AFC Women's Asian Cup
While the players will fight to win every duel, every tackle and every challenge on the pitch, Korea Republic head coach Shin Sang-woo and his Japan counterpart Nils Nielsen will also slug it out on the tactical clipboard.
Japan have been imperious in their run to the semi-finals, winning their four matches with a combined tally of 24 goals with none conceded but in Korea Republic, they will face their toughest opponents as yet.
Nielsen accepts that Japan will not be able to have the overwhelming control they had in other matches on Wednesday.
“It’s a game between two teams who play attractive football and I’m looking forward to it,” said Nielsen. “We will be ready for the challenge and try to adapt to anything that happens in the game."
Nielsen accepts that Japan will not be able to have the overwhelming control they had in other matches on Wednesday.
“It’s a game between two teams who play attractive football and I’m looking forward to it,” said Nielsen. “We will be ready for the challenge and try to adapt to anything that happens in the game."
“It will be a challenging match because Korea Republic have threats so we need to respect that. We can’t play like we have done. 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. If they are able to break our pressing, we will defend as a unit.”
“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. If they are able to break our pressing, we will defend as a unit.”
#WAC2026 - Preview: Semi-finals
Korea Republic have been equally impressive enroute to the semi-finals, and will be able to call upon forward Jeon Yu-gyeong, who missed the 6-0 quarter-final win against Uzbekistan.
Shin is confident that the homework that has been done will put his team in good stead as he looks to take Korea Republic to a successive final appearance.
Shin is confident that the homework that has been done will put his team in good stead as he looks to take Korea Republic to a successive final appearance.
“I have lots of expectations for the match,” said Shin. “We’re facing the best team in Asia in Japan but I’m expecting a good performance from my players.
“It’s true that it’s been over 10 years that we’ve beaten them in a competitive game but we’ve changed a lot since I took over as head coach and hopefully tomorrow, we’ll be able to show that we have what it takes to beat Japan.
“Japanese players have high individual technical quality and tactically they are strong in their organisation. To beat them we have to stop their strong points and show ours.”
“It’s true that it’s been over 10 years that we’ve beaten them in a competitive game but we’ve changed a lot since I took over as head coach and hopefully tomorrow, we’ll be able to show that we have what it takes to beat Japan.
“Japanese players have high individual technical quality and tactically they are strong in their organisation. To beat them we have to stop their strong points and show ours.”
Trivia
● After winning their first two encounters in 1995 and 2001, Japan are since winless in four meetings with Korea Republic at the tournament (D2 L2) with each of the last two meetings ending in a draw on the day while they lost 1-0 the last time they met in the knockout stages (2003 3rd place playoff).
● Korea Republic won 2-0 against the Philippines at the semi-final stage of the 2022 edition, their first win from five attempts at the stage, while Japan have won only two of their last seven appearances at this stage, losing five times including once on penalties to China PR in 2022.
● Japan (88.4%) and Korea Republic (85%) have the highest passing accuracies of any teams at the 2026 edition and are the only teams to have made an average of more than four passes per sequence at this edition of the tournament (Japan 4.7, Korea Republic 4.1).
● Mun Eun-Ju (Korea Republic) has been directly involved in one goal in each of her last three appearances at the Australia 2026 (2 goals, 1 assists); she’s made six total shots and created seven scoring chances at the tournament thus far.
Korea Republic v Japan
Venue: Stadium Australia (Sydney)
Kick-off: Wednesday, 20:00 (UTC+11)
Venue: Stadium Australia (Sydney)
Kick-off: Wednesday, 20:00 (UTC+11)
