AUSTRALIA has qualified for the semi finals of the Confederations Cup, despite being beaten 1-0 tonight by host nation Korea Republic, in the final Group A game, in Suwon.
The LG Socceroos were made to defend for most of the first half, with the Koreans desperate to get the four goals required to overtake Australia on the Group A table, the continued attack paying off for the home side in the 24th minute.
Korean midfielder Sun Hong Hwang managed to out-maneuver Shaun Murphy in the goal-mouth, deftly clipping the ball over an advancing Mark Schwarzer, to record goal-mouth, deftly clipping the ball over an advancing Mark Schwarzer, to record the first, and subsequently only goal of the game.
The introduction of Scott Chipperfield in the second half added spark to the Australian attack, the Wollongong Wolves midfielder creating Australia's best chance in the 73rd minute, racing towards goal and cutting back to David Zdrilic, whose shot was easily saved by the Korean keeper.
Five minutes from full-time, Clayton Zane again had the chance to score for the LG Socceroos, his shot straight at the keeper, with the rebound back in the path of the striker.
The ensuing one-two with Brett Emerton saw Zane clash with the goal-keeper, resulting in the big striker being shown his second yellow card of the night, and marched from the field.
Zane will now miss Australia's semi final encounter with a yet to be determined opponent, but the LG Socceroos will be strengthened by the return of Stan Lazaridis from suspension.
FRANK FARINA - Post Match Interview:
Q : It must be disappointing, after beating France, to lose to Korea tonight.
A : Disappointing yes, a little bit - we knew we had to be beaten 4-0 not
to go through, and I suppose in the first half, we lacked the spark and
the energy we showed in the last two games, in terms of closing people down.
I got a little bit upset at half-time and made some changes, and I thought
in the second half we played quite well, we created the better chances. So
yes, while it's disappointing, at the end of the day we're through, we had
the two wins first up, and that's all that really matters.
Q : It was a game of contrasting halves, very defensive in the first, and
very attacking in the second - was that the game plan?
A : Well, I think the first half seemed defensive because we weren't sharp
enough, we weren't doing what we do well and that's closing people down,
we were just happy to get behind the ball and that's not the way we play.
We like to pressure all over the park and we weren't doing that, and we
were giving silly possession away once we won the ball. We were getting
dragged out of position, so in the second half, we picked it up, and
started doing what we do well, and as you saw, we started to get forward
a lot more and created chances. But overall, over three games, a
disappointing one half, or 45 minutes is something that you've got to
accept, but the pleasing thing was that in the second half we improved.
Q : Did the players find the atmosphere of 43,000 parochial fans
intimidating at all?
A : No, not at all. Most of these boys play in this week-in-week-out - we've
got the Rangers boys who play in the Rangers/Celtic derbies, we've got
players from the Premier League who play in front of bigger crowds, and
more hostile crowds than that, so no, I'd definitely say they weren't
intimated in the least.
Q : Clayton Zane's red card would also have to be a big disappointment?
A : Very much so because I think he's had a great tournament so far. He's
entitled to go for a ball, and I'm not going to say to a striker you can't
go for a ball like that, but it was his second yellow, and you can't do
much about it. He'll be disappointed to miss the semi, but that's part
and parcel of football, and we've got to get on with it, and hopefully
the depth in the squad will cover.
Q : On a positive note, you are in the semi finals - is there a preference
for who Australia faces next?
A : No, I think in tournaments like this, at some stage you're going to
come up against great sides - if you're going to progress, you're going
to have to beat those sides. Japan or Brazil, there's no real preference
for us, we're going to have to be on our game and playing well, if we're
seriously looking at going further.
Q : Finally, what will preparations entail over the next couple of days?
A : Well, tomorrow will be very light, we'll most probably give the boys the
day off, get the recovery session in, some massage, some treatment, whatever
is required, but we won't be training, and then from then on, each day we'll
have one session leading up to the semis.