If there was some criticism of Mauricio Pochettino nearly a yr out from the 2026 World Cup, Guus Hiddink might have mentioned 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 house soil, the Dutchman was in cost as they misplaced 5-0 at house to France. The identical scoreline occurred once more, a number of weeks later, towards the Czech Republic. A out of the blue uncertain media dubbed the previous Actual Madrid boss Oh Dae-yong, a Korean-sounding identify that interprets as 5-0.
The next summer season on the 2002 World Cup, nevertheless, the Koreans have been beating Portugal, Italy and Spain on the best way to a semi-final exit towards 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.
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Pochettino might do worse than attempt a crash course from the supply and provides Hiddink a name to speak 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 stage 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, slightly completely different, however there are some notable similarities. Hiddink took over South Korea with 18 months to go till the large event; Pochettino may 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 Concacafs bash in 2000 and 2002 looking for aggressive video games.
Hiddink was not in cost for the primary, when Korea didn’t advance previous an equal group stage due to a coin toss loss to Canada. In 2002, the Koreans simply obtained a single level behind the proper People however, this time, went by way of, then obtained previous Mexico on penalties earlier than dropping to Costa Rica within the semi-final. There have been encouraging indicators a clear sheet towards Mexico and penalty heroics from goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae, who would go on to star within the following summer season, however nonetheless loads of questions on a scarcity of targets.
But for Hiddink it was not about outcomes however progress. The Dutchman was open about wanting a workforce that was as match and contemporary, two phrases that got here up typically, as potential. To work more durable than every other workforce was at all times the objective and he mentioned with satisfaction throughout the World Cup that this workforce 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 huge 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 recreation, regardless of coming shut, and have been determined to get out of the group stage. Having a co-host or two also can assist. The presence of Japan was an enormous incentive as Korea was competing with its former coloniser on and off the sphere. Maybe President Trumps attitudes in the direction of Canada and Mexico can no less than foster some aggressive emotions among the many co-hosts.
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Pochettino will battle, nevertheless, to forge the membership environment that Hiddink managed so nicely with South Korea. It’s simpler to take action when 16 out of the 23 within the closing roster are based mostly domestically in a rustic roughly the dimensions of Indiana, and many of the relaxation are only a fast flight away in Japan. Hiddink broke up cliques that shaped across the strict age hierarchy inside the workforce, a much bigger deal again then than now, with divisions today extra more likely to be between these based mostly at house 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 Might, sooner than typical as a result of wet season, many of the greatest groups have been filled with gamers that got here straight from their European campaigns. The Ok-League season, which often begins in February or March, was delayed till July, which 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 Pochs time along with his whole roster however working as a lot as potential with what you’ve could make a distinction.
It shouldn’t be forgotten that Korea was additionally a technically glorious workforce however, there isn’t a denying that, it was additionally fitter and more energizing than maybe any in World Cup historical past. By 4 June 2002, the workforce was a coiled spring, determined to play in entrance of a military of red-clad followers determined for them to do nicely and a rustic able to create an unforgettable environment. The two-0 win over Poland was not only a first in Koreas World Cup historical past, didn’t simply fireplace the beginning gun for an unbelievable summer season however confirmed how a workforce had been in-built a brief house of time.
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