`Korea’s Final 16` Sees Hope

∇ Poland

Korea’s first competitor, Poland, certainly had a problem in defense. It seems that if Korea suppresses with fast passing, the defense can be broken down.

Poland lost the home-match with Romania by 1-2. Poland is a team, which instantly penetrates enemy’s defense through long passes from the midfield, rather than short passes. Although main striker Olisadebe was absent on the day, Poland used the same strategy to knock on Romania’s goal gate. However, the defense revealed a large hole compared to the active offense. Tall Polish defenders seemed strong in air-ball battles, but weak before fast Romanian strikers. Goalkeeper Dedek covered for the unstable defense several times, including when he blocked the 24th minute penalty in the second half.

∇ U.S.A.

`Decisive in the 2nd half, focus on side-attack`. These are Korea’s key words in the U.S. match. U.S.A., against which Korea seeks its first victory, recently lost all 3 out-matches, including the day’s match with Ireland by 1-2.

Its cause of defeat was the same as in last month’s German match. As the U.S. team allowed 3 goals just in 7 minutes during the German match due to sudden fall of stamina, it substituted as many as 5 players on the day, but slipped into a dilemma that the organization broke off. Especially, the U.S. defense repeated his weakness against side attacks, giving all the goals from side-centering passes. However, as playmaker Reyna, who missed the German match due to injury, led the offense on the day, the team displayed some high-level offensive power that cut into rear space of the enemy’s defense line.

∇ Portugal

The day’s match confirmed Korea’s biggest task of stopping Luis Figo. Portugal tied with Brazil 1-1 in the home-match with Figo’s powerful play, restoring its reputation that was crashed in the match with Finland losing by 1-4.

Figo gave Conceicao a fantastic pass in 15 minutes of the 2nd half, leading the first score, and took full responsibility of Luis Costa’s absence in the team.

However, Figo is both Portugal’s advantage and disadvantage. When Figo was tied up in Brazil’s heavy mark on him, the team stumbled without an alternative resolution.

Brazil’s fierce offense seemed too much for Portugal’s 4-back defense line. Of course, `world’s best strikers` like Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Ronaldinho were fighting against it, but Portugal certainly had a problem in its defense.

Sung-Won Joo swon@donga.com · Keuk-In Bae bae2150@donga.com