SINGAPORE, June 17, 2013 (AFP) – An extraordinary row between South Korea and Iran highlights tensions in Asia’s final World Cup qualifying group matches, with Australia also urging caution before trying to book their ticket to Brazil.
South Korea’s promise to “make life painful” for Iran and to force their captain to cry “tears of blood” have sharply raised the stakes before Tuesday’s clash between the Asian giants at Seoul’s World Cup stadium.
South Korea, who lead Group A by a point, need only a draw to reach Brazil 2014 but victory for Iran would guarantee their fourth World Cup finals appearance. Third-placed Uzbekistan, two points behind Iran, must win in Qatar to stand any chance of automatic qualification.
In Group B, Australia can join Japan, who have already secured qualification, to Brazil with a win over Iraq in Sydney. Oman, a point behind Australia in third, take on Jordan as they bid to snatch second place from the Socceroos.
But South Korea and Iran, with 11 World Cup appearances between them, have added considerable emotional spice to their meeting with tit-for-tat barbs between their coaches and players.
After Korean boss Choi Kang-Hee’s vow to “make life painful” for Iran drew a strong response from their coach Carlos Queiroz and captain Javad Nekounam, the home players launched a fresh salvo.
“I will make him (Nekounam) shed tears of blood,” said Germany-based forward Son Heung-Min, while Choi vowed that Queiroz would be watching the World Cup from his home in Portugal.
The dispute follows South Korean accusations of ill-treatment during their visit to Tehran last October, with complaints including visa problems and poor training facilities. In a feisty encounter, South Korea lost 1-0.
“Our players all remember the poor treatment they got (in Tehran). I think we must make life painful for Iran,” Choi said last week.
Iran have won 10 of their 26 head-to-head games against nine victories for South Korea, but Team Melli’s visits to the Korean Peninsula also include a notorious World Cup qualifier in neighbouring North Korea in 2005.
Football: Tempers high in Asian World Cup qualifying
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