The first round of group games are behind us. Plain set pieces, bitter mistakes and sour disorganisations have left an after taste still longing for the sweet open play goals.

Defensive Organisation.
Although Joachim Loew should be applauded for a brand new, attacking German side, it was Korea DPR that gave the best offering to match up Brazil. Korean manager Kim Jong-Hun organised a string of five defenders behind four sitting midfielders, requiring a miracolous jabulani swerve from Maicon to dry the thick ginseng for his coffee. And yet, Jung-Hon's side manage to aim at Julio Cesar ten times, with three of them on-target, and one producing a fine goal (all under 37% posession). Elano simply brought some cane sugar to taste. On the other hand, Ottmar Hitzfeld drilled his men just as remarkably, sticking to what he considers a defensive Swiss tradition, and yet Spanish defensive mistakes and lack of finishing should be recognised more seriously.



Marauding Fullbacks.
Jong-Hun builds his football from defence. He likes to use marauding fullbacks, and the Brazil - Korea DPR match provided two: Maicon and Korean Ji Yun-Nam, both scored apiece. For Maicon, his influence on the Brazilian squad immense, and his importance cannot be understated. His case fast becoming convincing, likely shaping him to be the first fullback to have carried a team to world cup glory.

The Korean manager also uses a sweeper, and from the first round, Gerard Pique looked good as usual, despite conceding a goal. Against Swiss, Pique did well to track back and cover two in-rushing opponents, in spite of Puyol, Busquets and Sergio Ramos letting them through. Not to mention Iker Casillas avoiding the use of hands, when Pique went in with the head. So, perhaps, Jong-Hun would pick Maicon, Yun-Nam, and Pique as his marauding fullbacks and sweeper.

Two marking central defending positions goes to Brazilian Juan and Korean (DPR) Jun-Il, while Nigerian keeper Enyeama gets the call ahead of Benaglio (Swiss).

Midfield Square and a Striker.
The midfield is made up of four players. Daniele de Rossi and Clint Dempsey showed their resilience, speed and stamina to provide both cover at the back, and attacking thrust behind Lukas Podolski and Thomas Muller who are instilled the discipline to track back. In attack, however, they are given the freedom to improvise behind the lone striker, Asamoah Gyan, who has shown his capabilities to lead attack, not unlike Jong Tae-Se. He, too, could captain the side.

Qualified Challengers.
Who should be trusted to unlock Jong-Hun's eleven best performers from the first round of group stages? Joachim Loew, like Marcelo Bielsa, knows how to attack.

Keeper: Benaglio. (Good saves against top opponents)
The back four: Phillip Lahm, M. Bastos, Walter Samuel and Lucio. (Solid defending)
Two holding midfielders: Schweinsteiger and Mark van Bommel. (Team balance)
Three attacking midfielders: Elano, Ozil, Robinho. (Goals, assists, movements)
Striker: Klose. (Not many scored goals, so...)