Coach Advocaat’s Tactics Are Paying Off

Dick Advocaat explained his seven tactics to his players right before and during halftime of the Korean National Team’s friendly game with Sweden on Saturday.

These tactics involve three offensive setups and four defensive plays, including both long distance and short, free kick offenses, and a corner kick defense.

Six minutes into the second half, Kim Yong-chol headed the ball into the goal after it was delivered by Park Ji-sung’s free kick from right midfield. As luck would have it, the situation coincided exactly with one of Advocaat’s tactical plays.

Advocaat’s corner kick offensive strategy closely resembled the situation four minutes into the second half when Kim Dong-jin almost scored a goal with a diving volley when a ball kicked across by Park rolled back. The first goal scored by the Jo Won-hee, Kim Dong-jin, Ahn Jung-hwan connection came on a modification of this kind of setup play.

Despite the Swedes coming back to tie the game, 2-2, the match proved Advocaat’s ability to diagnose and prescribe.

The same keen strategy from Advocaat brought a 2-2 tie to Korean National Team in the match against Iran.

One must wonder; what will be his prescription for the match against Serbia-Montenegro on the November 16?

Jong-Koo Yang yjongk@donga.com