SON AND SOUTH KOREA LOOK TO MOVE ON
Son Heung-min and South Korea must move on from their turbulent Asian Cup when they return to World Cup qualifying tomorrow with a home game against Thailand, while Japan, a big disappointment at the Asian Cup, will face North Korea in a double-header.
China’s Asian Cup was also a letdown, bundled out in the group stage with two points and no goals. Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic took over from Aleksandar Jankovic and China travel to Singapore for his first game in charge tomorrow night.
South Korea were dumped out 2-0 by unfancied Jordan in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup, including the sacking of coach Jurgen Klinsmann. Skipper Son and Paris Saint-Germain attacking midfielder Lee Kang-in were involved in a fracas on the eve of the match, leaving the Tottenham attacker with a dislocated finger.
Klinsmann was dismissed after having promised to take South Korea to their first Asian title in 64 years. He was replaced on an interim basis by Hwang Sun-hong.
Son and Lee have since made up, and Hwang included the pair in his squad for the match against Thailand and the return fixture five days later. Before Klinsmann’s departure, South Korea thrashed Singapore 5-0 and won 3-0 in China to top Group C. They are tipped to collect six more points against Thailand.
Japan went out 2-1 to Iran in the Asian Cup quarter-finals and never justified their tag as pre-tournament favourites. Hajime Moriyasu remained coach despite the disappointment and Japan face two matches against North Korea, including travelling into the unknown next Tuesday when they play at Kim Il-sung Stadium in Pyongyang.
Moriyasu will have to make do without Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma, who looks set to miss the rest of the Premier League season with a back injury. Japan have a perfect six points from two games.