South Korea out to avoid a repeat of toffee trauma

South Korea will look to end 55 years of Asian Cup futility in Australia, mindful that another flop could result in retribution from its fans - in the form of an avalanche of toffee.

The 2002 World Cup semifinalist last won the Asian title in 1960 - the year Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, won Olympic boxing gold and Elvis Presley returned from US military duty in Germany.

South Korea's players were pelted with toffee by angry fans on their return to Seoul as last year's World Cup came to a sticky end - a traditional insult in the country, where "Go eat a toffee!" translates as a more colorful version of "Get lost!"