Socceroos raring for familiar foes South Korea

Nine years after beating South Korea in the 2015 Asian Cup final, the Socceroos will savour a clash with their neighborhood rivals in the tournament’s quarter-finals.

Juergen Klinsmann’s side secured their spot in the closing eight with a dramatic penalty shootout win over Saudi Arabia, teeing up a clash with Australia on Friday night time neighborhood time (Saturday AEDT).

Wednesday was exactly nine years to the day for the reason that Australia’s superb triumph on home soil.

“Just searching forward to the event – a quarter-final,” skipper Mat Ryan, who was once in desires that night, told AAP.

“We’ve needless to say got a bit of a history in opposition to them in this match as properly however very lots looking forward to the challenge.

“They’re no longer now not fond (memories) in the team stage the place we misplaced to them however of course the ultimate where we acquired our revenge.

“So a lot of amazing memories, but we choose to repeat those remarkable reminiscences with obviously the win on Friday.

“We’re beneath no phantasm that it is going to be hard game. They’ve acquired needless to say plenty of best up front, very technical crew and of course nicely organised as well.

“We’ve got to be on the top of our sport to make sure we get the result.”

Australia have played South Korea 30 times, triumphing 11, drawing 11 and dropping eight.

Since Arnold took the reins in 2018, Australia have drawn 1-1 with South Korea in Brisbane in November of that 12 months and lost 1-0 in Busan in June 2019.

“I heard the different day that it’s the opposition we’ve got performed second-most in history,” teach Graham Arnold said.

“Obviously they’re a very top side. They’ve received some magnificent players that play in the Premier League and round Europe.

“But all we can do is center of attention on ourselves again, I recognize I hold pronouncing it, but getting our training proper nowadays and the following day and being geared up to go out there and provide everything that we’ve got got.

“Obviously there may be upgrades for us to do and it is time to tidy them up.”

Australia will have had 53.5 hours more recuperation time than South Korea heading into the quarter-final at Al Janoub Stadium, with the winner to face either Tajikistan or Jordan.

South Korea overcame a raucous pro-Saudi crowd at Education City Stadium and the Socceroos are comfortable to avoid that intimidating wall of noise.

“The major high-quality out of this is we might not be playing in front of 50,000 Saudi Arabian followers that have been notable for Saudi Arabia closing night.

“We won’t have that towards us as well – so that’s one proper part.”