Being eclectic: Despite Spain’s win, direct football still matters

This entry was also posted @ Sportingo

Euro2008 may not be remembered for overall quality, but as a spectacle it was one of the best. For me the sticking point was how direct football has come to the fore as a strategy that is adept and workable with other styles of play. Germany, against Portugal, in what was considered by some as one of the best German displays since the 1990 world cup, displayed a ruthless edge in combining a direct style of play and passing, with well executed set pieces. They were able to break Portuguese play and did not retreat to their own half, chase the game and defend deep, as did England in previous match-ups with Portugal, or even Holland in their quarter-final clash with Russia.

Gone are the pure schools of football, Holland and Spain adapted strategies which were different to what maybe expected of them. The Dutch ditched the 4-3-3 formation and Spain changed their formations during the tournament, from two strikers to one, depending on the players available. Similarly, Lippi, who has returned as Italy coach, identifies Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United as a source of contemplation and emulation. He argues United do not play in a set way, nor do they pin players in positions, players move from defence to attack in lightening speed, only to for them to retreat back. That is the dynamic nature of the game today, which also requires incredible levels of fitness. If Italy are to adapt and succeed, then Italy should be more than ‘Catenaccio’.

While it is true Spain played possession football, with quick short passes, but that is not the entire story. As Sid Lowe of the Guardian notes,

It was Aragonés who used tiki-taka to protect a defence that appeared suspect (but which he had worked to improve), maintain possession and dominate games, but did not take it to its slow, directionless extreme, as displayed by Barcelona over the last two years. An extreme that simply does not suit Villa or Torres, the men providing the cutting edge. Aragonés recognised the need to be effective as well as aesthetic. He admitted that Spain had played Italy on the break and of Spain’s first six goals, five came from a direct break (even the occasional aimless punt), one from a set-play – the very antithesis of tiki-taka. Xavi’s goal against Russia in the semi-final was the first real tiki-taka moment. Even Torres’ goal in the final owed as much to pace, faith and physique as touch and class.

Spain do have their style of play and as a general ethos it remains. However it is not short passing football in its purest form. Whatever formation a manager plays, the players on the field are the ones that see an opening, whenever and however it comes. As Lippi noted, players need to be adept and they are the ones that can change their game when required.

If England are to learn from this tournament, then an intelligent, and not speculative ball from the back is still an effective strategy. Set pieces are still important as well. The difference is that England should also stamp their authority on a game, to press and break the play of the opposition. Yes, that requires England keeping possession — that is common sense, but that is not the whole story. If anything the German game against Portugal offers an ideal blueprint for Capello to consider, in a breathtaking first half Germany not only scored twice but also harried Portugal every time they regrouped for another move. Had it not been for poor defending, Germany could have won more comfortably. Do England have the players to do that? In the midfield they possibly do, but the fullbacks in such a scenario should have the ability to move up quickly, as there would be little space in the centre. The Germans, on the day, had those players, specifically on the left. I have always thought that there lies England’s weakness, they do not have natural attacking full backs. Micah Richards showed potential when selected for England, but he must develop his defensive game.

After Euro2008, we can say direct football is very much alive. Spain’s victory was not solely a victory for the passing game, but also a game that thrived on the gritty defensive midfielders (in the likes of Senna) and, ironically, that long pass from the back.

The Secret of Germany’s Football Success

An insightful piece on the success of German teams over the years, here’s an en excerpt:

Once again, the German national team has advanced to the latter stages of a major international tournament. But what makes the team so successful? It could be because they are so average.

and,

The German side, in short, will hardly ever make you jump out of your seat — but it will only rarely disappoint. Its periods of success are brief, but so too are the lulls in between. In the last European championship tournament in 2004, the team didn’t make it out of its group. But in the 2002 World Cup, the team came in second and in 2006, it finished an impressive third.

Anyway, read the whole piece here…

Euro 2008 update: What you set out not to do, wins you the game

Football is a funny game. The first half between Russia and Spain was nervous and edgy, both teams not going for the jugular. I think, judging from Aragones’ comments before the match, he wanted to play compact and tight, to prevent the Russians from stamping their game and opening up Spain with quick counter attacks. David Villa then gets injured and Fabregas comes on, and the game opens. You would assume that Russia would use the space to look for openings, as they did against Holland. Instead they backed off after the first Spanish goal, maybe its the lack of experience. You play a game plan that stifles you, only for a slight change of fate to turn the game around. What you set out not to do, actually wins you the game.

Anyway, Spain look like the best team in the tournament and should they win against Germany, then some justice would be done. But never discount the Germans, one match they may seem out of it, only for them to bounce back (they are world beaters when it comes to resilience). I can see Spain losing, but not this time. After their penalty shoot-out victory against Italy, I think this team has the resolve to go on and win this tournament.

