Did Pep Guardiola have anything to do with Germany’s World Cup triumph?

To confuse you further in the debate of the success of Germany in the 2014 Fifa World Cup, I throw doubts in your beliefs about the greatness of one Pep Guardiola. Sunday Oliseh even says that Tiki Taka is alive and sound., a point I greatly dispute. Few claim Die Mannshcaft went through the back door to have Beyern Munich hire Guardiola so he can coach the nine players in their squad to play the Barcelona way.  The theory is noble given that 2010 Fifa World Cup champions, Spain had Pep’s nine players from Barcelona. To the preachers of that gospel, that is not coincidence.

I will take you to the days before the Backlays English Premier League. Nottingham Forest was coached by Brian Clough. Many dubbed him useless as a coach and manager. His team ran on a shoestring budget. He relegated and promoted that team perpetually for over half a decade. He built a team and destroyed it. Built it up and destroyed over and over.

Pepe inherited a Frank Rikjaard Barcelona that was already playing a philosophy set up by Johan Cryuff of Holland. Cryuff introduced the system earlier, the Dutch football that Ruud Gullit tried to employ at Chelsea when he prescribed it as ‘sexy football’. Guardiola did a great job in maintaining a legacy that had lived and will live for many years longer. Those players had been doing the same thing, with a few more foreign contingent than they did with Pep. Rikjaard and Guardiola both played for Barcelona previously.

The former Barca captain took over treble winning Jupp Henynckes Bayern Munich side. The later coached a team left by both Andreas Jonker and Loius van Gaal. The influence of Pep was visible in many Munich matches, and some Germany matches. Prior to Guardiola’s arrival, Bayern dismembered the Spanish giants in the UEFA Champions League, proving their superiority and fluidity. How easy it is to say he brought a wholesome change to the squad and to Germany national as a whole. Both these clubs, Barca and Munich, had funds to buy anyone they wanted, anyone who played the way they loved.

Without much need to compare Jose Mourinho, who won the Portuguese championship and UEFA Champions League with little known Porto, Brian Clough who yo-yoed Nottingham Forest, Harry Redknapp who saved Tottenham Hotspur from relegation and took them to UEFA Champions League pinnacle in a couple seasons, one has to look at the margins of success and the resources. Keeping firm on what is there is a lot easier than building anything from the ground.

As for Germany playing Tiki Taka football, I am not yet converted. The Chileans put to death Spain. If Spain come back anytime soon, it could be a different story, but to say Germany Tiki Taka-ed, is a little bit over the top. They moved and passed the ball well. They had a plan in place before Pep arrived. Their game revolved around the quick recovery and long retention of the ball. The crisp one touch passing to open defences was never their strength. The biggest weapon in their arsenal was the mentality of stay strong and focused. The aggression in combats and transition was complemented by the precision passing and efficient goal scoring.

The table below will illustrate how playing too many needless passes was almost fatal for Germany. The Germany struggled against Ghana, only benefitting from the Africans’ naïve play. They survived the Algerian scare as the fasting Arabs succumbed to their nutritional demands of extra time. As for Italy and Spain, we all know their fate. They were not so fortunate.

GROUPS STAGE TEAM STATISTICS

#	NUMBER OF PASSES BY TEAMS	TOTAL	AVERAGE
1	Germany	1934	645
2	Spain	1913	638
3	Italy	1735	578
4	Argentina	1694	565
5	France	1576	525

 

Given these first-round statistics, France, Argentina and Germany benefited by going through to the next round. At a later stage, one can guess the champions had a field day of passing against a pedestrian Brazilian side. If one uses that data to claim Tiki Taka is alive, there can never be a misleading statistic. For the propagation and perpetuation of the name, and not concept, what Germany played can be accepted as a positive variant of Tiki Taka, the game both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund played to reach the 2013 UEFA Champions League final.

Remember that Tiki-Taka is football characterised by short passing and movement, working the ball through various channels and, most importantly, maintaining possession. Germany maintained possession well without moving the ball with short quick passes through various channels. They made efficient use of that possession and made it count, sometimes against all odds.

The Barcelona type of football would equal to walking the ball into the net as they intrinsically weaved the passes in the 12-yard box until the goal-line. Save for corner-kicks and goal melee scrambles, that did not characterise the Germany goals in the 2014 Brazil Fifa World Cup. A little more similar aspect of their game was winning the ball as high as possible, especially where they lost it. This made them dangerously pounce vehemently and attack simultaneously before the opposition defence organised themselves.

Many coaches and managers find teams like Barcelona and Bayern Munich and take them to the doldrums. The genius of Guardiola made sure such never happened. To credit Spanish and Germany titles to the man is a little too generous. If there are coaches worthy of Fifa World Cup praise, can’t we look at Joachim Loew, Alejandro Pasella, Louis van Gaal and Jurgen Klinsman? also in their successful 2012/2013 treble run. There could be some truth in that but then they were more defensive-conscious and played most of the passes in their own half.

