Otto Addo, the head coach of the Ghana Black Stars, said that his team’s 1-0 loss to South Korea ended their Asia tour disappointingly because they were unable to execute a successful high press.
The result came after a setback to Japan during the international window in November.
Addo identified the Black Stars’ tactical difficulties in pressuring South Korea high up the field and their inefficiency in front of goal during a post-match press conference.
“Except the Brazil game (where South Korea lost 5-0), I think they don’t concede so many goals anymore, and they are very compact,” he said.
“You can see the change since the last time we met [them in the 2022 World Cup]. I think the main tactical element is that they play with three at the back, always try to overload one side, which makes it sometimes difficult to press if you don’t have the right timing to take the right positions.
“We had problems sometimes, especially in the first half, when to press, who should press, but it’s not too easy for the guys because they haven’t played together for a long time. The timing was not there, and that’s why, especially in the first half, South Korea had more ball possessions and created more chances,” he added.
The Black Stars are set to regroup in March next year as they resume preparations for the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
