Jeddah: South Korea is preparing to adopt an aggressive strategy against Japan in the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Asian Cup, set to take place at King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium in Jeddah. The match is scheduled for Tuesday, with kickoff at 2:30 p.m. local time, or 8:30 p.m. in South Korea.
According to Yonhap News Agency, assistant coach Lee Kyung-soo, filling in for head coach Lee Min-sung who is unwell, emphasized the plan to exploit Japan's defensive spaces. Lee highlighted the team's focus on quick transitions and counter pressing after losing possession, aiming to leverage their strengths against their rivals.
Japan's team, focused on the 2028 Olympics, comprises players aged 20 or younger, while South Korea's squad includes several 22-year-olds. Japan secured their semifinal spot by winning all Group B matches against the United Arab Emirates, Syria, and Qatar, and defeating Jordan on penalties in the quarterfinals. In contrast, South Korea had a challenging path, with a win, a draw, and a loss in Group C play before overcoming Australia in the quarterfinals with a 2-1 victory.
Assistant coach Lee Kyung-soo noted improvements in South Korea's play as the tournament progressed, particularly in taking shots from dangerous areas and using space effectively. Head coach Lee Min-sung expressed a desire to build on the quarterfinal victory's positive momentum, while defender Lee Hyun-yong voiced confidence in the team's ability to outperform Japan by playing cohesively.
This marks South Korea's first semifinal appearance in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup since 2020 when they claimed the title.