It his analysis, Oliseh noted that German goalkeeper ‘Manuel Neuer and central defenders Hummels and Boateng were the initiators of most attacks and a passing game that averaged 645 passes in a game’, scoring 17 goals in six games (a goal every 34 minutes), with 64 attempts at goal. All Germany reaped was fruits of a work that began with the squad which campaigned in 2010 South Africa Fifa World Cup, when Diego Maradona asked Muller if he was a ball boy. It was their grand plan after the failure to deliver in 24 years, not the mastermind of the great Pep Guardiola.

As for Tiki Taka, until its revival in the future, it is gone. We welcome the trend of the new world order in football, a fast paced forward moving game based on quick transition by fore-checking and crossing into the prime target areas. The Spanish football has proved it passed its usefulness, being nothing more that romance in the child-bearing process.

Viva the Fifa 2014 World Cup Champions - Germany beats Argentina 1-0

Germany, Die Mannschaft, are the 2014 Fifa World Cup champions. The match started with a very good composed possession football by Germany while Argentina kept compact in their defensive shape. The Europeans’ build-ups with Kroos and Ozil, who pressed in midfield, ended up with Mascherano, who gave good cover in front of Demicheles and Garay. Lionel Messi and Lavezzi found small pockets of spaces on the right flank and ran at defenders. Hummels had to be at his best while Neuer pulled out saves as he came off his line and made his threatening presence unsettle the attackers.

The South Americans’ two units of four across (midfield and defence) shifted well across the field as they retained their shape. The midfield got attracted and were sucked into the game as Germany stroked the ball around. They needed to stay solid and maintain the tactical discipline as the Germans pried for crevices.

Messi kept menacing on the right flank and threatened with each great run into the box. Higuain failed to convert a back pass by Kroos, in one of the two rare Germany mistakes. He hit the target after Lavezzi set him up but he was offside.

Argentina came stronger from the break, with Messi slicing his left-footed shot past Neuer and upright post. They began to thread passes to the front-runners, often playing long balls for Higuain to run to. Neuer almost decapitated the Argentinian striker as he rushed out of his penalty area to punch the ball to safety. While air-borne, his knee caught Higuain on the neck as they both tumbled to the ground.

Biglia became aggressive in midfield while Sergio Aguero squandered possession numerous times. Palacio came in to miss the chance of the tournament. Germany defended strongly and efficiently absorbing all the pressure. The ball fell kindly to Muller and Schurle later in the half but rolled away to Romero. Lahm and Muller were a big concern for Argentina as they asked questions on the left side.

Then came the moment. Mario Gotze received the ball that was won in midfield on the left and played along the line to Schurle. The Chelsea man played a perfect cross to Gotze. The German striker had space and time to take it on his chest, cushioning it on his first touch by slightly withdrawing the contact surface area thereby setting himself for a shot. A step later, he raised his head to time the run of the onrushing Romero. He planted his non-kicking foot slightly behind the dropping ball, which he volleyed with the shoe laces in a controlled manner. He angled the boot appropriately to keep the contact on the ball in the middle so as to limit the height of the resultant kick.

The ball whistled past the diving Argentina goalkeeper and nestled into the net. That goal stood and shall ever stand as the one that stood between Messi and eternal glory. Sentiment aside, Argentina did not hit top gear until the match today, but it was not enough on the day. Messi tried to act as a team player in moments when he should have been selfish and single-handedly weaved his way past the Germany defence.

Manuel Neuer won the Golden Glove while Messi’s consolation was the Golden Ball.  James Rodriguez of Columbia was the Golden Boot winner with his six goals. Paul Pogba won the Young Player of the Tournament. 

Argentina will win the 2014 Brazil Fifa World Cup

Arjen Robben is the player of the tournament. With two matches of the 2014 Brazil Fifa World Cup to go, it is safe to say that a player who was almost retiring at Chelsea around a decade ago is the player of the tournament. That is barring an expected huge Lionel Messi performance on Sunday. Robben moved from the English Premier League to Real Madrid and carried the ‘bad boy’ tag with him until his Bayern Munich destination a few seasons back. He left Spain again on the verge of collapse but found room and warmth to grow. That resuscitation in Germany moulded him into a great player the world is witnessing today. He is wiser with less hair, truly a revelation for the Dutch in this Fifa World Cup.

The Netherlands hoped to play the final and many fancied them to do so, and even win it, but they have been too good from start until a match ago. The problem was that they had been at their peak far too early as their performance and winning huge in earlier matches proves. They played attractive football and, reached the ceiling by the quarter-final stage. Louis van Gaal is well aware of this fact and his expression of his dislike of their fixture against the hosts is proof of the fact. I personally believe Brazil are more beatable now than they were against Germany. Their dilemma around who to play and restore pride and whether to exclude the tried and tested to give new blood a chance to have a run is real. Van Gaal stares the prospects of failing to win what he feels is a dead rubber or the humiliation of the resurgent Brazil in the face.

