1. Korea v Iraq
Final
UAE November 17th 2012
By Anthony Hudson – UEFA Pro License

2. 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.

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

4. Key Areas
Korea Iraq
• Defend deep and rely on quick • Big, strong, physical.
counter attack. • Excellent wide players. Athletic, quick
• Free kicks taken quickly. and strong. Always look to take their
• Play goes through No.6 (best passer). FBs on.
Able to switch play well. • CF 16. Very effective. Holds ball up
• 2 CBs – Good on the ball. Ability to well. Able to turn and run at
pass under pressure. defenders.
• Quick attacking play around edge of • Everything goes through No.6.
box. Excellent footballer, keeps ball well,
• Wide men play in off line/FBs push switches play and sits in front of back
on. four.
• Very predictable with play. Main two
options: • Very good/quick play around edge of
a) ball wide and crosses in box or
box. 7, 17, 9 and 11 get up and
b) Diagonal/long ball into big No.9 – play
support attack quickly.
off him • Creative attacking set pieces.

5. Key Players
Iraq
Korea • Farhan
• Changgeun – No.23 GK
– No.1 GK (Big presence, shot stopper, good kicker, leader)
(Big presence, shot stopper, good kicker) • Hashim
• Hyun – No.6 CM
– No.9 FW (Play maker, good passer, reads game well)
(Big, strong, good in the air, hard worker) • Hantoosh
• Sunwood – No.7 WM
– No.6 CM (Strong, quick, skillful, good 1v1, very positive)
• Al Asadi
(Playmaker, composed on ball, leader)
– 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)

6. 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

7. Iraq
Key Coaching Factors
(Iraq in White)

8. 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.

9. 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.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.

10. CF Runs and Presses Defenders
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,
1-0 Up / Back Four Stay
When went 1-0 up, back four
stay when attacking.
Offers space elsewhere.

11. No.16 – Forward – Very Effective
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.

12. Korea
Key Coaching Factors
(Korea in Red)

13. No.6 – Key player – Very Effective
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.
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.

14. Long Ball (Diagonal) into No.9 – threat
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.
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)

15. 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.

16. 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)

17. 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.

18. Set Pieces

19. Iraq - DF Corners
Everyone back. 2 on edge. 3 x Zonal. 1 x marks man on GK. Everyone else man for man.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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