The clash between U23 Japan and U23 Korea is one of the most anticipated matches of Asian youth football.
One side is facing the opportunity to go down in history with the 3rd championship, something no other team has ever done. Meanwhile, the other side is eager to extend the record after the first coronation in 2020.
After the difficulties in the quarter-finals, coach Go Oiwa understood that U23 Japan needed to show a different face if they wanted to overcome the "dirty" opponent. Before U23 Jordan, the defending champion had to rely on a penalty shootout to win a ticket to the next round.
In the opposite direction, the U23 South Korea coaching staff paid great attention to the attacking front. After carefully analyzing the opponent's playing style, the kimchi team determined that high-level pressing and continuous pressure are keys to promote their strengths.
Experience from the group stage, especially the match against Lebanon, and the victory against Australia in the quarter-finals helped the kimchi team become more confident in bringing more players into the penalty area.
Regarding head-to-head history, this is the 4th time the two teams have met in the AFC U23 Championship finals. U23 Japan has twice defeated U23 Korea in knockout matches, but the most recent encounter in the group stage in 2024 witnessed victory for U23 Korea.
Statistical figures also show a significant balance, as both possess a defense in the best group in the tournament, with a low expected goal difference and very limited number of shots faced.
The match between U23 Japan and U23 Korea in the semi-finals of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship takes place at 6:30 PM today (January 20).
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