As for Argentina, they always raised their game just enough to scrap the result. Save for their encounter with the Dutch, they did enough to get what they wanted. While it was a difficult match physically and mentally, they will be expected to hit top gear against Germany in the final. To make their case harder though, they have a day less to both recover and to prepare for that final. They endured a 120-minute long extremely competitive energy-supping match plus the emotional wrecking penalty shoot-out in tough weather conditions.

In comparison, Germany did stroll past Brazil and literally had a field day. Their recuperation and preparations will be longer and better, naturally. What makes this music to their ears is the fact that they had the same Dutch ‘early peak’ and scrapped through when Ghana let it slip. The United States stretched them to the limit and so did the Algerians. They hit the ceiling as they reached top gear to get past the Africans. It was a welcome relief that Brazil did not turn up on Tuesday. That luxury afforded by the hosts has more physical benefits than mental. After that stroll, concentration levels may drop a degree. Argentina will be sharper mentally but a notch low physically.

At this high level of the game, there are very fine margins in the football factors of performance. The obvious cases of altitude, weather, nutrition, motivation and all that jazz do count. Of course, the majority of the players who will take it to the turf on the 13^th of July are Europe based. So, the altitude and weather will count for little. The managers and players know each other pretty well, but something will have to give. There can never be an doubt of proper and professional preparation in the field of play.

Football is such that the team that will walk away victorious, needs to create one opportunity and utilise it. Given this line alone, this is a huge ask and a burden whose solution eludes many. In the German Bundesliga, Under-9 to Under-17 teams are taught at least nine patterns of attack to create that one opportunity. Congruently, it means with this knowledge, one has to learn how to stop nine attacks, or know nine defending ways. There are a lot more at higher levels of the leagues, and it is a project that goes through to the national team. It has to start with recognising each and every one of them and the variants, and then deal with it effectively and ruthlessly.

As humans, it takes several attempts to be precise even on something we are expects in. The match may not provide such opulence to try and try again. This is when a team needs one moment of brilliance from its top player. It may be any player for that matter but chances can never be taken. Argentina will have to dig in deeper and pull off a stance to utilise Messi more than they did against Holland. It would have been very painful for him to have been anonymous in most of extra time and then fail to have an opportunity at the highest level, in the final. Germany on their part, are a well-orchestrated choir driven by the mentality to be exceptional in both attacking and defensive jobs. That roundedness of their structure makes it harder to single out individuals. Each has a role to play, basically, to be efficient in their area of operation. Many depend on doing simple things right all the time. It can be just once.

Defenders have to be technically disciplined and tactically sound in decision-making. This means winning all balls all the time without making any errors. The same goes for the midfield, whose other concerns includes top quality passing of the ball forward with minimum loss of time. The ball played early and fast on the ground makes it easier for the strikers to score. That is how they effectively scored seven goals out of a mere thirteen attempts at goal against Brazil. Most of the opportunities were very easy to convert. Given that supply, the strikers' clinical finishing would be top priority. Thomas Muller is known for his inferior natural technique, but what he was taught in his adolescence, he will execute with perfection and with ease.

Joachim Low and Alejandro Sabella have tasks in their hands, but one can be assured they started that many years back. It becomes a different kettle of fish when one realises they have a World Cup finals within days. Coaching is about shaping a team to create the opportunities to score and psyche the players to execute well as efficiently as possible when that moment of truth comes. The same goes, as he has to work with the same team to deal with those moments coming from the opposition in the same match. They have to manufacture a great moment in attack and then deny the star players any room for their moment of brilliance.

Both cases can be successfully achieved by the same team on Sunday, or one team gets one aspect right and the other team win the other option. The two teams can have it both ways in the same match in varying degrees and portions. Once in a while, due to bad team preparation or excellent tactical work by opposition, none of this happens. This explains the woeful Brazilian night at the hands of the Germans and the following day’s draw between the Netherlands and Argentina.

All said and done, the Germans’ excellent group work becomes harder to deal with. They had time to chillax before the big day. Argentina over-relies on Messi and as a collective, have not really wowed anybody, but they will welcome back injured Angel Di Maria, in which case they may not need a great team performance. After all, they have Javier Mascherano who officially has the most passes in the tournament so far. Unofficially, he has the most interceptions and the highest ball retrieval rate. The 2014 Fifa World Cup final is the day they may step up into the plate and be counted, the day Lionel Messi will prove he is the greatest player in the world ever. With all due pressure on him, that is the moment to deliver as developing cold feet can only prove he is a sissy, to the delight of both Pele and his country man, Diego Maradona. The two are wrestling over the title they impose on themselves and Messi is here to end that war on Sunday. Cometh the moment, cometh the Messi!!

Argentina needed penalties (4-2) to dump the Dutch in 2014 Fifa World Cup

 

Playing for a finals berth, Argentina and Holland began the encounter in a cagey manner, probably with the 7-1 result of the other semi-final in mind. The South Americans patiently waited for the Dutch to come at them, but with both teams employing the same tactic, the Netherlands decided to press in midfield around the centre line.