Are Russia really that good?

With all the hype surrounding Russia, after playing well in a few matches, Marcotti raises some good points about tournaments and the hype that surrounds them. Here’s what he has to say:

How about a little reality check? Over the past forty-eight hours I’ve heard Guus Hiddink’s Russia compared with everything from Brazil 1970 to Tiger Woods to the 1992 “Dream Team”. Steady on, people.

Russia were soundly beaten by Spain (yes, they hit the crossbar twice, but they also conceded four goals). They limped to a 1-0 win over Greece, arguably the worst team in the tournament.  They beat Sweden, a team who are also not particularly good and whose best player – Zlatan Ibrahimovic – had a knee the size of a watermelon.

Oh, you say, but they didn’t pummel a brilliant Holland side? Well, yes, Russia looked impressive. But it did finish 1-1 after 90 minutes. And Holland were actually far more pedestrian than the crew on the Oranje bandwagon would have us believe. Marco Van Basten’s crew were basically a counterattacking unit who were outshot by a poor Italy side (16-13) and an even poorer France side (18-13). In fact, had the referee given a penalty for Andre Ooijer’s fairly blatant handball against Les Bleus, the whole tournament could have taken a decidedly different spin. So let’s wait until tomorrow night to anoint Russia as the second coming, shall we?

Average Germany defeats average Turkey: Does international football have much to offer?

After watching the semi-final match between Turkey and Germany, it can be said that if Turkey were to have a near fully fit team (and minus the suspensions), as the Germans did, they could have possibly defeated Germany. Volcan, had he not been suspended, would not have conceded at least one of the three in their semi-final match up with Germany. While Turkey dominated much of the game, it never seemed that they could win, their defence and goal keeper were unbelievably poor and the Germans seemed far more menacing in their attack and set pieces. Every time an attack broke for the Germany, you would think it would eventually lead to a goal. Germany are a good team, if nothing special. At times they are average and slow. With the exception of one match (against Portugal) they were entirely predictable. As expected their main threat was aerial, as was shown against Portugal and Turkey, which makes them difficult to defend against (without a steady goal keeper). Then there is the attacking threat of both Podolski and Bastian Schweinsteiger, who have a very good understanding on the left, further coupled with Philip Lahm as an excellent attacking left back, providing for Germany’s main threat against both Portugal and Turkey.

I have recently been contemplating the words of Wenger, that international football is really not up to standard (club football is far superior, but certainly not fairer). Let me quote the man:

I’m not a big fan of international football because they destroyed it. Take Russia: once it was one country and now it’s 21. Yugoslavia was one and now is six. As a result the level has dropped. Then you add countries like Andorra, Faroe Islands and San Marino and suddenly three games out of four are of no interest. When you think of international football you think that it’s a level up but 99 percent of the time it’s a level down. That’s why I prefer club football

Watching the defensive displays in the tournament he does have a point. Then there is the tournament draw, where eventual champions could be crowned for playing, at most, a third of the teams in the tournament. For example, had this German team been drawn in Holland’s group, they would have not made it past the group stages. Also consider that teams are measured based upon a handful of matches, if luck (as is the case with Germany and Turkey) should conspire in your favour, you may well find your way through to the later stages. Imagine if a team like Manchester City were crowed champions of England after their good start last season. With the diluting of standards in international football and the absence of a league system to measure teams over a longer period, then we have to question if international football is indeed about standards or simply a mass frenzy for corporations and marketing.

The worse case scenario is that UEFA are contemplating tinkering with this European championships format, further expanding it to 24 teams. As with the world cup, this not only dilutes standards, but questions the whole purpose of tournaments as a suitable means for crowning the best teams. With more teams, a lucky draw could mean the eventual winners may only play a top ranked team till the final (as was the case with Germany in the 2002 world cup).

This leads to a final point, couldn’t the long and gruelling qualification campaigns, followed by a month long tournament, be replaced with a league system of international teams. Such a system would be vastly fairer in identifying the stronger teams and the eventual winners would at least have played a wider pool of stronger teams. Prior to 1980 only four teams competed the championships, after a play-off qualification. A similar system could be put in place, with the top four teams in a league system later qualifying to play each other for the trophy. Better still, the team that amasses the most points should deserve to be crowned outright (it also ensures the absence of penalties). Maybe this may not have the excitement of tournament football but it is a vastly more fairer system, where teams like Germany and Turkey would probably fall short over a longer string of matches. But as long as international football remains as it is, then in terms of football, in its purest form, international football does not have that much to offer.

