4-5-1 Formation is the Solution in Game with France

``The opening game is always tough. Furthermore, because the Korean team seems to play 200 percent better with the home-ground advantage, we will confront them with the stable standard play.`` (Roger Lemerre, the Head Coach of French National Team)

``We will face the French team with the transformed strategy which Hwang Son-Hong and Seol Ki-Hyun will lead the varied offense, and the midfielders will press on the opponent.`` (Guus Hiddink, the Head Coach of Korean National Team)

Two Head Coaches have revealed their strategies to win in the Confederation Cup opening game between France and Korea at Daegu World Cup Stadium at 5 o`clock pm on 30th.

This is the match between a first ranked team and the thirty ninth in the world. But there are many variables that will possibly affect the outcome of the game, and it is hard to anticipate the result. Hence both teams are showing very prudent attitudes.

The Korean team had a final team practice for the match at the Taegu Susung Stadium. Head Coach Hiddink promised an exciting game. ``The French team is a really strong team, but any team can beat the French team. Therefore, we will play the game with the best strategy,`` he said.

Hiddink revealed the plan to score by substituting Hwang Son-Hong in the second half, because Hwang recently recovered from an injury, but has not shown the best condition.

Head Coach Hiddink established the strategic formation of 4-5-1 for the match with France. The formation was used in the beginning of the game with Cameroon on 25th. According to the formation, Seol Ki-Hyun is placed in the forefront as the main offensive striker until Hwang Son-Hong enters the game, and Ko Jong-Su, Yoo Sang-Chul, Lee Young-Pyo, Choi Sung-Yong, and Park Ji-Sung are located in the midfield line. And Hong Myong-Bo, Kim Tae-Young, Lee Min-Sung and Song Jong-Gook play as the defenders.

This formation is set up to block out the opponent`s offense from the middle by forming the broad and kaleidoscopic midfielder line and to create a chance to score through the side attacks of Ko Jong-Su and Choi Sung-Yong, and the offensive ability of Seol Ki-Hyun.

The French National Team arrived at Korea a day before the opening game, and had a team practice for the actual match at Taegu World Cup Stadium. The French team, containing eight 98 World Cup members, practiced the strategy based on the 4-4-2 formation, according to which Djorkaeff, Vieira, Karembeu, and Dugarry are placed in the midfield, Leboeuf, Desailly, Lizarazu form the defensive line, and Rame keeps the goalgate.

Huh Jung-Moo, Donga Il-bo soccer columnist and KBS soccer commentator, prospected that ``The Korean team is actually weaker than France. But the young players of the French team have not had enough time to adjust to the team and to develop the team-work with other veteran players. And further, the high temperature of Taegu could be another variable to affect the result of the game. If the Korean team defends well against the French`s offense in the first half, and concentrates on the offense in the second half, then we may expect the good result.``

Yang Jong-Koo yjongk@donga.com