They choked the supply line to Lionel Messi and avoided fouls around the edge of the penalty area and blocked the Zabaleta path on the right. They narrowed the playing field and squeezed the match into their comfort zone. On transition, they looked to pick a long ball into the pockets occupied by Robin van Persie.

Argentina insisted on playing on the right involving Zabaleta and Messi tried central runs towards goal. The Dutch had a plan of tripling up on him. Mascherano performed at the highest level as he anticipated each move and intercepted every ball played through and across midfield. He sprayed the passes to the front-runners and took charge of the middle of the park. His authority was complemented by the unexpected work-rate of Perez.

Perez worked well and hard and took the weight off the shoulders of Messi. This enabled the South Americans to take grip of the match in the second half as their attacks became more meaningful and threatening. Argentina pressed a little higher with the front players fore-checking and winning the ball as soon as it was lost. The longer the match progressed without the goal, matters changed and the match swung to the Dutch.

They took the match by the scruff of its neck with controlled forward movement. Both sides took single long-range shots and went to reserve mode. Arjen Robben got control of the ball and ran at the defenders, touching and keeping the ball for a little too long. Mascherano recovered and tapped the ball for a corner kick.

Substitutes, Palacious and Maxi Rodriguez had clear-cut chances to put the match away. The former got himself into the box after chasing a looping ball from midfield. Face to face with Cillisen, he rushed his headed attempt over the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper had fainted to comeout and forced the striker’s action, making it easy for himself to collect the weak header.

Messi had been quiet for a while as he suddenly appeared with a strong run from the right flank. His cross eluded all but Rodriguez tried a side-footed volley, an action that showed some indecision on his part. He could have controlled the ball and tucked it past the keeper.

While Messi spent most of the extra time marked out of the match, Robben created himself room by his mobility to various positions in front and midfield. He shifted to either wing and touched the ball as often as he liked. This made his threat real with every touch.

The penalty shootout failed to supply the Dutch drama as Romero stole the show with acrobatic saves of Vlaar and Sneijder penalty kicks. Although Robben and Kuyt converted, it was the clinical Argentinians who tucked in theirs successfully.Messi, Lavezzi, Aguero and Maxi Rodriguez converted to book a date with Germany in Maracana on the 13^th of July 2014.  

Argentina through to semi-final beating Belgium 2-1 in 2014 Brazil World Cup

Argentina strolled into the semi-final courtesy of a pedestrian Belgian performance. While the Europeans had big names in their line-up but they played for their names rather than the flag. The biggest downfall was trying to penetrate the Argentinian defence through the middle and ignoring attacking through the wings to deliver crosses for Fellaini to head.

It took a deflected pass by Angel Di Maria to ricochet to Higuin who took a first time shot to the right hand side of Courtois. The Belgian defence had gained possession and tried to carry the ball through midfield. They were caught by a quick attack after an interception and the ball was played to the dynamic DiMaria. The goalkeeper was slightly unsighted as the surprise ball nestled to the left bottom corner.

The South Americans took a positive shape of barricading off their central position and then controlled the match professionally. The passed the ball efficiently and used it wisely from back to front, left to right. The offensive job revolved around the menacing Messi runs and the industrious Di Maria who injured his right thigh and retired.

Fellaini played behind Origi and his aerial usefulness was made void by lack of crosses from both wings. While Argentina did not make it easy by opening the wide area, the snail pace of the Belgians in transition made it easy for defending as they had time to regroup and organise their defensive shape.

The basic system made it easy for the central defence to deal with Belgium as the central midfielders covered the two solid men while giving freedom for the other two midfielders to execute their offensive duties without stress. As much as it looked easy for Argentina, Belgium stars were guilty for the sloppy show. Given their quality, they could have played the match at a high tempo with greater accuracy and efficiency. Mirallas, Hazard, Fellaini and De Bryun should be able to unlock any defensive door with either great tactical ability or brute force.

Mascherano had a field day spraying the passes and dominating the central position by simple accurate passing, releasing the other midfielders to engage in the finishing of the attacks. Argentina closed all passing lines and stayed ball-side as much as they could. They defended outside the penalty area. Belgium had one option, to shoot from distance and then work on the rebound. They failed to realise that despite taking one such shot that was badly dealt by Romano. A few more similar attempts could have made the former champions to shake up and probably get into a different defensive approach, possibly unlocking their rear-guard.

There was no variation in the Belgium tactics. Neither was there any rising of tempo nor versatility in the attacking pattern of the Europeans. They stayed on normal mode the entire minutes, only fluctuating slightly within the comfort zones of the Argentinians. The positive for the Belgians was their defending. They stayed solid and disciplined, winning all crucial duels and strangling the incisive runs of Messi. They doubled and tripled on him whenever possible inside the final third.

