Asian Cup 2015: Korea Republic coach concerned by Canberra heat in afternoon kick-off against Oman

KOREA Republic coach Uli Stielike admits he is concerned by the 4pm kick in forecast 30C heat for his side’s Asian Cup opener against Oman on Saturday.

South Korea's football team held an open training session at Macquarie University Sports Grounds in preparation for the Asian Cup. Pictured are players training and Korean fans celebrating.

KOREA Republic coach Uli Stielike says a 4pm kick off against Oman at Canberra Stadium in forecast 30C heat on Saturday is not ideal after A-League players last Monday felt nauseous and suffered from headaches in sizzling 36C.

The former West German FIFA World Cup international believes a 6pm or 7pm kick off would have been better after the Perth Glory and Adelaide United clash became a health issue.

Most of Stielike’s players arrived in Australia from the northern hemisphere’s winter.

Some are playing in the Middle East while most of Oman’s 23-man squad is used to playing in oppressive heat.

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Korea Republic players acclimatise to the Australian summer during training.

“I was working five years in Qatar so for me this is winter,’’ Stielike said with tongue-in-cheek referring to Canberra’s 30C top on Friday.

“We have also a lot of players playing in Qatar and yeah it’s everybody likes to play in the evening for sure, six o’clock or seven o’clock will be better.

“But we have to also understand there are TV rights so we to accept this but like I said everybody would be prepared to play a little bit later.”

Stielike is expecting to have a full compliment to choose from declaring his players knew the starting XI before his side had its final familiarisation session at Canberra Stadium on Friday afternoon.

He also welcomed world club scouts scouring the Asian Cup for potential FIFA January transfer window signings.

Stielike didn’t see that as a distraction for his side with his key players Bayer Leverkusen’s Son Heung Min and captain Swansea’s Ki Sung Yeung at the height of transfer rumours in Europe.

“It’s normal the World Cup, the Asian Cup, the Gulf Cup it’s like a window to the world, to all agents, to all presidents, to all managers of all clubs worldwide,’’ Stielike said.

“‘I’m here’ the players (should be saying). I have 60 years I am at the end of my career but it’s normal that my players want to show them.”

“But players always have to do things for the discipline of the team and not the individual performance.”

Korea Republic are likely to be one of the better supported teams in the competition.

There is massive pressure on Korea Republic to deliver its first Asian Cup success since 1960.

The nation came under fire for a below par FIFA World Cup performance in Brazil last year where it bombed out of the tournament with one point in Group H after reaching the semi finals of the tournament when it co-hosted the event with Japan in 2002.

“One thing I have decided not only me is to win this competition,’’ said Ki Sung Yueng.

“By achieving this we can give a lot of hope to the people of Korea.”

South Korea's open training session had a very different atmosphere to their northern neighbours.

But after Korea Republic arrived in Australia on December 28 and impressed Stielike in a 2-0 friendly win over Saudi Arabia, Ki Sung Yueng, 25, says he is not at his peak physically just yet after arriving in Australia eight days ago.

The Korea Republic star also has an affiliation with Australia after attending high school in Brisbane.

“I used to live here (Australia) before and it’s a special place for me,’’ he said.

“I used to love the environment here in Australia but also it’s true it’s been 10 years since I lived in Australia.

“Things have changed a lot.”

Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: Korea Republic coach concerned by Canberra heat in afternoon kick-off against Oman