FOOTBALL – JAPAN have looked unstoppable in the women’s Asian Cup, but coach Nils Nielsen’s side will face a stern test of their title credentials when they take on South Korea in the semi-finals today. The two-times champions won all three group games, scoring 17 goals and conceding none, before putting seven past the Philippines in a quarter-final victory on Sunday.
They next face South Korea at Sydney’s Stadium Australia, with Nielsen saying his side may have to tone down the all-out attacking style that has worked so well for them.
“It’s a game between two teams who play attractive football and I’m looking forward to it. We will be ready for the challenge and try to adapt to anything that happens in the game,” the Danish manager told reporters yesterday. “... We have to focus on how we can press them high and how we can create opportunities that way. We have a plan to negate their counter-attacking speed and we also have other tactics should we need that.
“In general, we have to focus on our all-round game instead of just about how we attack. We haven’t had to use it much thus far but we are normally quite disciplined in defending and that will ensure that we don’t get caught out.”
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