Korea are favourites: Tim Cahill steps up mind games ahead of Asian Cup final

Australia’s talisman Tim Cahill brushed off retirement talk before the Asian Cup final and cannily labelled South Korea favourites as he indulged in some mind games.

Cahill, 35, whose explosive performances have propelled the hosts to the brink of their first Asian title, sidestepped the question of whether Saturday’s clash would be his last appearance in an Australia shirt.

"I'm not sure, but that's something I'll talk about after," said Cahill, who has been linked with a move to Arabian Gulf League team Al Wahda.

“My main focus is the final and hopefully trying to win something that’s very special for our country.

“It’s definitely going to be one of our most difficult games, but the boys are determined to do well, which is the biggest factor.

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“They have been really well-drilled, and it’s all about being mentally ready for 95 minutes of football because I don’t think this game is going to go to extra time.”

South Korea, who reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2002 but have failed to lift the Asian Cup in 55 years, beat Australia 1-0 in the group stages. Cahill sought to put pressure on them by insisting they would be favourites in Sydney.

“People can say what they want,” Australia’s record goal-scorer said. “For us as players, it doesn’t make a difference what people write or say because our focus is just to switch off from everything.

“If we’re favourites, excellent. But I feel that’s a bit of a hardship when South Korea beat us, so I think they’re probably favourites.”