Match information] Saudi Arabia has changed dramatically! The physical upswing is strong!
In the final round of the group stage, the Saudi national team unexpectedly carried out a large-scale rotation, and key players such as Blakan, Tambati, Abdulhamid and other offensive and defensive key players did not appear in the starting lineup. In fact, Saudi Arabia only sent two main players in the final round of the game, Al-Blaich defender and attacker Dawasari, and the rest of the core players were able to enjoy more rest time.
South Korea's final round of dramatic Oscar performances! Klinsmann smiled silently!
South Korea showed a thrilling "Oscar-level" match in the final round of the group stage, and they played Malaysia, who were originally at the bottom of the group, and the score was 3-3! Even more surprisingly, the match was equalized at the last minute, depriving South Korea of the chance to top the group and avoiding a first leg encounter with Japan. However, South Korea's "picking opponents" approach makes the Saudi side feel disrespected, which may inspire Saudi players to have a stronger fighting spirit!
South Korea's three major injured numbers are playing, and their strength is soaring!
Luckily, South Korea ushered in the good news of three key injuries, Hwang Hee-chan, Kim Jin-so and Lee Ji Di, who had been absent due to injury, have all been **, and they will be able to play. All three players play important roles on South Korea's left flank, which will greatly enhance South Korea's strength at both ends of the pitch.
Saudi Arabia's main midfielder was attacked by the flu and became a mystery!
The Saudi national team suffered a major blow before the game, with key midfielder Al Ghamdi unfortunately contracting the flu and not being able to participate in pre-match training. Saudi Arabia's assistant coach Yaya Toure said in an interview that Ghamdi's condition has not improved, so he will most likely not appear in this game.
South Korea's Asian Cup has hit a wall four times, and a win is hard to find!
For South Korea, the Saudi team has always been a strong opponent in the Asian Cup, and the two teams have met directly four times before, with Saudi Arabia leading the pack with an unbeaten record of 1 win and 3 draws. South Korea has no advantage in the face of this opponent, and the road ahead is bumpy.
Conclusion: Saudi coach Mancini's salary of $28 million, more than 10 times that of South Korean coach Jurgen Klinsmann, this knockout game has not yet started, and Saudi Arabia is already far ahead. The Saudi league has been booming in the past two years, but because of the introduction of big-name stars, the development space of local players has been compressed, resulting in the team's forwards and top midfielders being reduced to supporting roles or substitutes in the league, and only one goalkeeper has been given a stable appearance. Everyone who watches the national football team also knows that the lack of high-intensity games will lead to strong opponents who can't keep up with the rhythm. Mancini overturned all the ideas of his predecessor Renard, who led the team to defeat Argentina in the World Cup. Mancini has been in charge for a short time and the team is not as consistent as South Korea, and the prospects for Saudi Arabia this time are very dangerous. At the start of the group stage, a battle broke out in the Saudi dressing room, and Achidi, who was expected to be the first goalkeeper, was removed, along with a midfielder and defender. Roberto Mancini was unpopular in the dressing room after moving in, and internal problems had been brewing for quite some time. I think South Korea's performance in the group stage was hidden, especially in the last game to avoid Japan and Malaysia. So is South Korea, which was scolded to death in the last game, to show its true level, as it did in the defeat of Saudi Arabia in September last year.