The team kept possession longer. They also circulated passes more. The number of shots was not far behind. The result was 0-4. South Korea's 1,000th A match left a clear limit revealed by attacking inefficiency, defensive collapse, and the timing, 74 days before the World Cup.
The South Korean national soccer team led by coach Hong Myung-bo suffered a 0-4 defeat in the friendly against Ivory Coast at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, England, on the 28th (Korean time). In the 35th minute of the first half Evan Gesang scored, and in first-half stoppage time Simon Adingra added another; in the second half Martial Godo and Wilfried Singo added goals and the team collapsed.
That day Korea deployed a three-back. Kim Tae-hyun, Kim Min-jae and Jo Yu-min stood in the center, and Seol Young-woo and Kim Moon-hwan played as wing-backs. Coach Hong focused on defensive stability to prepare for strong opponents they will meet in the World Cup finals. In reality, there were only many defenders.
The early flow was not bad. In the 19th minute of the first half Oh Hyun-gyu hit the post with a right-footed shot. In the 42nd minute of the first half Seol Young-woo's long-range shot hit the crossbar. In the 31st minute of the second half substitute Lee Kang-in's left-footed shot also struck the goalframe.
They hit the post three times in one match. Yet they did not score a single goal. Korea recorded 12 shots but only two were on target. Even after entering the box the final choices were regrettable. They attempted seven shots from outside the box, and there was only one decisive 'big chance.'
Ivory Coast was different. They had 13 shots, only one more than Korea. But eight were on target. And four of those — half — were converted into goals. There was a big difference in concentration and efficiency when they entered dangerous areas.
Around the 25th minute of the first half a hydration break occurred and the flow of the game completely changed. Ivory Coast began to quickly target Korea's three-back structure and the spaces on the flanks.
The first goal came in the 35th minute of the first half. A ball that came over from their own half unsettled Korea's left side. Martial Godo held the ball after a contest with Jo Yu-min, and the pass consolidated into the box where Gesang finished. There were enough defenders, but in the box there was no player to stop Gesang.
They collapsed even more easily in first-half stoppage time. Adingra received the ball on the left and cut between two Korean defenders. With his back turned he held off them, turned, and with a right-footed shot scored the second goal. Kim Min-jae, Kim Tae-hyun and Seol Young-woo were all nearby but could not stop him.
Coach Hong brought on Yang Hyun-joon, Paik Seung-ho and Lee Han-beom at the start of the second half. In the 13th minute of the second half he also brought on Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in and Cho Kyu-sung. Son started on the bench and entered the field in the 13th minute of the second half. His playing time was about 32 minutes. One shot, zero on target, zero key passes. He touched the ball 17 times and had no attacking points. The national team's ace came on but the flow did not change.
The third goal came in the 17th minute of the second half. From a corner kick Yang Hyun-joon's header was not properly cleared and went to the opponent. In the ensuing scramble Godo poked it in. Set-piece defense and second-ball response both wavered.
It was even more empty just before the end of the match. One pass from substitute Ahmad Diallo broke Korea's defensive line. Singo ran straight to the goal and scored the fourth.
The problem was not simply conceding four goals. Korea allowed nine shots inside the box to Ivory Coast that day. Meanwhile Korea had only five shots inside the box. Ivory Coast created as many as seven big chances. Korea had one.
Possession was 51%-49% in Korea's favor. Passes also numbered 535, more than Ivory Coast's 518. Pass success rate was 89%. Simply holding the ball longer meant nothing. Korea failed to make better choices after entering the opponent's box. Ivory Coast consolidated into decisive scenes as soon as Korea gave up even a little space.
Criticism of fighting spirit is also hard to avoid. Korea recorded eight fouls in 90 minutes. There were no yellow cards. They were repeatedly shaken by the opponent's counterattacks and individual skills yet could not stop the flow. There were many defenders, but few scenes of throwing their bodies in.
There are 74 days left until the World Cup finals. Hong Myung-bo's team must face strong opponents such as South Africa, Mexico and Germany. The Ivory Coast match was not simply a friendly defeat. Structural instability of the three-back, diminished finishing, lax defensive concentration — it was a match that showed what Hong Myung-bo's team must fix first.
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