The actual goal was a result of loss of possession in midfield, too much space and time on the ball by Argentina. The Belgians were guilty of taking time to funnel in and staying compact around the D-zone. Di Maria was never pressurised as he attempted to pass wide to his right. The central defence momentarily lost concentration as they failed to stay tight on Higuin. While he took the shot early, there was no pressure within two metres of the striker. That is suicidal at that level of the game if there are players of that calibre.

Instead of charging towards Higuin, the defenders showed their backs to the striker as he took the fatal shot. Courtois’s view might have been obstructed, but he should have made an attempt despite seeing the shot late. He made a few telling saves to save the Belgians the blushes and embarrassing score-line.

Argentina joins hosts, Brazil and Germany in the semi-final, while Costa Rica or the Dutch will join the trio after the later fixture.  

Argentina beat Iran 1-0 in 2014 Fifa World Cup

Negative football typified Iran’s first half approach as they frustrated Argentina with ultra-defensive tactics. They were compact, quick to close down attackers, set out to have all men behind the ball and doubled on the man in possession and then tried to counter attack with few players after winning the ball. The aggression made them commit fouls outside the penalty area but the South Americans wasted the chances.

Iran won a few set plays and proved a little more threatening in both delivery and in dealing with them than the revered former champions. They only sent in four men in the penalty area for corner kicks and free kicks, allowed three in the attacking half and the rest guarded against the counter attacks. When pushed hard, they had all players in the penalty area and gave Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria the attention of three markers.  

Argentina could not create a clear goal-scoring chance but squandered the half chances that came their way. They probed ineffectively with quick little passes outside the D-zone. The quality of the final ball was bad as they could have tried going around the wings at fast pace. On few occasions, they got Zabaletta and Di Maria in good crossing position, but the deliveries took too long and lacked quality.

Iran had the best two chances of the match, forcing Romero to make an excellent save in the 63^rd minute and one of the save of the tournament in the 66^th minute. A reasonable counter attacking opportunity came in the 85^th minute but Reza was not clinical in his finish. In between, there were penalty shouts after the hard-working Dejagah raced into the penalty box and seemed to have his progress halted by a challenge that the referee thought was legal. Argentina looked vulnerable in corner kicks.

There was just enough time on the clock for one magic action by Messi. He received the ball from the right, taking it to his left foot with just man in attendance. He set himself for a shot, raised his head to see the position of the keeper, planted the non-kicking foot alongside the ball, spread his arms wide for balance, his eyes on the ball, he struck the ball at the bottom half with the inside of the foot to give it a spin. The ball rose and curled around the defender and the diving goalkeeper to the net, breaking the brave and fighting Iranian warriors.

Iran failed to properly deal with a cross, making a clearance to their left. The ball fell to Zabaletta who played the ball along the line and the reverse pass to the inside was collected by Messi who slowed down, searched for options, tried to find space and an angle for a shot. Reza was a shade too far, enough for the Argentinian to do the needful, scoring a fabulous goal for a hard fought 1-0 win.

Argentina beat a fighting Bosnia Herzigovina 2-1

An unfortunate deflection off the foot of Kolasinac at the far post was all Argentina carried into half time. It was a cagey start from both side, but Argentina pushed the ball around to calm their nerves and impose their game while hoping to intimidate the debutants of the Fifa World Cup in Bosnia Herzegovina. The newcomers retreated only up to the centre line and then tried to bite at that point. They pounced when the ball moved and withdrew with each failed attempt to win the ball.

A combative right back felled Aguero on the left. Lionel Messi curled the ball to the far post. The free-kick brushed Aguero’s head and descended to the left back’s feet and went past a desperately diving goalkeeper for the most unfortunate goal of the games so far.

Argentina were duly unsettled by the pressure of the settled European side who did well to look past the unlucky goal. They started to depend on counter attacks and long-range shots as they failed to pick up the second ball outside the penalty area. Despite the compact, composed and concentrated defensive behaviour, they were too slow in attack.

Messi tried too hard and easily gave away the ball, sometimes in dangerous areas as the defence doubled and sometimes tripled on him. Bosnia seemed to enjoy the experience, showing no fear or respect for the former champions. They closed all entry to their penalty area and kept Aguero under lock and key. They grew careless towards half time as the decision-making became poor in the final third. Few men were committed to attacking duties at that point.

For an experienced side, Argentina began to be sloppy and there were too many loose balls in midfield. Play became scrappier as the minnows were guilty of losing concentration in attack, with too many stray passes in midfield. The quality of their final ball was masked by a few corner-kicks later in the half. Six players stayed on or before the penalty spot and rushed to attack the ball as soon as it was in flight.

The beginning of the second half saw a panicking Argentinian defence as the novices turned on the screw. They pressed up field just outside the 18-yard area as they got committed to winning the ball early near the Argentinian goal. They squandered a few fair chances. The forays upfront triggered a reaction and spurred the South American attack.

