Who: Jordan vs South Korea
What: AFC Asian Cup 2023 semifinal
When: Tuesday, February 5, 2024, 6pm (15:00 GMT)
Where: Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar
After playing out a thrilling 2-2 draw against each other in the group stage, South Korea and Jordan are set to meet again in the Asian Cup semifinal in Qatar.
Both teams are ready to go the distance, if required, with extra time and penalties, their coaches said on Monday.
Although Hussein Ammouta’s Jordan reached the semifinals with wins over Iraq and debutants Tajikistan in normal time, South Korea have had a bruising journey to the last four against Asian heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Australia.
Jurgen Klinsmann’s side needed a penalty shootout to beat Saudi Arabia before forcing extra time against Australia in the quarterfinals, playing 120 minutes on both occasions compared to a well-rested Jordan.
“The willingness to suffer, to go to the end if it’s needed – 120 minutes, penalty shootout – we are prepared for that,” Klinsmann said ahead of the match.
“There are many, many factors that are important in order to go far in the tournament and we prepared well. We started in Seoul on December 26 to build fitness and we have only two injuries now. We are extremely hungry.
“It’s the physical and mental side, but it’s also the spirit of the group. It’s a marathon and we’re nearing the end of the marathon. Hopefully, we can win it all.”
The #AsianCup2023 SEMI-FINALISTS!
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— AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 (@Qatar2023en) February 3, 2024
‘We will have to struggle’
South Korea advanced after they forced extra time in both their knockout games with stoppage-time goals, and Ammouta praised their resilience.
“It’s true that South Korea have great potential in terms of mental, technical and tactical preparedness. We’ve seen this in different games – the control, possession and quick movement of the ball,” he said.
“I hope we’ve reached the point to put in a good performance, especially in the final minutes of the game. Saudi Arabia and Australia were ahead and they made mistakes at the end.
“Our focus has to be strong and it’s going to be tiring. This is necessary, we will have to struggle.”
Ammouta added that fatigue may not be a factor in Tuesday’s semifinal because South Korea showed how well they coped with going to extra time in two consecutive games.
“Despite playing 120 minutes twice everyone knows the value of South Korea at an individual and collective level. Playing 120 minutes means they’re in good shape,” the Moroccan-born coach said.
“They’re professional players; they can easily recover physically and mentally in 48 hours. I don’t think playing 120 minutes will make a difference.”
While Jordan are playing in their first semifinal, South Korea are looking to advance and end a 64-year trophy drought in the Asian Cup.
Klinsmann, who has won several international titles as a player and a coach, had some simple advice for his players.
“Just stay relaxed look forward to it, eliminate all the things that are not important right now,” the German said.
“This group of players is experienced, they are so motivated. They are so positive that they just want to go all the way to the final and prove themselves.”
Head-to-head
This will be only the sixth meeting between the sides in a fixture that dates back only 20 years.
Jordan are yet to record a win against South Korea but have only tasted defeat twice.
The first meeting was at the 2004 Asian Cup and ended in a 0-0 draw in the group stage.
The teams also battled it out in the group stage for qualification for the 2008 World Cup, where Jordan secured a 2-2 draw in South Korea before succumbing 1-0 on home soil.
The Koreans also secured a 1-0 win in a friendly in 2014 before a 10-year wait for the latest encounter in the group stage.
Form
Jordan have lost once at the tournament already when they went down to Bahrain in the group stage match. However, they do have three wins to South Korea’s two. The last two wins were inside 90 minutes, where the Koreans required extra time in their two knock-out games so far.
Jordan: W D L W W
South Korea: W D D D W
Jordan team news
Hamza Al-Dardour returns from suspension following the quarterfinal win over Tajikistan.
Yazan Al-Naimat will lead the line again, having scored twice in the tournament – including once against South Korea in the group stage.
Predicted XI: Yazeed Abu Laila, Ehsan Haddad, Mahmoud Al Mardi, Salem Al Ajalin, Yazan Al-Arab, Abdallah Nasib, Raja’ei Ayed, Noor Al-Rawabdeh, Yazan Al Naimat, Mousa Tamari, Ali Olwan
South Korea team news
South Korea have no new injury concerns, but have played for 120 minutes in their last two matches.
Hwang Hee-chan only started a match at the tournament for the first time in the last match, so his fitness will be assessed.
Lee Jae-sung has been touted as an option to freshen up the legs in attack for Cho Gue-sung.
Predicted XI: Jo Hyeon-woo, Kim Tae-hwan, Kim Min-jae, Kim Young-gwon, Seol Young-woo, Park Yong-woo, Hwang In-beom, Lee Kang-in, Son Heung-min, Hwang Hee-chan, Cho Gue-sung
