Reining in Pato

Could the “Little Tiger” put down the “Wounded Lion?”

The Korean national youth soccer team (below age 20) will go against FIFA World Youth Championship’s (below age 20) strongest runner-up Brazil for the second round of the D group league at the Montreal Olympic Stadium in Canada on July 4 at 8:45 a.m.

Both Korea, which tied the U.S. during the first round, and Brazil, which lost to Poland with a sudden blow, will have their fates decided in the second round.

It is imperative for Korea, which must at least tie with Brazil, to blockade the enemy’s defense leader Alexandre Pato (18, Brazil Internacional).

After watching the Poland game, coach Cho Dong-hyeon concluded, “He is a lone player, and is less threatening than expected.”

But his resume shows that Pato is not a player to be taken lightly. Having played soccer since the age of three, Pato grew up as a member of the famous Brazil Internacional youth team since 2001 and made his professional debut last year. Despite being only 17 years old, he has scored 17 goals in 22 games and led his team to the top of the FIFA Club World Cup.

He also made five goals at the recent youth World Cup preliminary heats in Latin America for Brazil, the highest number for a team. Standing at 180 centimeters tall with a curving right kick and heading, he is dubbed the “Little Ronaldo (FC Barcelona)” and is getting offers from England Premiere League Chelsea, Italia Serie A, Inter Milan, AC Milan, and others. Chelsea’s offering price was supposedly 26.7 million euros (approximately 33 billion won).

Pato, who put in some powerful kicks at the Poland game, said after the team training on July 2, “The Poland game was only practice. My rhythm and pace weren’t good, but the next game will be different.” He vowed, “Yesterday I lost some good chances, but at the Korea game I will score at least one goal.”

Korea is planning to firmly rein in Pato by reinforcing the “pressure defense” seen during the U.S. match. Lee Sang-ho (playing for Ulsan Hyundai), who thwarted so-called “soccer god” Freddy Adu at the U.S. game, said, “I think Brazil isn’t as strong as expected. We can win, too.”

Korean defensive force Choi Cheol-sun (playing for Jeonbuk Hyundai) said, “We will strengthen our mid-field defense so that the ball won’t be passed over to the forefront, and we will surround the player with the ball to break down Brazil’s individual play with an organizational defense.”

kimsk@donga.com