[골닷컴, 화성] Reporter Kang Dong-hun = This is an unprecedented tactical change that no one expected. Bentuho, who had only been using a back four, showed three back tactics with less than ten days left until the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The Korean national football team, led by coach Paulo Bento (53, Portugal), won 1-0 in a friendly match against Iceland held at the main stadium of Hwaseong Sports Complex on the 11th at 8:00 pm Preventive goal saved Song Min-gyu (23, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors) laughed until the end.
On this day, coach Bento withdrew all three against expectations. With Kim Young-kwon (32, Ulsan Hyundai) in the middle, Kwon Gyeong-won (30, Gamba Osaka) and Park Ji-soo (28, Kim Chun Sangmu) formed the defensive line on the left and right. Hong Cheol (32, Daegu FC) and Yoon Jong-gyu (25, FC Seoul) came out as left and right backs, respectively.
Even when Park Ji-soo collapsed due to an unexpected injury in the process of landing after an aerial contest in the 37th minute of the kickoff, coach Bento kept the back three. In his place, Cho Yoo-min (25, Daejeon Hana Citizen) was put in immediately. Even in the second half, the game was controlled by continuing the back three tactic.
Changing the back three was successful in terms of results alone. It was finished without a mark, and the joining work was carried out smoothly as there were many numbers in the rear construction process. Of course, there was a sense of frustration in the attacking process as there were not enough numbers up front. Whenever that happens, coach Bento instructs the left and right wingers to rise to a high position and immediately increase the number on the offensive side. In particular, attack patterns using wingback crosses were often produced on this day.
Director Bento has been recognized as a manager who embraces change. Since taking up his position in August 2018, he has mainly used the back four to the extent that only a handful of games use the back three. The formation also demanded a 4-2-3-1 formation or a 4-1-3-2 formation. Such coach Bento made a change in the last game with the World Cup in Qatar around the corner.
Everyone couldn’t help but be surprised. In fact, even among football officials, they expressed surprise at the starting line-up and formation. This is because it was an unexpected tactic at a time when we had to make fixed choices rather than experiments.
When asked about back three tactics in the post-match press conference, coach Bento said, “To be honest, it didn’t matter if Son Heung-min played or not. I thought it’s a good time to use the back three.” “I’m going to think about what system to use, and I can’t use one tactical system in the World Cup. I’m going to find the optimal system, like the starting list,” he explained.
He said, “I preferred the back four in September, and this time I thought it would be better to use the back three. I don’t know how many times I will use the system this in the World Cup. Even if I use it, I have to see when it will be used.” I thought it was a very good opportunity. I needed to adjust the playing time because not all players are in the same position, and I thought this was a good position to use the back three.”
