South Korea captain Ki Sung-yueng says expectations could not be higher on his side as they attempt to win back the affections of a football-mad nation and lift the Asian Cup for the first time in 55 years.
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After the team was pelted with toffees – a traditional South Korean insult –- upon its arrival home from the World Cup last year, it is clear that Saturday's opening game against Oman at Canberra Stadium will be watched with plenty of interest in a country with a population of 50 million.
South Korea will be the overwhelming favourite to collect all three points, and rightly so, given the glut of European-based players in their ranks, such as Swansea star Ki and Bayer Leverkusen dynamo Son Heung-min.
But Oman and its charismatic coach, Frenchman Paul Le Guen, are drawing confidence from his team's ability to grind out results, Le Guen joking he would gladly sign on the dotted line to share the points with the Socceroos and South Korea – the two teams expected to emerge from group A, which also features Kuwait.
Oman has proven itself to be somewhat of a bogey team for the traditionally stronger nation, drawing two of its past three games with the Socceroos on quick ball movement and great team chemistry.
It is also more than happy to embrace the underdogs tag against a South Korean side that Ki said was under the pump from its home supporters.
"Myself and all of my teammates have a huge responsibility," Ki said.
"We know we have shown bad performances at the World Cup and that Koreans were not very happy with us.
"Maybe even after the World Cup there is still huge disappointment for the national team.
"However, we know we have come here to win this tournament and we hope by playing good football we hope to bring happiness and confidence to all the Koreans who are following us in this tournament.
"By achieving this, we hope our national team's reputation will go up again.
"As this is the first game, we know there is a lot of pressure on the players, but we are ready to go ahead with three points after the game tomorrow."
South Korea won back-to-back Asian Cups in 1956 and 1960 but has not lifted the trophy since.
"It's a shame we haven't won the Asian Cup in (55) years," Ki said.
"We're the Asian country that participates the most times in the World Cup and we've never won the Asian Cup in (55) years, so it's a bit weird.
"If we perform to the standard of our ability, I think we have enough to be champions."
South Korea gained just a single point from the World Cup last year to bow out in the group stages, bringing in experienced coach German Uli Stielike – who as a player won three German and Spanish league titles – to orchestrate the overhaul.
Oman has shown it can't be taken lightly, leading Australia 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier in Sydney in 2013 before the Socceroos secured a late equaliser.
"If you give me the possibility to sign for a draw against South Korea and Australia, give me the paper, I'd do it straight, believe me," Le Guen said.
"I know it will be difficult for many reasons, because Australia has refreshed the team and they did well at the World Cup, but we have our way of playing.
"We can bother them, why not (can't we qualify)?
"Maybe we can do it if we keep our identity and if we're not afraid of playing in the big stadiums with the big atmosphere."
