Hiddink Squad, `Who Is the Leader?`

``Now the goal-making ability is the issue.``

In soccer, no one can win a victory without scoring a goal. To play a superior game or not is not the issue. Recently, the experts evaluated that the Korean soccer teams became stable in both offense and defense through three evaluation games with Senegal and Croatia, and hence the improvement of goal-making ability emerged as the next most crucial agenda of the Hiddink squad.

In modern soccer, even midfielder or defender can participate in offense to get a goal. However, because the world soccer has been dominated by the teams possessing a world-renowned goal-getters such as Ronaldo (Brazil), Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina), and Christian Vieri (Italy), we cannot emphasize enough the importance of the striker`s role.

In this sense, most experts point out that there has been no credible goal-getter in Korean soccer. Head Coach Guus Hiddink also admits that it is the most urgent task to diversify the offensive routes and to improve the goal-getting ability.

Since Hiddink became head coach, a total of 10 players have alternately taken the front offensive position for the last 10 months. Since Ko Jong-Su made a first goal in the game against Norway on Jan. 24th, Yoo Sang-Cheol (3 goals), Ko Jong-Su (3 goals), Choi Yong-Su (2 goals), and Kim Do-Hoon (2 goals) have recorded over one goal for 17 A-matches.

Sports experts have evaluated Hwang Sun-Hong, Seol Ki-Hyun and Choi Yong-Su as players of remarkable ability among the strikers of the Hiddink squad. Although Yoo Sang-Cheol and An Jung-Hwan also showed the explosive performance, the experts agreed that they are more suitable for the offensive midfielder position. If so, it will be most plausible that Choi Yong-Su, Hwang Sun-Hong and Seol Ki-Hyun take the fore offender in the 2002 World Cup.

The experts suggest that the Korean team needs to specialize the offensive line in a way to employ Choi Yong-Su or Seol Ki-Hyun in the forefront and use `experienced veteran player` Hwang Sun-Hong or `young power` Lee Dong-Goo, Lee Cheon-Soo, and Choi Tae-Wook as assistant strikers.

Choi Yong-Su is a well-recognized striker who ranked 2nd with 21 goals in the J-League. Choi threw off the stigma that he was just a dependent striker, as he has recently shown an outstanding performance in making the space for offensive route with a swift movement.

Seol Ki-Hyun has a capacity of distressing the opponent`s defensive formation by moving with 2-3 defenders. Seol has not only a good physical condition, but also a sensitive goal-getting ability.

Therefore, if `veteran` Hwang Sun-Hong and `young power` Lee Dong-Gook, Lee Cheon-Soo, and Choi Tae-Wook are employed properly, the national team will form a more balanced offensive line.

yjongk@donga.com