No one can deny that just looking at the strength on paper, Japan and South Korea are definitely the only ones in this Asian Cup. Because you'd be hard-pressed to find so many players in other teams who play for the top European giants. Son Heung-min, Endo Hang, Mikasa, Kim Min-jae, these players are not to mention put in the Asian Cup, even if they are placed in the European Cup, there is definitely a place. So, theoretically, if the position is reasonable, Japan and South Korea should meet in the finals.
But to be honest, Japan and South Korea didn't play well in the group stage and stumbled. South Korea struggled to draw Jordan, and Japan even lost to Iraq. Judging from the performance of the group stage, let alone the finals of the two teams, it would be good to be able to enter the semi-finals. However, after entering the knockout round, South Korea is playing better and better, and their luck is getting better and better; However, Japan still has not improved, and there has been no significant improvement in its state or spirit. The 3-1 defeat to Bahrain in the quarterfinals was just a matter of strength, and the defeat by Iran in the quarterfinals showed that Japan was really powerless.
Compared with Japan, South Korea's road to the knockout round is much more difficult, in the quarterfinals and quarterfinals, they have met the top Asian teams Saudi Arabia and Australia, so it can be said that this is a dead schedule, right? However, South Korea not only showed extraordinary tenacity in these two games, but also received a series of gifts of good luck. In both games, they equalised in stoppage time, which means that they only saved themselves at the last minute, and a little later, they were eliminated. In both games, South Korea played 120 minutes, which was very intense, but South Korea gave people a feeling of perpetual motion machine, and even in overtime, they were still running all over the field.
Looking at the match between Japan and Iran, not only was it pressed and beaten, but the two goals conceded always gave people a feeling of slackness, especially the penalty that Itakura sent, and there was such a mistake at the last moment, which is really speechless. It can be said that Iran allowed Japan to enter the semi-finals.
Also in the quarterfinals, South Korea eliminated Australia 2:1 and Japan was eliminated by Iran 1:2. The two games were 2:1, which made South Korea and Japan look so different. The same superstars gathered, and these superstars also went to West Asia from Europe, why is there such a big gap in the performance of Japan and South Korea? You know, with their strength, they must be running for the championship. But judging by the performance, it is clear that South Korea are closer to the championship.
In a word, perhaps the biggest difference between the two teams lies in the psychological construction.
Don't Japan's European superstars want to win the Asian Cup? I definitely want to. But it is undeniable that deep down, they are more or less resistant to the Asian Cup, after all, the European League is currently at a very critical competitive node, and the team cannot do without people. And at this juncture, leaving the team to play the Asian Cup, not only the club is anxious, but the players themselves are also anxious. Take Mikasa as an example, he was already injured, but Mori still recruited him into the national team, can Brighton not get angry? Therefore, for players like Mikasa and Endo, of course they want to fight for the national team, but at the same time they are definitely distracted by the club, so it is difficult for them to show 100% fighting spirit and form for the Asian Cup.
It can also be said that they did not do a good job of psychological construction.
You can see this from the performance of the Korean team. South Korea played 120 minutes with Saudi Arabia and Australia, and most of the time, South Korea pressed their opponents, and the South Korean players fought unusually and ran very aggressively. Just from the two stoppage-time goals, you can feel how tenacious South Korea are and how much they want to win. You know, Son Heung-min is still worried about Tottenham, and he is still the captain. Kim Min-jae also definitely wants to return to Bayern Munich soon and compete with the pharmaceutical company. But before coming to the national team, they must have done a good job of psychological construction - now is the time for the Asian Cup, it is the time to fight for the country, other things are important, and they must be put on hold for the time being.
With such psychological construction, they will fight unreservedly in the Asian Cup. Yes, without reservation, these four words, for all the players who came from Europe, are very subtle. If you can do it, it means that you have carried out an impeccable psychological construction.
Japan was eliminated, Mikasa could go back to Brighton, Endo could go back to Liverpool, and Ritsu Doan could go back to Freiburg. They definitely want to help Japan win the Asian Cup, but at the same time, they certainly haven't completely let go of the club during this time. So, on the field, it's that they don't bring out all the potential power – there's a difference between 100 percent of the powerless and the 100 percent of the effort possible. It can't be said that you are not serious and devoted, but this kind of seriousness and dedication has more or less some coping elements.
Finally, let's talk about one more detail. In the last game of the group stage, South Korea was forced to draw 3:3 by Malaysia, and it is almost certain that South Korea is deliberately avoiding Japan. Do you feel that South Korea is quite cowardly?
From another point of view - why are you willing to avoid Japan with the hat of cowardice?
Because, South Korea really wants to win the championship.