The big moment came when the ball was won on the right of the midfield where a short dance took place. Captain Messi took off in full flight and exchanged passes at the D area with Higuin, waltzed past a few challenges, keeping his balance and composure, and curled a low hard drive around the sprawling goalkeeper. The ball hit the left upright and rolled across over the line for a memorable goal by the Barcelona maestro. Henceforth, Messi and company stamped their authority in the match and starte to dictate the terms of operation with ease.

Bosnia still had some fight left and they refused to throw in the towel. Their efforts drew a few fantastic saves from Romero, each attack encouraging the next. Their rear became exposed badly as Messi produced several trademark runs from midfield into the attacking third. Di Maria and Aguero were a little extravagant as they wasted a few chances to stretch the lead.

Bosnia Herzogovina were to be rewarded with their maiden goal when they won the ball on their left, threaded a weighted pass into the penalty area for Ibisevic to run to and drive it between Romero’s legs which reduced its pace but the ball agonising trickled past the goal line for a memorable goal.  

Formations - 2010 FIFA World Cup Technical Report.

Previously, I looked at the 2010 FIFA World Cup report with a little disappointment. At least as far as formations are concerned, the reports correctly notes that a lot of teams played first round matches not to lose. A few varieties of formations from match to match was observed. Some of these were a variation of the same formation depending on individuals, coach tactics, and the stage of the World Cup.

 Brazil, Germany, Netherlands and Spain played with 2 anchor men, or defensive midfielders who fortified the defence and helped their teams unfold forward to beef attacks. It notes that there were traditional 1-4-4 2 and 1-4-3-3 was played with essential variations. The modern 1-4-2-3-1 was used by a few team with different interpretation. Less goals were scored. Personally, formations are over-rated, especially by those who know little about the game.

All coaches have a taste of how to play different players depending on their qualities, who in turn will react depending on the situation. The truth about any situation is, teams build around defensively sound tactics that give players freedom to express themselves. This was a little successful given that the finalist, Spain and Holland used these tactics throughout. Brazil were the other team which was not smart enough to use this fruitfully against Holland in the quarter-final. The report says there were teams that used 4 defenders, except Algeria, New Zealand and Chile who used 3.

There is a look at the confederations performances Of note is the progress of Asian football. There were 2 Asian teams for 2nd round matches, Japan  and Korea Republic. This was seen as a big way forward as it was a first, disregarding the Korea/Japan 2002. While the report does not highlight  good youth development as responsible, but surely, the J-League has been serious in getting youths to Brazil and bringing coaches for their development. Asia went a step up as 3 out of 4 of their teams had home-grown coaches.

An obvious fact that was never going to escape any analysis, that is, how amid pregnant expectation, Africa disappointed. Ghana youth development came tops and 5 players came from Under 20 FIFA World Cup winners of 2009. All African nations, except for Algeria, had foreign coaches. Most of these had no clue about the African culture and ways of football and hired on short notice. Some were brought in just for the World Cup. African teams have something to learn from Asian teams.

The other points of note was that 85% of African footballers in the 2010 FIFA World Cup were contracted to Europeans clubs. One point I liked is the inclusion of the fact of 2 major tournaments in a row, AFCON and the World Cup. This weighed heavily against players and a burn-out both physically and psychologically. There were a good this of note, especially with the fact of few injuries and even less injuries with less severity.

Does the 15% locally based African players justify the bad performance of African teams in the World Cup?

Formations - 2010 FIFA World Cup Technical Report.

Previously, I looked at the 2010 FIFA World Cup report with a little disappointment. At least as far as formations are concerned, the reports correctly notes that a lot of teams played first round matches not to lose. A few varieties of formations from match to match was observed. Some of these were a variation of the same formation depending on individuals, coach tactics, and the stage of the World Cup.

 Brazil, Germany, Netherlands and Spain played with 2 anchor men, or defensive midfielders who fortified the defence and helped their teams unfold forward to beef attacks. It notes that there were traditional 1-4-4 2 and 1-4-3-3 was played with essential variations. The modern 1-4-2-3-1 was used by a few team with different interpretation. Less goals were scored. Personally, formations are over-rated, especially by those who know little about the game.

All coaches have a taste of how to play different players depending on their qualities, who in turn will react depending on the situation. The truth about any situation is, teams build around defensively sound tactics that give players freedom to express themselves. This was a little successful given that the finalist, Spain and Holland used these tactics throughout. Brazil were the other team which was not smart enough to use this fruitfully against Holland in the quarter-final. The report says there were teams that used 4 defenders, except Algeria, New Zealand and Chile who used 3.

There is a look at the confederations performances Of note is the progress of Asian football. There were 2 Asian teams for 2nd round matches, Japan  and Korea Republic. This was seen as a big way forward as it was a first, disregarding the Korea/Japan 2002. While the report does not highlight  good youth development as responsible, but surely, the J-League has been serious in getting youths to Brazil and bringing coaches for their development. Asia went a step up as 3 out of 4 of their teams had home-grown coaches.

