Australia head into Saturday’s Asian Cup final with the advantage of big support, with Ange Postecoglou’s tournament hosts welcoming their opponents South Korea to Sydney. Postecoglou’s project of ripping out the old guard and bringing in new blood is beginning to pay dividends, and they have a good opportunity to pick up their first silverware since the Greek-born coach took charge a couple of years ago.
Australia vs. South Korea, 2015 Asian Cup final: Preview, time and TV schedule
Australia have home advantage as they face South Korea in Saturday’s Asian Cup final.
Ashley Feder/Getty Images
The final should be an interesting clash of styles; while Australia have been free-scoring en route to the final so far, their South Korean opponents are yet to ship a single goal. All of their victories have been either been 1-0 or 2-0 wins, in an impressively measured series of displays from Uli Stielike’s outfit. They’ll be looking to repeat the narrow victory they recorded over the Socceroos in the group stages.
Key player - Tim Cahill (Australia)
Postecoglou may have come close to completely starting over when he took charge of Australia, though he was sure to retain one man: captain and all-time top-scorer -- and probably the Socceroos' greatest ever player -- Tim Cahill. He's now 35, but is still banging in the goals; in this tournament he's scored thrice, including two against China in the quarterfinals. His movement and technique somehow still looks as good as it ever did, and he'll offer the sternest test the miserly South Korean defence have faced in this tournament.
Key matchup - Son Heung-Min vs. the Australia fullbacks
Son Heung-Min may well be the most naturally talented player on the field when this game kicks off on Saturday. The Bayer Leverkusen star isn’t only versatile -- he’s played on both flanks for club and country -- but he’s very technically gifted, and capable of turning a match single-handedly. His brace in extra time was the only thing that saw South Korea past Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals. An injury to Australia defender Ivan Franjic means trying to predict the Socceroos back line is nigh-on impossible, but whoever is tasked with stopping Son will have a tough task.
South Korea injuries and suspensions
Out: None.
Australia injuries and suspensions
Out: Chris Herd (achilles). In doubt: Ivan Franjic (hip).
Though South Korea should be fully fit, Australia have a couple of injury worries. Right-back Ivan Franjic -- who has been ever-present through the tournament so far -- has picked up a hip injury, and faces a race for fitness. The only other proper right-back in the team in Chris Herd, though Sod’s law has sent him home with an achilles injury. If Franjic doesn’t make it back, centre-back Trent Sainsbury may be asked to fill in.
Match Date/Time: Saturday, 8 p.m. local, 4 a.m. ET
Venue: ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia
TV: One World Sports (U.S. and Canada), British Eurosport 2 (U.K.), KBSN Sports (South Korea) ABC1, Fox Sports 4 (Australia)
Online: Eurosport Player (U.K.), Foxtel Play (Australia)
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