Korea Republic-Japan promise attacking soccer to corner glory

Kolkata, Nov 8 (UNI) For Korea Republic, it's moving a step closer to completing a hattrick in AFC Youth Championships, while for Japan it's time for sweet revenge when the two clash in the first semifinals of the tournament tomorrow.

An unlucky exit from the semifinals to eventual champions Korea Republic on penalties in the previous edition put paid to Japan's chances of winning the one continental title which had eluded them so far.

For all their strength in the youth department, Japan had suffered heartbreak five times in the final of the showpiece event with their first defeat coming up against Iran in 1973. They managed to make the Final again after a long gap of 21 years but this time went down to Syria.

In 1998, the Japanese found Korea Republic too hot but nevertheless qualified for the following year's FIFA World Youth Championship in which they were losing finalist to Spain, becoming only the second Asian team after Qatar to have advanced so far.

However, there was no end to Japan's woes in the Asian event and in 2000 they were bested by Iraq in the Final before suffering a solitary goal defeat to Korea Republic two years later in Qatar.

In 2004, Japan were in imperious form in Johor Baru (Malaysia) and stormed into the quarterfinals as the top points earner in Group A. Here they met with serious opposition from Qatar and the match went to penalties after extra-time finished 0-0.

A 5-3 win put Japan in the semifinals and two matches away from clinching their first ever Asian youth title.

Japan's delegation head Takashi Ono said, '' We are happy to be in the semifinals. We had a very tough group and the fact that we reached the semis defeating the top teams speaks a lot about the talent in the side. '' Japan coach said they played collective football and that was their strength.

''We are also aware of the fact that Koreans play with long balls. So we are tightening our defense. We are also playing some fast soccer and our attacking game hopes to see us through,'' he added.

Korea Republic are quietly confident of their success and strength.

'' We would like to meet Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the final. Then it will be a big affair in Korea, '' coach Cho Do Young said.

He also stated that they had tremendous respect for the Japanese side and hoped to counter their game aptly. The fact that they lost to Japan in January and August in both friendlies had further motivated them to do better in the semis.

Cho further said attacking soccer is their mantra and they would continue to do so against Japan.

Besides they have the chance to make history winning the tournament on three consecutive occasions.

With a whopping 11 championship wins against their name, Korea Republic have been the team to beat in the AFC Youth Championship over the years.

The inaugural tournament in 1959 was won by Korea Republic and they went on to clinch the title in 1960, 1963 (shared with Burma), 1980, 1981, 1986, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2002 and 2004. The tally could have been higher hadn't they lost in the final four times.

In recent times, Korea Republic's prowess in the youth segment was underlined by their solitary goal win over Japan in 2002, and in the next instalment when they ran out 2-0 winners against China, both goals coming from Park Chu-young, who went on to become a youth icon in his native country.

If their devastating form in qualifying is taken into account, the Koreans appeared well-prepared to defend their title defeating Jordan, Kyrgyztan and India in the league stage and Australia in the quarters in style.

UNI BA SJC AY BS1827