Korea v Iraq

Final

UAE November 17th 2012

By Anthony Hudson – UEFA Pro License

Game Summary

• Final Score 1-1

• Korea Win 4-1 on Penalties

• Iraq dominate game. Lead 1-0 for majority.

• Korea had better discipline once they equalized and game went into extra time.

• Fitness of Iraq players and tactical discipline became very ‘loose’ towards the end the game.

• This effected the mentality of Iraq. Korea more mentally strong toward the end.

• Iraq substitutions ? Took off best three attacking players (both wide men) and attacking midfielder No.11. Lost these players when needing to find a winner and also lost them for penalties.

Line Ups Korea (Red) 4-2-3-1 Iraq (White) 4-2-3-1

Key Areas

Korea • Defend deep and rely on quick

counter attack.

• Free kicks taken quickly.

• Play goes through No.6 (best passer). Able to switch play well.

• 2 CBs – Good on the ball. Ability to pass under pressure.

• Quick attacking play around edge of box.

• Wide men play in off line/FBs push on.

• Very predictable with play. Main two options:

a) ball wide and crosses in box or

b) Diagonal/long ball into big No.9 – play off him

Iraq

• Big, strong, physical.

• Excellent wide players. Athletic, quick and strong. Always look to take their FBs on.

• CF 16. Very effective. Holds ball up well. Able to turn and run at defenders.

• Everything goes through No.6. Excellent footballer, keeps ball well, switches play and sits in front of back four.

• Very good/quick play around edge of box. 7, 17, 9 and 11 get up and support attack quickly.

• Creative attacking set pieces.

Key Players

Korea • Changgeun

– No.1 GK

(Big presence, shot stopper, good kicker)

• Hyun

– No.9 FW

(Big, strong, good in the air, hard worker)

• Sunwood

– No.6 CM

(Playmaker, composed on ball, leader)

Iraq • Farhan

– No.23 GK

(Big presence, shot stopper, good kicker, leader)

• Hashim

– No.6 CM

(Play maker, good passer, reads game well)

• Hantoosh

– No.7 WM

(Strong, quick, skillful, good 1v1, very positive)

• Al Asadi

– No.17 WM

(Strong, quick, skillful, good 1v1, very positive)

• Faraj – No.11 AM

(Very bright, hard working, good skill, left footed)

• Karrar

– No.16 CF

(Hard worker, holds ball up well, quick, strong, very positive on ball)

Main Key Characteristics

• Both teams play out from the back, through the thirds

• Both teams have a distinct style of play (Through work and contact time)

• Wide men – ability beat defenders 1 v 1 and first idea is to do just that

• Both teams – excellent goalkeepers: – Leaders, strong, big, physical presence, personality

• Size and strength – Physically strong, good balance, agile, quick, strong 1 v 1, good in the air

Iraq Key Coaching Factors

(Iraq in White)

Danger – Wide Men

Both wide players always looking for the ball. Service mainly from No.6 in the middle and back four.

1st thought on both sides is positive. Both want to run at defenders and create.

No.6 – Play maker

Sits in front of the back four. Reads the game very well. Excellent passer of the ball. Can switch play, plays forwards and has good feet to get out of trouble. Get tighter to him quicker. Have your ‘No.10’ drop and sit on him when you don’t have the ball.

Nullify their wide men

1. Press higher up pitch (mainly full backs and stay on No.6) and limit service into the two wide men.

2. Get out to the wide men quicker (on their first touch) – don’t let them get a ‘run’ on you. And double up defensively.

No.16 – Center Forward Hard worker off the ball. Chases CBs and puts under pressure. Get him chasing even more. Keep the ball at the back and make him do unnecessary running,

When went 1-0 up, back four stay when attacking. Offers space elsewhere.

CF Runs and Presses Defenders

1-0 Up / Back Four Stay

Excellent at holding ball up, bringing others into play, starting counter attacks and can turn and run at defenders. Caused lots of problems. Big strong, good with back to goal and also running into space. Always had too much space and left 1 v1

Centre backs need to work closer together. (pic left) LCB must closer and edge in front of No.16. Don’t be square. When Iraq look for their outlet, into 16s feet, defender can step in front and intercept. Work harder at stopping the counter attack. Stop service into striker, press higher.

No.16 – Forward – Very Effective

Korea Key Coaching Factors

(Korea in Red)

Very composed. Excellent passer. Switches play very well, which is huge part of Koreas game. Reads game well. Needs to be marked closer/stopped playing.

No.6 – Key player – Very Effective

Wide Play - Threat

Switch play quickly. Both wide men come in off the line. Full backs push on. Overload wide areas for give and go’s and either work a cross or work the ball to the edge of box for a shot. Stop service to wide men (i.e. No.6 and/or press higher up pitch) Get over as a group quicker, don’t allow any spaces to open up. FBs work harder to stop crosses.

This was Koreas main attacking threat. Very predictable. But effective. No.9 pulls off on the diag, ball played in the air and runners in behind and in front. Press higher, stop service into him. Mainly press the full backs. Stay with your runners.

Long Ball (Diagonal) into No.9 – threat

Goal kicks / Long balls from GK

No.9 stands on the line. GK drives ball into him. Runners in behind. Stay with runners. Get your best header stood out wide marking him. Have extra cover in that area (holding mid)

Counter Attack – Big threat

Korea defend deep (drop to 1/2way line) and counter with pace and numbers. Especially from defending set pieces. Stop the counter. Shape when in possession is crucial. The moment we lose the ball. Start positions for attacking set pieces. Don’t leave big spaces in dangerous areas.

Korea – Main Attacking Option – Switch Play Quickly

No.6 on the ball (Playmaker) – switches play to No.11 who hangs wide. (Above) Then look to Combine, at pace and get crosses in box. (below)

Korea – Main Attacking Option – Diagonal Ball into FW

No.6 drops deep to pick up ball. No.9 (big CF) pulls on the diagonal, off the CBs shoulder. No. 6 plays long and Korea play of the 2nd ball/knock down. This became very predictable and was used throughout the game.

Set Pieces

Iraq - DF Corners

Everyone back. 2 on edge. 3 x Zonal. 1 x marks man on GK. Everyone else man for man.

Iraq - AT Corners

Right foot. Inswing. Players start in huddle near PK spot. Players attack NR, MD and Far Post. Danger – Leave themselves very open. 1 on the edge. 1 mark attacker (tight) and big space left for Korea to exploit.

Korea (above) counter attack from Iraq corner.

Iraq – AT FK – Edge of Box – No.1

4 x on the ball. Ball played through legs of man on ball for oncoming man to shoot.

AT FK – Edge of Box – No.2

2 x stand in front of ball/blocking GK view. Ball touched to the side and player stood in the 2 man wall, turns and shoots with left foot.

Korea – AT FK – Wide

1 x man on the ball. Left Foot, inswing to NR Post. All players start near PK spot and attack Nr, MD and Far post.

Korea - AT Corners

Right foot. Inswing. Players start in huddle near PK spot. Man on near post, always runs short, Vacating near post area. 2 x players on the edge and a third man goes short (on LHS) Danger – Leave themselves very open. 1 on the edge. 1 mark attacker (tight) and big space left for Korea to exploit.

Runners, 2 x near, 1 x middle and 1 x far post