holland vs russia [R]

[Suprah]

No, you're right I can't call it an accident. Nor did I. I merely stated that this was not down to him transforming the team. He's not a miracle worker. He is a good coach, but this Russian team he has taken on is an incredibly young and talanted team. If you think Hiddink can be credited with finding or developing Arshavin, Pavlyuchenko, Zhirkov or Zyryanov? Did you watch the Zenit St Petersburg side destroy Bayern 4-0 in the semis playing the same one touch attacking football?
Hiddink is not stupid, he's not going to take on a team if it has no hope. Let's not forget that Korea were also a talented young team (that were incredibly lucky with some atrocious refereeing decisions to get that far) and Australia were not exactly no-hopers.

That is true, but Hiddink has done a terrific job for the Russian national team by galvinising players from the big Moscow clubs and Zenit into a well-oiled super-fit attacking machine. He is handling perhaps a sudden surge of young Russian talent, but it takes a wise man to handle such hot-blooded youth and make them more efficient and clinical beyond their ages.

[Shahin K]

No, you're right I can't call it an accident. Nor did I. I merely stated that this was not down to him transforming the team. He's not a miracle worker. He is a good coach, but this Russian team he has taken on is an incredibly young and talanted team. If you think Hiddink can be credited with finding or developing Arshavin, Pavlyuchenko, Zhirkov or Zyryanov? Did you watch the Zenit St Petersburg side destroy Bayern 4-0 in the semis playing the same one touch attacking football?
Hiddink is not stupid, he's not going to take on a team if it has no hope. Let's not forget that Korea were also a talented young team (that were incredibly lucky with some atrocious refereeing decisions to get that far) and Australia were not exactly no-hopers.

I agree with you, but for korea he picked out the most talented players out of 300 footballers (he also transformed the korea team) and gave them the best training and tactics so they can develop..In 1-2 yrs you can reach alot if you get good training.

[police in helicopter]

Gus Hiddink is a genius.

[yashar_fasihnia]

its not fluke,its the determination to not give up until the last second and self belief..in wc when we were down 3-1 to mexico did any of our player think that they could tie or win?no,no even at 2-1
arshavin and pavlyuchenko come to roma
russia-italia final

russia and italy can meet only in semi finals if italy beats spain.
so they cant meet in the finals cos germany and turkey are playing the other semifinal.

germany - italy final, germany wins!

[zereshk-ali]

That is true, but Hiddink has done a terrific job for the Russian national team by galvinising players from the big Moscow clubs and Zenit into a well-oiled super-fit attacking machine. He is handling perhaps a sudden surge of young Russian talent, but it takes a wise man to handle such hot-blooded youth and make them more efficient and clinical beyond their ages.

I agree with most of what you say, apart from the efficient and clinical part. I think what makes Russia so good to watch is that they aren't efficient and clinical and their style of football is not coached. They're wasteful in front of goal, they defend set pieces badly and they are tactically naive (as exposed in the Spain match).

What makes them a joy to watch is their technique, their attacking instincts and their ability to create chance after chance through inventive passing and movement. Their play is not really efficient or clinical in the way that the over-coached Germans play or even how Holland were clinical on the break in the group stages.

[zereshk-ali]

I agree with you, but for korea he picked out the most talented players out of 300 footballers (he also transformed the korea team) and gave them the best training and tactics so they can develop..In 1-2 yrs you can reach alot if you get good training.

True, but with Korea he had an incredible and abnormal amount of time pre-tournament to coach the team. Whilst the best players in the world were in Europe coming to the end of the gruelling season of CL football and title deciders he was coaching a national team day in day out for months in advance to become effectively as well drilled as a club side. The Korean season has ended early to allow him to do this.

Let's also not forget that 2002 was arguably one of the worst tournaments in memory for the standard of football since it started earlier than the World Cup normally starts to account for the rainy season in Japan and Korea. The top international sides were shattered coming in to the tournament, having only just finished their seasons days earlier (e.g zidane played the tournament with a thigh injury he picked up in the CL final he played just a few days before France's first match).

On the other hand the Koreans were fresh, had played together for months and were playing in conditions that they were used to playing. Don't get me wrong, I like Hiddink and Korea, but even with that preparation and conditioning in all honesty with some even-handed refereeing they should have been knocked out in the 2nd round and then again in the QF.

[Simorgh]

God, I'm going to download this match and watch it a few times over. What a performance by Russia. Holland was outclassed by a team with the desire and sheer motivation to win.

[Mr Pouya]

[Suprah]

Li'l Nutzzack

[Prince of Persia]

Arshavin is Russia's little Messi.