Undefeated South Korea, with two triumphs already over Japan, will try to complete a humbling of their Asian arch-rivals with a semi-final victory at the World Baseball Classic.
One of the Asian powers will meet Cuba or the Dominican Republic in Monday's championship game after the shocking ouster of the United States, a 2-1 loser to Mexico on Thursday to allow Japan to advance in a complex tiebreaker system.
"It's very important for Asian baseball," Korean manager Kim In-Sik said. "I hope with this tournament there will be a baseball boom in Asia. That's a priority for the Classic, to popularize baseball throughout the world."
With masterful pitching and error-free fielding, the Koreans have a chance to claim global bragging rights in the first international tournament with Major League Baseball stars as well as take Asian supremacy over the Japanese.
"We feel this rivalry very deep," Korean outfielder Lee Jong-Beom said. "Japan has been known as the top team in Asia but we work harder to beat Japan.
"Because of our strong will, our zeal to beat the Japanese team, maybe there is some hidden power that comes out when we fight against Japan."
The Koreans, many with skills toughened in US and Japanese leagues, defeated Japan 3-2 at Tokyo in the first round and 2-1 at Anaheim in round two and also humbled the US stars 7-3 in Anaheim for good measure.
"Our games were very close games. I believe either team could have won either game," Japan manager Sadaharu Oh said. "We would like to show our best performance this time."
Playing in Japan's league has enabled Korean talent to become familiar with their Japanese rivals. Lee spent four years in Japan and learned key lessons.
"Having played in Japan definitely helped me to learn the strengths and weaknesses of Japanese pitchers. It was a very valuable experience and a golden opportunity," Lee said.
"As a batter it's much better to know the styles of the pitchers and I think that has been the secret for our success."
Tokyo Giants pitcher Koji Uehara will start for Japan against Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Seo Jae-Weong, who upset Japanese rivals by planting a Korean flag on the mound after a victory over Japan.
"We won. We were ecstatic. We showed our happiness," Seo said. "I heard that it hurt the pride of the Japanese players when we put the Korean flag in the mound but that's not something I have to be concerned with."
Inspired Japanese batters plan to give him something to worry about.
"The Korean pitchers are very good. They have some excellent pitches and it is hard to hit them," Japan slugger Nobuhiko Matsunaka said.
"I have felt very strong the determination of the Korean team. They don't want to lose to Japan and I'm feeling that (about them) as well."
Seo is among the impressive Korean hurlers who have a tournament-low 1.33 earned-run average. They will be helped by a pitch limit raised from 80 to 95.
"Whenever we play Japan, we have a strong will to beat them," Seo said. "It goes back to our history and tradition. It stems from our parents' generation and also I'm sure the next generation probably will feel the same."
Oh is counting on Uehara and his relievers to deny the Koreans, who have scored two runs in the eighth inning in each victory over Japan.
"I expected much and they lived up to my expectations," Oh said. "But I believe they can perform much better."
출처 : Yahoo / news / sprots / afp