Advocaat Trying to Fit into Hiddink’s Shoes

Pity Dick Advocaat. Short of leading South Korea to a World Cup title, he will never be able to live up to his predecessor’s success.

Guus Hiddink led South Korea to the semifinals of the World Cup on its home turf and in the process he became a national hero with dozens of books written about him. Guus is gone this time around and Dick is in place with a major more difficult road ahead.

“We want to try to achieve what Hiddink did, but Hiddink had a lot of advantages, compared to us. The home games. He had the team a half-year together, while we have just five weeks together. It’s difficult, but … I think we can surprise a lot of teams,” said Advocaat, whose team is in Los Angeles to take on MLS’ Galaxy in an exhibition match before squaring off in a friendly against Mexico.

Advocaat’s team is younger than Hiddink’s was in 2002, but it doesn’t lack for talent. A semifinal finish is probably a bit unrealistic, but advancing from a group that includes Switzerland, France and Togo does not seem out of the question. Anything less and Advocaat might have some books written about him as well, but they would likely be in the horror section of the bookstore.