If there was some criticism of Mauricio Pochettino nearly a yr out from the 2026 World Cup, Guus Hiddink may have stated the identical – and extra – in the summertime of 2001, when he was on the receiving finish of thrashings and a brand new, unflattering, nickname.
A yr and 5 days earlier than South Korea began their marketing campaign on dwelling soil, the Dutchman was in cost as they misplaced 5-0 at dwelling to France. The identical scoreline occurred once more, a couple of weeks later, in opposition to the Czech Republic. A all of the sudden uncertain media dubbed the previous Actual Madrid boss ‘Oh Dae-yong,' a Korean-sounding title that interprets as ‘5-0'.
The next summer time on the 2002 World Cup, nonetheless, the Koreans have been beating Portugal, Italy and Spain on the best way to a semi-final exit in opposition to Germany. The coach was made an honorary citizen, each restaurant in Seoul claimed a previous go to and universities have been designing new modules about what to study from his management.
Pochettino may do worse than strive a crash course from the supply and provides Hiddink a name to talk about what he did throughout that interval between the summers of 2001 and 2002. Certainly, Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio did greater than that forward of the 2018 World Cup, visiting the Netherlands to speak to the person himself to attempt to discover an edge that will take El Tri previous the second spherical. In spite of everything, forward of the 2002 semi-final, the Guardian wrote: “Not one of the different collaborating 31 groups have approached the competitors with the identical degree of preparation, professionalism and customary sense, which is a tribute to their coach Guus Hiddink.”
The conditions between the 2002 and 2026 co-hosts are, after all, just a little totally different, however there are some notable similarities. Hiddink took over South Korea with 18 months to go till the massive event; Pochettino could have been in cost simply three months longer than that when the 2026 version kicks off. Mildly encouraging performances on the Gold Cup is one other factor they've in frequent. It's little remembered now however South Korea appeared at Concacaf's bash in 2000 and 2002 in quest of aggressive video games.
Hiddink was not in cost for the primary, when Korea did not advance previous an equal group stage because of a coin toss loss to Canada. In 2002, the Koreans simply acquired a single level behind the proper Individuals however, this time, went by means of, then acquired previous Mexico on penalties earlier than shedding to Costa Rica within the semi-final. There have been encouraging indicators – a clear sheet in opposition to Mexico and penalty heroics from goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae, who would go on to star within the following summer time, however nonetheless loads of questions on an absence of targets.
But for Hiddink it was not about outcomes however progress. The Dutchman was open about wanting a group that was as match and recent, two phrases that got here up usually, as attainable. To work more durable than another group was at all times the objective and he stated with pleasure through the World Cup that this group was the fittest of any he had coached earlier than, together with his Netherlands aspect which, paradoxically, beat Korea 5-0 on the 1998 World Cup.
It helped that Hiddink had large management, partly attributable to his standing and partly attributable to a worry of failure. The Taeguk Warriors had been to 5 World Cups and had by no means gained a sport, regardless of coming shut, and have been determined to get out of the group stage. Having a co-host or two may also assist. The presence of Japan was an enormous incentive as Korea was competing with its former coloniser on and off the sphere. Maybe President Trump's attitudes in direction of Canada and Mexico can a minimum of foster some aggressive emotions among the many co-hosts.
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Pochettino will battle, nonetheless, to forge the membership environment that Hiddink managed so effectively with South Korea. It's simpler to take action when 16 out of the 23 within the remaining roster are based mostly domestically in a rustic roughly the scale of Indiana, and a lot of the relaxation are only a fast flight away in Japan. Hiddink broke up cliques that shaped across the strict age hierarchy throughout the group, a much bigger deal again then than now, with divisions nowadays extra more likely to be between these based mostly at dwelling and people in Europe.
Hiddink at all times knew that the domestic-based expertise have been essential. With the 2002 World Cup kicking off in late Could, sooner than traditional because of the wet season, a lot of the finest groups have been filled with gamers that got here straight from their European campaigns. The Okay-League season, which normally begins in February or March, was delayed till July, that means that the upon getting back from the Gold Cup, the coach had his gamers as a lot as he wished. The worldwide calendar goes to restrict Poch's time along with his whole roster however working as a lot as attainable with what you've could make a distinction.
It shouldn't be forgotten that Korea was additionally a technically glorious group however, there isn't a denying that, it was additionally fitter and brisker than maybe any in World Cup historical past. By 4 June 2002, the group was a coiled spring, determined to play in entrance of a military of red-clad followers determined for them to do effectively and a rustic able to create an unforgettable environment. The two-0 win over Poland was not only a first in Korea's World Cup historical past, didn't simply hearth the beginning gun for an unbelievable summer time however confirmed how a group had been in-built a brief area of time.
