NEW DELHI: South Korea’s football team, often dubbed practitioners of “zombie football,” secured a thrilling 2-1 victory over Australia in the Asian Cup in a quarter-final clash that underscored their resilience.
The team’s remarkable comeback, led by skipper Son Heung-min, propelled them into the semifinals, setting up a face-off against Jordan.
The South Korean squad’s unique style of play, characterized by late-game heroics and a propensity for extra-time battles, has garnered both attention and criticism.
Despite concerns, the team’s persistent spirit has proven to be a defining factor in their journey through the tournament.
“Whatever names people give it isn’t important — one thing I can say for sure is that this is just helping us stick together even more,” remarked Son Heung-min, highlighting the unity within the squad.
South Korea, vying to secure their first Asian Cup title in 64 years, faced challenges in the tournament, including dramatic injury-time goals and intense extra-time encounters. Manager Jurgen Klinsmann acknowledged the need for improvement, urging his team to showcase their quality right from the start of matches.
“We go a goal down, and then we all know we can only go forward,” noted Klinsmann. “Then they start to speed things up, they start to create chances, they start to have movement off the ball that we always want to see from the beginning.”
“Maybe because the expectations at home are that we’re going to bring this title home, maybe this is a little bit in the back of our minds, ‘What if not?'” Klinsmann speculated.
The thrilling rematch against Jordan for a coveted spot in the final is scheduled for Tuesday, allowing the South Korean team four days to recover from their latest comeback. Son Heung-min remained optimistic, emphasizing the importance of mentality and dispelling tiredness as an excuse.
“I think it’s more about the mentality,” said Son. “I’m playing for my country, and there should be no excuses.” The team’s remarkable journey in the Asian Cup continues, proving that their brand of “zombie football” is more than just a moniker—it’s a testament to their undying spirit.
