South Korea hope to avoid repeat of 2007 Iraq Asian Cup semi-final loss
Red Devils again play the Middle East side in the last four but are facing a major injury crisis
South Korea will be praying lightning does not strike twice when they face Iraq in the Asian Cup semi-finals today, having limped to the last four battered and bruised.
The Koreans have failed to win Asia's showcase tournament since 1960 - a curious anomaly for a country with a proud footballing pedigree and who famously reached the last four of the World Cup in 2002.
But as coach Uli Stielike tries to rouse his injury-hit squad for the clash, memories of Iraq's fairy-tale run to the 2007 Asian Cup title will haunt them
We have one less day to recover than South Korea, but all four teams left now have the same chance to lift the trophy
South Korea were stunned on penalties in the semi-finals by Iraq, who went on to beat Saudi Arabia in the final in Jakarta, with Younis Mahmoud heading the winner to bring a measure of comfort to the war-torn country.
"There is a lot of history with Korea," said Iraq coach Radhi Shenaishil. "There have been a lot of positive results for Iraq. We have one less day to recover than South Korea, but all four teams left now have the same chance to lift the trophy."
Iraq's preparations were not helped after Iran protested to tournament organisers that the Iraqis had fielded an ineligible player in Friday's quarter-final defeat, alleging that Alaa Abdulzehra had committed a doping violation last year. The Asian Football Confederation later rejected the protest, saying the complaint was unfounded.
Stielike will try to patch up his team and hope South Korea's golden boy Son Heung-min can repeat his midweek heroics, when he struck twice in extra time in the 2-0 quarter-final win over Uzbekistan.