But yeah, you’re right and I forgot to mention that too often there were French forwards dashing right through Korean territory just waiting out in the open for a buddy to pass them the ball, with Korean defenders idly standing around trying to make passive obstacles of themselves instead of actively trying to block (or mark, as you say) the opponents. It’s really quite mystifying to me how, well…clueless the Korean defenders seem. Poor goalie. Yet, I still don’t mind that as much as when the Koreans are controlling the ball (tentatively) and still recklessly give it away, in some sort of systematic fashion, as if they believe it really is a good strategy. Watch for it next time. I’m going to yell at the TV if I see them doing the putt-putt-putt-VOLLEY.

As for the 2002 WC, I felt that Spain was the most blatantly–and suspiciously–cheated out of the game. Cheering them on this year, they’re playing well. Umm, I would comment more about that in terms of other issues but this isn’t really the place; suffice to say that I do suspect something sinister was behind it as well and I don’t think I’m the only Korean who sees it and hates the notion. Italy was rough (good skills notwithstanding); Portugal I don’t remember much. If the Koreans’ runs or characters are tainted I blame anyone “at the [Korean] top” who is responsible for any shady dealings, assh*les. Don’t they realize it either?

It’s in the next generation of Korean soccer players where I’ll truly be expecting real talent, starting with Lee Dong-Gook.

Addendum: Do team-oriented sports like soccer really find it necessary to have a coach-mastermind? Why couldn’t, in theory, a team assemble itself, under the leadership of a team captain? Just a thought.

The Swiss can play marvelous defence however.

To win Korea needs to bank on their assets: speed, fitness and endurance.

Ahn is not in as a starter because he cannot last the whole 90 minutes so the coach puts him in as a sub.

France vs Togo is a biggie…the French need to find the net and quickly. They need to win by at least 2 goals to have anuy real shot (unless Korea or the Swiss lose that is….).

As for 2002, I agree with luke drift. Louis, you made a bad assumption about 2002 and the refs.

Especially the Italy game. The only real reason the Italians lost is their lack of effort after the first goal when they sat on the lead and stoped trying…Korea kept pushing and finally won out…

On 2002: there were questionable calls and non-calls for both sides in the Portugal and Italy matches. But Korea played hard, went at the Portugese and Italians hard, created lots of very good chances, they really surprised me. That’s why I think they deserved the wins, the questionable calls aside. That’s why the Portugese, after grousing a bit about the officiating, were gracious enough to say that in the end Korea had played well and deserved their win.
Italy was a different story, of course, since some thought Totti deserved a penalty, and then you had the offside…
But the refs also missed the high tackle on the Korean defender, which was in my opinion egregious, worthy of a red card even. And if THAT had been granted, if it were eleven to ten, well the way korea were pressing they could have scored more.
In fact, if Ahn hadn’t missed his penalty, and if Buffon hadn’t made a couple of typically magnificent saves (damn he’s so good, Buffon), including the one where he streeeetched like a mofo to block the clever free kick that skidded under the azzuri line towards the corner of the net, well, Korea could have been up 2 at that point. Anyways.
The point is, there were questionable calls, as with any game. But Korea played well in patches, they created their chances.
Spain: Korea did nothing right, they were spent, and the calls there were NOT as questionable. You can’t make the argument that Korea won that game, at all. I still wish in fact that Spain had simply won, then Korea could’ve gone home and we could’ve called it a good run. Instead the lasting memory is of a Spanish side clearly beating a spent Korean side, and still losing, so that in many eyes the entire Korean run was tainted.
Oh well. Nuff of that history tho.

ALTERNABABE: you’re totally right, the Korean defense was wretched. (Actually, a poor game from the entire team^)
I chalk it up to nerves…I mean, there aren’t any Maldinis or Carloses in the Korean backline, to put it mildly. But they should still be able to play aggressive, and not do STOOPID things like pass the ball back to each other across the face of the goal! And their touches were horrible, their feet were made of lead they could hardly control the ball. That I chalk up to nerves. And Advocaat’s ill-advised strategy of sitting back, instead of pressuring the ball. I hope Dick’s learnt from that and makes sure he tells the Korean defenders to RUN at the ball this time! Who IS that Korean central right defender? I think he ought to win the award for crappiest player in the world cup, ever. He lacks skill, and gets pushed around just about every time, blows his assignments, and doesn’t appear to know whom he’s supposed to mark! What’s his name? Meh, they ought to bench him, seriously. He’s the guy who got beat on every goal scored against Korea, hell practically every serious run at the Korean goal went through him.
Anyways, the point is that people are going to score against Korea, period. We just need to minimize that damage, I hope, and then hopefully string together some chances of our own, then win outright this time. (LOUIS is right on this one: France should’ve won 2-1 against Korea. Hell, they should’ve won by far more given how shaky the defense was in the first half)

I believe Advocaat wants a strong finish in each game more than anything else; that’s why he brings Ahn on late in a game, and that’s when ALL the Korean players also happen to step up their game. I’m not sure if it is Ahn himself that helps energize the team, or just the timing. It seems more like the timing to me. I don’t think Ahn Jung-Hwan is a good starter. He can be inconsistent and just playing for a longer time could wear him out. When he shines, he really does shine, but he seems to need certain conditions to be just right.

I don’t know why we haven’t seen very much of Song Chong-Gug, or Park Chu Young.

Seriously though…in the first part of the match against France, the Korean players looked like shaky amateurs. And I hate it when they keep playing “hot-potato” among themselves on their own side of the field (and often…not very well! The passes don’t even look secure or all that accurate…though it did get better when they were all fired up towards the end.) They really don’t seem to know what to do with it and it seems like each of them wants someone else to make the first move. It’s really frustrating…like, they’re not supposed to be newcomers anymore! What have they been practicing for the past 4 years?! Or how about…when they’re passing to each other, and then suddenly, one of them just plain VOLLEYS it across the field. I HATE that. I see it over and over again and they just lose possession of the ball like 90% of the time. STOP DOING THAT.

You can’t be telling me that I watch more soccer than they play soccer. Gahhhhhhhhhhh.

I couldn’t agree more. First of all, I can’t believe what a poor job Advocaat is doing with the Korean back 4. (At least it’s not 3 anymore.)
I know he’s not going to turn them into stars overnight, but c’mon…he at least has to yell at them to GO for the ball instead of sitting in the box, get a boot up when someone attempts to cross.

And you’re right about getting Ahn in there. The goal they scored against France came about because Ahn came in and he’s the only one really who knows how to play pivot. So he got the ball, laid it off nicely to Young Pyo for the cross, and boom….we need more of that, damnit! Why can’t Dick and co. see that?
Hopefully they’ll learn from it a bit and play with more spark

good luck