My, oh my, what a
difference four years can make. I saw Korea play in France during
the '98 World Cup, so my hat's off to their recent successful team
play and organization. Where did all this 'calm, cool, and
collected' soccer play come from? Well, let's give credit where
credit is due. Hiddink's the man.
I'm not much of a soccer
buff. However, it didn't take a genius to see, prior to the Hiddink
era, that Korean soccer was probably synonymous to chickens playing
with their heads cut off. They were high on effort, but a little low
on results. This kind of outcome might be tolerable for countries
where soccer is low on the totem pole of interest and national
image, and doesn't have the collective temperament of a teenager.
But this is absolutely inappropriate in Korea where soccer and
Olympic event outcomes determine how Koreans feel about themselves
each and every morning they wake up. Of course, no one could ever
accuse Koreans of being low on passion and effort. However, as we
can now see, it really helps to have a strategy in mind before
running up and down the soccer pitch for 90+ minutes with nothing to
show for it but good intentions and lots of sweat. One might think
that a nation that prides itself on its 5,000 year history couldn't
have come up with a more imaginative game plan than that.
Nevertheless, it better to be late than never. Gone are the days, it
seems, of seeing overly enthusiastic Korean soccer players, drenched
in sweat and eye balls bulging, with no goals to show for their
troubles while the opposing team is already thinking about their
next win before the time clock has run out. So, I have to say
again-Hiddink's the man.
Koreans should also be
proud of their globalization effort made here. To come to the
realization that the answer to this problem didn't reside within the
gene pool of its own country was an uncharacteristic, but
nevertheless, innovative step forward. Then again, Rome wasn't built
in a day, was it? Fresh blood and new approaches can sometimes be
the antidote for the blind leading the blind.
Yes, Hiddink's the man. But
this wasn't always the case, was it? After losing meekly at the
Concap Confederations Cup in North America and badly to Croatia
within this past year, some players and most of the fans doubted
Hiddink and wanted Korea going to the pitch against powerhouses like
Vietnam, Malaysia, and quite possibly the women's geriatric squad
from China. Hey, a win's a win, right? After all, saving face is
much more important than developing world class soccer skills and a
much needed game face, isn't it? Fortunately, for Korea, Hiddink
didn't think so. I applaud him. Now Korea is so touchy, feely good
about itself. And what's wrong with that?
So, Korea, jump on that
bandwagon while the going is good! Taste and enjoy the fruits of
victory, for you've known the agony of defeat. You deserve this
time. Korea can say it loud and be proud and down a soju or two.
Hiddink's the man. Everybody is kung-fu fighting.....
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