Hiddink `Please Watch What We Do`

``Our goal is the 2002 World Cup. Please watch what we do.``

Head Coach Guus Hiddink, who had left for the training camp in Europe with the Korean national soccer team at the beginning of last month, came back yesterday. After watching the game between England and Germany on 2nd, he returned with Jung Mong-Jun, the president of the Korea Football Association. Hiddink asked to watch how the team plays until the World Cup next year, saying that ``although we disappointingly lost to the Czech Republic, we obtained a lot of things from the matches with strong teams.``

The interview with Head Coach Hiddink follows:

-Please tell me about the results of the training camp in Europe.

``During the training camp in Europe, I checked the newly-joined players, instructing them. I watched over how those players played in the game with the Czech Republic and how the star players coped with the strong team. And next I analyzed the games between European countries including the England-Germany match, in order to break through the European wall at the World Cup.``

-The domestic fans were very disappointed with the big loss in the game with the Czech Republic.

``Actually, it was an unacceptable game. But we obtained many lessons. Some say that we should also play with the weaker teams. I opposed such an opinion. Although we had the worst defeat in the game with the Czech Republic, I think that we should keep playing with the stronger team in order to improve the ability of the team.``

-How are you planning to make up for the loose defense, which was evident in the game with the Czech Republic?

``In fact, the defense is the big problem. But, as I have kept saying, the defenders cannot achieve a successful defense on their own. In modern soccer, there is no clear distinction between the offense and defense. In the qualifying game between England and Germany, an offensive player of the England team became a defense player to block the opponent`s advance as soon as the ball was taken.``

-What is the most important task to be accomplished in the national team?

``It is the ability to concentrate all its energies. A concentrated energy is necessary for the Korean soccer to step up. For this task, I will elevate the intensity of the training, and I will try to make the team to never be daunted by the stronger team. Korean soccer is not hopeless.``

-Netherlands actually failed to reach the final round of the World Cup by losing to Ireland. What do you think?

``The players, who enjoyed their prime during 1996-1998, are still playing. The Netherlands players made too many mistakes for them to say that they just had bad luck. The Korean team still has a lot of time to prepare for the 2002 World Cup. If we prepare untiringly, we can reach the goal.``

Yang Jong-Koo yjongk@donga.com