An obvious fact that was never going to escape any analysis, that is, how amid pregnant expectation, Africa disappointed. Ghana youth development came tops and 5 players came from Under 20 FIFA World Cup winners of 2009. All African nations, except for Algeria, had foreign coaches. Most of these had no clue about the African culture and ways of football and hired on short notice. Some were brought in just for the World Cup. African teams have something to learn from Asian teams.

The other points of note was that 85% of African footballers in the 2010 FIFA World Cup were contracted to Europeans clubs. One point I liked is the inclusion of the fact of 2 major tournaments in a row, AFCON and the World Cup. This weighed heavily against players and a burn-out both physically and psychologically. There were a good this of note, especially with the fact of few injuries and even less injuries with less severity.

Does the 15% locally based African players justify the bad performance of African teams in the World Cup?

Formations - 2010 FIFA World Cup Technical Report.

Previously, I looked at the 2010 FIFA World Cup report with a little disappointment. At least as far as formations are concerned, the reports correctly notes that a lot of teams played first round matches not to lose. A few varieties of formations from match to match was observed. Some of these were a variation of the same formation depending on individuals, coach tactics, and the stage of the World Cup.

 Brazil, Germany, Netherlands and Spain played with 2 anchor men, or defensive midfielders who fortified the defence and helped their teams unfold forward to beef attacks. It notes that there were traditional 1-4-4 2 and 1-4-3-3 was played with essential variations. The modern 1-4-2-3-1 was used by a few team with different interpretation. Less goals were scored. Personally, formations are over-rated, especially by those who know little about the game.

All coaches have a taste of how to play different players depending on their qualities, who in turn will react depending on the situation. The truth about any situation is, teams build around defensively sound tactics that give players freedom to express themselves. This was a little successful given that the finalist, Spain and Holland used these tactics throughout. Brazil were the other team which was not smart enough to use this fruitfully against Holland in the quarter-final. The report says there were teams that used 4 defenders, except Algeria, New Zealand and Chile who used 3.

There is a look at the confederations performances Of note is the progress of Asian football. There were 2 Asian teams for 2nd round matches, Japan  and Korea Republic. This was seen as a big way forward as it was a first, disregarding the Korea/Japan 2002. While the report does not highlight  good youth development as responsible, but surely, the J-League has been serious in getting youths to Brazil and bringing coaches for their development. Asia went a step up as 3 out of 4 of their teams had home-grown coaches.

An obvious fact that was never going to escape any analysis, that is, how amid pregnant expectation, Africa disappointed. Ghana youth development came tops and 5 players came from Under 20 FIFA World Cup winners of 2009. All African nations, except for Algeria, had foreign coaches. Most of these had no clue about the African culture and ways of football and hired on short notice. Some were brought in just for the World Cup. African teams have something to learn from Asian teams.

The other points of note was that 85% of African footballers in the 2010 FIFA World Cup were contracted to Europeans clubs. One point I liked is the inclusion of the fact of 2 major tournaments in a row, AFCON and the World Cup. This weighed heavily against players and a burn-out both physically and psychologically. There were a good this of note, especially with the fact of few injuries and even less injuries with less severity.

Does the 15% locally based African players justify the bad performance of African teams in the World Cup?

Formations - 2010 FIFA World Cup Technical Report.

Previously, I looked at the 2010 FIFA World Cup report with a little disappointment. At least as far as formations are concerned, the reports correctly notes that a lot of teams played first round matches not to lose. A few varieties of formations from match to match was observed. Some of these were a variation of the same formation depending on individuals, coach tactics, and the stage of the World Cup.

 Brazil, Germany, Netherlands and Spain played with 2 anchor men, or defensive midfielders who fortified the defence and helped their teams unfold forward to beef attacks. It notes that there were traditional 1-4-4 2 and 1-4-3-3 was played with essential variations. The modern 1-4-2-3-1 was used by a few team with different interpretation. Less goals were scored. Personally, formations are over-rated, especially by those who know little about the game.

All coaches have a taste of how to play different players depending on their qualities, who in turn will react depending on the situation. The truth about any situation is, teams build around defensively sound tactics that give players freedom to express themselves. This was a little successful given that the finalist, Spain and Holland used these tactics throughout. Brazil were the other team which was not smart enough to use this fruitfully against Holland in the quarter-final. The report says there were teams that used 4 defenders, except Algeria, New Zealand and Chile who used 3.

There is a look at the confederations performances Of note is the progress of Asian football. There were 2 Asian teams for 2nd round matches, Japan  and Korea Republic. This was seen as a big way forward as it was a first, disregarding the Korea/Japan 2002. While the report does not highlight  good youth development as responsible, but surely, the J-League has been serious in getting youths to Brazil and bringing coaches for their development. Asia went a step up as 3 out of 4 of their teams had home-grown coaches.

