Return of the Jedi as Aussies face China

Socceroos captain ready for crunch Asian Cup quarter-final match

Afp January 21, 2015

STAR WARS: Jedinak’s return after an injury assures that the Aussies will be fielding their best team against China who are unbeaten in the tournament. PHOTO: AFP

BRISBANE: Inspirational captain Mile Jedinak is set to return for Australia as the Socceroos and undefeated China battle for a place in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup on Wednesday.

The Crystal Palace midfielder was injured in Australia's opening Group A win against Kuwait, and sat out the 4-0 drubbing of Oman and Saturday's narrow loss to South Korea.

"If selected, I'll be ready. That goes without saying," said Jedinak, nicknamed ‘Jedi’. "Sitting out the last couple of games hasn't been easy. But it's given me a little [bit] of time to see what other ways I can help.

China, like Australia, have never won the Asian Cup and they are seeking a title which would finally put football's ‘sleeping giant’ at the top of the regional pecking order.

China – twice Asian Cup runners-up – finished with a perfect three wins out of three in Group B, two of them in Brisbane, and largely thanks to the goals of Sun Ke.

The winger has netted three times, including a spectacular winner against Uzbekistan, and he said China were fully focused for the quarter-final. "I think if we can focus on the game and keep our concentration to make sure we pay attention to every detail, we can leave the pitch having performed well," said Sun.

Koreans look to keep Wolves from the door

South Korea face a serious test of their title credentials when they take on Uzbekistan in the Asian Cup quarter-finals today with the White Wolves hungry for revenge.

The Koreans broke Uzbek hearts by denying them a place at the 2014 World Cup by virtue of goal difference, forcing them to contest a playoff with Jordan, which they lost.

Uzbekistan coach Mirdjalal Kasimov has promised the Group B runners-up will tear into their illustrious opponents in Melbourne.

"We will use that as motivation for sure," said Kasimov. "We'll use every little bit of motivation to get a big result. We want revenge but it's also important for us to be calm.”

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