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S Korea play down record ahead of clash with Chinese

South Korea have played down their 26-match winning streak against China over 30 years as their squads prepared to clash in the East Asian Cup here today.

Coach Huh Jung-moo said his team were focusing on the upcoming game in the tournament, saying "history is history."

"Things can be changed any time so we should focus on the game and do our job. I don't think about any historical factor," he said.

China's Serbian coach Vladimir Petrovic said: "We feel very positive and are full of expectations. We hope tomorrow we can turn the page."

With the European season in full swing, South Korea and China, like other regional big guns, could not call up expatriate stars for the four-nation event, which also includes North Korea and Japan. But they intend to test inexperienced young talent ahead of their next World Cup qualifiers late next month.

North Korea are the only full-strength side, boosted by three Japan-born ethnic Koreans who play in the Japanese and South Korean leagues.

"The most important thing for Korean football is that young players get international experience," Huh said. "I don't really care what other people are saying, like we are a second team or a third team, because those players are good enough to be selected."

Huh is without his three Premier League stars -- frontmen Park Ji-sung of Manchester United, Fulham's Seol Ki-hyeo and two-time World Cup veteran defender Lee Young-pyo of Tottenham Hotspur.

His squad, now down to 22 after defender Hwang Jae-won was sent home due to his alleged involvement in a sex scandal, features nine uncapped players.

China have six under-23 players preparing for the Beijing Olympics in August.

In their World Cup qualifying matches on Feb. 6, China drew 1-1 with Asian champions Iraq while South Korea overturned Turkmenistan 4-0 at home. Japan beat Thailand 4-1 at home and North Korea defeated Jordan 1-0 away.

"Our players can gain experience, which will be helpful for our next World Cup match against Australia," Petrovic said.

He is missing Charlton Athletic midfielder Zheng Zhi and Manchester United forward Dong Fangzhuo.

"Zheng Zhi's absence has some impact on the team but the Japanese and South Korean teams are facing the same difficulty," Petrovic said.

South Korea won the inaugural East Asian Cup in 2003 and China triumphed in 2005 with Japan runners-up in both editions.
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