An obvious fact that was never going to escape any analysis, that is, how amid pregnant expectation, Africa disappointed. Ghana youth development came tops and 5 players came from Under 20 FIFA World Cup winners of 2009. All African nations, except for Algeria, had foreign coaches. Most of these had no clue about the African culture and ways of football and hired on short notice. Some were brought in just for the World Cup. African teams have something to learn from Asian teams.

The other points of note was that 85% of African footballers in the 2010 FIFA World Cup were contracted to Europeans clubs. One point I liked is the inclusion of the fact of 2 major tournaments in a row, AFCON and the World Cup. This weighed heavily against players and a burn-out both physically and psychologically. There were a good this of note, especially with the fact of few injuries and even less injuries with less severity.

Does the 15% locally based African players justify the bad performance of African teams in the World Cup?

Germany Blasts Argentina 4-0

Oh my God, but Didn't I tell you? Germany put Argentina to the sword as early as the 3rd minute when Muller headed home a free-kick from the left. The South America's central defense seemed out of sorts as the German machine surged forward.

On the contrary, the European lot put a simply solid system at the back that confined Argentina to long shots at goal or tame attempts that did not trouble the goalkeeper. Argentina came into the game with 10 minutes before half-time when a free-kick resulted in the ball been tapped into an empty net with four Argentinians offside. The Germany team were to extravagant in front of goal, wasting glorious chances that would have rendered the second half irrelevant.

Argentina came back more purposeful in search of an equaliser. Germany were happy to sock up the pressure and try to catch them on the break. The Tevez - Messi combination failed to produce any good, being  inconsistent and purposeful in attack. They did well to keep composed and taking shots at goal, otherwise they were anonymous.

Germany kept the ball well and used the width of the pitch well. They opened the Argentinian defence, dismantling that weak organised rear guard, in the 66th minute, Podolski  being fed by Muller who was on the ground, squaring for Klose to tap in from close range. The Europeans' defence was so organised and disciplined, not leaving their defensive zones at all.

Schweinsteiger  ran rings around the confused Argentina defence and pulled the ball back for Friedrich to score the 3rd goal with 15 minutes of normal time remaining. Klose closed the proceedings with a harder tap-in from a cross on the left to demolish the South Americans.

Germany Blasts Argentina 4-0

Oh my God, but Didn't I tell you? Germany put Argentina to the sword as early as the 3rd minute when Muller headed home a free-kick from the left. The South America's central defense seemed out of sorts as the German machine surged forward.

On the contrary, the European lot put a simply solid system at the back that confined Argentina to long shots at goal or tame attempts that did not trouble the goalkeeper. Argentina came into the game with 10 minutes before half-time when a free-kick resulted in the ball been tapped into an empty net with four Argentinians offside. The Germany team were to extravagant in front of goal, wasting glorious chances that would have rendered the second half irrelevant.

Argentina came back more purposeful in search of an equaliser. Germany were happy to sock up the pressure and try to catch them on the break. The Tevez - Messi combination failed to produce any good, being  inconsistent and purposeful in attack. They did well to keep composed and taking shots at goal, otherwise they were anonymous.

Germany kept the ball well and used the width of the pitch well. They opened the Argentinian defence, dismantling that weak organised rear guard, in the 66th minute, Podolski  being fed by Muller who was on the ground, squaring for Klose to tap in from close range. The Europeans' defence was so organised and disciplined, not leaving their defensive zones at all.

Schweinsteiger  ran rings around the confused Argentina defence and pulled the ball back for Friedrich to score the 3rd goal with 15 minutes of normal time remaining. Klose closed the proceedings with a harder tap-in from a cross on the left to demolish the South Americans.

Quarter - Final Preview: Argentina vs Germany.

It is so sad that at this point of the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup, we have fixtures of Argentina vs Germany. In a later fixture, at least, we have Paraguay, and they must beat the living daylights out of Spain.

Coming into this World Cup as an "underdog man". I was not man enough to stand by that till the end, somewhere along the line, falling to a deceiving seductive moment of my "football God-fathers", Brazil. Maybe I had no choice. They left and I shed no tear.

With one of these two former World Cup winners locking horns this afternoon, one is going home tomorrow. This makes me smile. The other should follow on Wednesday. Both of these have no business in the World Cup. It was nice while it lasted, but it is time to say good-bye to both.

Where is your money on this one?

Quarter - Final Preview: Argentina vs Germany.

It is so sad that at this point of the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup, we have fixtures of Argentina vs Germany. In a later fixture, at least, we have Paraguay, and they must beat the living daylights out of Spain.

Coming into this World Cup as an "underdog man". I was not man enough to stand by that till the end, somewhere along the line, falling to a deceiving seductive moment of my "football God-fathers", Brazil. Maybe I had no choice. They left and I shed no tear.

With one of these two former World Cup winners locking horns this afternoon, one is going home tomorrow. This makes me smile. The other should follow on Wednesday. Both of these have no business in the World Cup. It was nice while it lasted, but it is time to say good-bye to both.

Where is your money on this one?