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Hiddink's "Dutch strategy"
"This was the best the team have played since I took over," the 60 year old said. As Hiddink stated elsewhere, he is trying to build a "Dutch" football philosophy within the Russian squad and the match against Macedonia was probably the beginning of this new Russian football era. The new formation consists of only 3 defensive players and 7 players, who can take over more offensive tasks, even in away matches. "That is my football philosophy. Even after we drew at home to Israel in our second qualifier, I wasn't going to change our tactics. I would not make things more defensive. This team has to develop its own style and I see this as an attacking one. When we got together for this match, I just had to check whether our more talented players could stick to team discipline when we didn't have the ball, as not all creative players can do so. But I was delighted with how we worked as a team today as everyone stayed with the group and played for each other."
"This was the best the team have played since I took over," the 60 year old said. As Hiddink stated elsewhere, he is trying to build a "Dutch" football philosophy within the Russian squad and the match against Macedonia was probably the beginning of this new Russian football era. The new formation consists of only 3 defensive players and 7 players, who can take over more offensive tasks, even in away matches. "That is my football philosophy. Even after we drew at home to Israel in our second qualifier, I wasn't going to change our tactics. I would not make things more defensive. This team has to develop its own style and I see this as an attacking one. When we got together for this match, I just had to check whether our more talented players could stick to team discipline when we didn't have the ball, as not all creative players can do so. But I was delighted with how we worked as a team today as everyone stayed with the group and played for each other."