Seol Ki-hyeon, who plays forward for Reading in the English Premier League, is convinced the time is right for South Korea to win the Asian Cup for the first time since 1960, but knows it will be a big job to overcome star-studded Australia.
Both sides slumped to losses against top quality opposition over the weekend -- South Korea losing 2-0 to Holland and Australia going down 2-1 at home to Uruguay -- but Seol is confident the pieces will fall into place for his country next month.
"It is a big tournament and we have not won it for many years," Seol said.
"This time we need to win it because we have a good team, a good manager and we are very confident at the moment," he said.
"Before, we have always felt we could have won it but we have fallen down," he said. "And for me personally it will be my last chance to win it."
Despite being Asia's most regular World Cup qualifier, South Korea have failed to make the Asian Cup final since 1988 and have not won it in 47 years.
But Seol, who underwent ankle surgery last month, is confident it will be a different story next month when the competition is co-hosted by Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.
"Last time in China it was very hot and we lost to Iran, who were a good team at that time," he said.
"But are better than last time and the other teams are not as good so I think we have an excellent chance to win it," he said.
Seol pointed to Australia as the team to beat.
"Australia have a good team and I know many of them from playing in England. Iran, Japan and Saudi Arabia -- who are in our group -- are always good teams as well," he said.
"So if we want to win the cup we will have to beat them," he said.
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