davidson has made the left-back slot his own in the tournament after not playing in the first game and it is unlikely he will be dropped for the final.
He even managed his first international goal in Tuesday’s 2-0 semi-final victory over the United Arab Emirates in Newcastle.
Fellow defender Trent Sainsbury also claimed his maiden goal for the Socceroos in that contest and he too backed his side before the meeting with South Korea.
“We’re more confident in each other’s ability,” he said. “At the start it may have been a few people hesitant to play certain balls but now everyone knows what each other is capable of.
“It’s all about confidence for this team now. A clean sheet last night is the perfect breeding ground for us to go on and do better things.”
Though Sainsbury has been a rock in the centre of the Australian defence, which has only conceded twice in the competition, he may have to be used as an emergency right-back should Ivan Franjic fail to shake off a hip injury.
Franjic, who was struggling to run towards the conclusion of the UAE game, maintains he will recover in time for the final.
But if not, Sainsbury is ready and willing to deputize. “I’ve played there a few times for the (Central Coast) Mariners and once in pre-season for my (Dutch) club Zwolle,” he said. “It doesn’t bother me, I’ll just have to adjust and do what the coaches tell me. You can put me in goal if you want to I’m not fussed. I’ll go out there and do the job I’m told.”

We are tough enough for Aussies, says Korea captain
South Korea could thrive in the role of underdogs when they face hosts Australia in the Asian Cup final this weekend, says skipper Ki Sung-Yueng.
Having reached the final for the first time in 27 years battered, bruised and held together by team spirit and sheer bloody-mindedness, the Swansea City midfielder told Korean reporters on Wednesday that the Red Devils had the steel to go all the way.
“I believe it will come down to mental strength,” said Ki, who has been a calming influence on South Korea after losing the influential pairing of Lee Chung-Yong and Koo Ja-Cheol to injury in the group stages.
“That will be more important than physical strength,” he added, noting that the Australians would hold the advantage in terms of power. “This is a great opportunity for South Korean football.”
South Korea’s rich pedigree speaks for itself, the team famously reaching the World Cup semi-finals in 2002. But they have curiously failed to lift the Asian Cup since 1960.
“We understand the magnitude of the game without anyone telling us,” insisted Ki when reminded of the fact before Saturday’s showdown in Sydney.
But coach Uli Stielike has moulded a resilient side in his own image, the former West Germany international renowned in his playing days as a steely defensive midfielder who went on to become a fan favourite for Real Madrid after joining them in 1977.
The Taeguk Warriors have reached the final without conceding a goal, beating Australia 1-0 along the way to secure top spot in Group A.
Forward Lee Jeong-Hyeop has become a smash hit with fans after scoring the winner against the Socceroos and another in Monday’s 2-0 win over Iraq in the semi-finals.
A shock selection by Stielike before the tournament, Lee confessed he had no idea if he will even start in the final—and insisted it didn’t matter either way.
“I don’t know if I’ll play,” he said before training. “It’s not about personal milestones at all. All that matters is winning the title. People are talking about me because I’ve scored a couple of goals but my job is to score goals.”
Lee, who is currently completing his mandatory military service with the K-League’s army side Sangmu Phoenix, warned that Australia would be fired up as they chase a first Asian title in front of their home fans. “They will be more prepared this time,” he said. “That means we will have to analyse them more closely too and be ready.”


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