"This Is How You Shoot…" Killer’s Special Tutoring

In the recent training sessions of the Korean national soccer team, coach Guus Hiddink’s `special tutoring` is exceptionally noticeable.

After calling in 3 striker candidates, including Lee Dong-Kuk, Lee Cheon-Su, and Cha Doo-Ri, to teach `technical shooting methods` himself on the 11th, Hiddink ordered them on the 12th to hold an intensive heading training session.

What would be the reason for coach Hiddink’s focus on training his offensive line before the evaluation match with Tunisie that will take place at 11 p.m. on the 13th? The answer is quite simple. He seems to have determined that unsatisfactory results from this year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup were due to lack of strikers’ score-power.

Hiddink has made a `meaningful` statement on the 12th. “Victory may not be important since it’s not like the last match in the season. But it is important to work for good results in order to have genuine motivation for playing.”

The statement is rather `unusual` for him, who believes in process more than results, because his insistence, so far, had been that it is self-deceiving to fight weak teams and gain victory. Perhaps, he has conceived a new perspective of winning.

Hiddink said on the day that he would give Ahn Jung-Hwan (Perugia), who is currently playing in Italy, a chance to play. “Chance is given, but it’s his part to prove himself.” Hiddink explained that since Ahn is not able to participate in the team training, he is given a chance to display his talent through a game.

Although he said that “many players will be put in and tested in the upcoming evaluation match”, his extended interest for strikers means that he decided to focus on `good results`.

Hiddink said he would try the `3-4-3 formation` strategy in the match against Tunisie.

Lee Dong-Kuk (Pohang Steelers) is to take the central offense line, and Lee Cheon-Su (Ulsan Hyundai) will support him from the left side. Kim Tae-Hyun (Chunnam Dragons) and Choi Jin-Chul (Chunbuk Hyundai) will play around Hong Myeon-Bo (Pohand Steelers) at the center to guard the goal gate. Hiddink also emphasized on the possible chance for Cho Byeong-Kuk (Suwon Samsung), who came first in physical tests.

Also, Song Jong-Kuk (Suwon Samsung) will control the ball’s flow from the middle, and Choi Seong-Yong (Suwon Samsung) and Lee Ul-Yong (Puchon SK) will take the right and left midfields. Kim Nam-Il (Chunnam Dragons) and Lee Young-Pyo (25. Anyang LG) will compete at the position of defensive midfield.

Sung-Won Joo swon@donga.com