Korean Soccer to Be Rearmed with Sophisticated Passing Skills

No other option than the four-man defense system!

That was the word of South Korean national soccer team coach Coelho, brushing off all the disputes over his insistence on the four-man defense system.

Coach Coelho told reporters yesterday, "To maintain a dynamic operation of the strategy, I will not make any change to the 4-3-2-1 system."

When asked whether South Korean players had a hard time adjusting themselves to the new system, Coelho replied, "Once I took the helm, quite a number of South Korean pro teams gave up on their old formations like 3-4-3 and 3-5-2, and are beginning to employ the four-man system." Then, he added, "Four-man is four-man. It does not change depending on the team, national or pro."

Contrary to the general belief, Coelho points to the lack of organizational play as the Achilles tendon of the national team. Ever since he took office as coach, he has gone through two A-matches. Then, he has come up with his analysis that the midfield was almost dead, and everyone depended too on the front-line strikers.

Coelho also argues the style does not square with his one. He favors, according to his yesterday announcement, a "combination soccer" based on elaborate passes. Once the attack is cut off, players should look for another chance by earning some time through passes. But, South Korean players, he points out, lack the ability to adjust the flow on the ground.

On the other hand, Coelho confessed the difficulty faced by him. He said, "We had little time for all of us to get together and practice my tactics. Some of the players belong to overseas pro teams. That`s why it is hard to get together. Thus, players in South Korea have to perform an important role. When the time comes, I will test the ability of young South Korean players." His remarks indicate that he will assign important positions to the players in South Korea.

As to the no-goal A-matches against Columbia and Japan, he commented, "Making a goal in soccer is a difficult task. We have had many opportunities. But players were nervous and that is why they could not catch up with what I told them to do."

Sang-Ho Kim hyangsan@donga.com