Euro2008 update: The Semi-Finals

The semi-finals are upon us. Some quick things to note. First let me start with predictions I have previously made, with some going wrong (usually by a penalty shoot-out or the whisker of a lucky richochet). I predicted Croatia to make it to the semis, and it seemed that would be the case, only for Turkey to equalise with the last kick of the game and win on penalties. With an amazing stroke of luck ‘Teflon’ Germany now play a near depleted Turkey, missing many key players through suspension and injury. No way will Germany lose this one, luck once again gives them a straight path to the final, as similarly happened in the 2002 World Cup (with a good, if not so special team). What can you say, when fortune falls upon you all the time?

One prediction I got right was Holland not winning Euro2008 and even predicting accurately how they would implode. However I thought it would be in the semis and not the quarter-final match against Russia. No one can ever discount the Hiddink factor, as with Germany, fortune seems to conspire with him (well not with Australia in the 2006 World Cup). Then there was my prediction that Spain, considering the relative average age of the squad, would not have the mental resolve to beat Italy (as is the history with these type of fixtures.) Again, Spain managed to win that match on penalties. This tells me that maybe, as widely tipped, this could be their year. Will they implode in the semis against Russia, as is typical with the nearly achievers like Holland and Portugal? Without doubt this match will be very different then their encounter in the group stages, and Hiddink will do his homework. It’s a very difficult one to call, but I think Spain will win this one, for the simple observation that unlike Holland they showed a solid defensive display against Italy and might be able to close down the attacking threat of the Russians (Holland’s defence was carved up by Russian play). Whatever they do, they will have to defend tight and keep their concentration, and maybe man mark Andrei Arshavin? Unlike the Dutch, they will have to prevent the Russians taking the initiative. Well that’s the observation of the Spain coach “We will have to play in a way which stops them playing and prevents them from counter attacking. We need to keep at them and give them less space.” We will see…

That leaves us with a potential final between Spain and Germany. I’ll leave that to a future post… 

Why Portugal didn’t make it, again

Another tournament and Portugal miss out, once again, on the big prize. Other than the obvious, that there was some weakness in defending set pieces (as was the case in Euro2004), Portugal have more deeper problems. Portugal were closed down in midfield by the Germans, and weren’t able to play their normal exquisite passes that often open up defences. Just as with Arsenal in the premiership and Barcelona last season in the champions league, the best way to defeat a technical passing team is stop them in their game plan. Here I believe is the problem with Portugal, when teams close them down, they lack the ability to play direct football — the use of set pieces, crosses and intelligent long balls from the back. The ability to improvise.

Maybe one obstacle for Portugal in adapting their game plan (as Gary Neville noted after the match), is the absence of an out and out striker. A player like Klose, Van Nistelrooy or Torres, someone they can target with quick balls. In the last world cup they were toothless in the semi-finals against the French. Their main striker (Pauleta) was woeful at times (he was substituted by Scolari against France). On the other hand, in the match against Portugal, the Germans, as the Dutch, showed the potential of combining different styles of play – technique & passing coupled with quick direct football (often through counter attacks).

The future of the game? Any team that can improvise their game plan against the dictates of the game itself. Obviously this would require more intelligent footballers who would be able to think on their feet — when to attack, when to hold the ball and when to make that decisive move. North European direct football, dynamic total football or Brazilian/Portuguese flair/technique all have their advantages. I suppose its about keeping the strengths of a certain ethos alive but combining it and improvising with different styles, with good teams being able to change and switch styles when necessary. A recent example of this would be Manchester United last season, where they often played contrasting styles in the premiership and the champions league, changing the team line-up when necessary — the players best suited for any given system.

To quote Hans van Breukelen (Dutch goalkeeper of the 1988 European Championship winning team), when commenting on Van Basten’s tinkering with the age old 4-3-3 formation:

In our country we have a great reverence for 4-3-3, for the Ajax way of playing. But there are other systems and you have to be open-minded. Marco Van Basten thought a change of shape would better suit the players he has at his disposal. He had the courage to be flexible … It’s been wonderful watching us dismantle the Italians and the French. We’ve proved ourselves to be the complete team. Collectively we look strong, we have a vast array of individual attacking talent and are able to take the game to the opposition or hit very effectively on the break. Our combination play has been outstanding, we’re able to change rhythm quickly and at the back we’ve been pretty solid’

On a side note, when will German luck run out in major tournaments?! The third goal against Portugal should have been disallowed, it was a clear push by Ballack. England scored from similar situations in the 1998 world cup and Euro 2004, but both were disallowed. Then there was the legendary luck that got them through the 2002 world cup, where the draw and woeful refereeing decisions (remember the quarter finals against America?) got them to a final, only for them to be brushed aside by stronger opposition in the final (this not including the never ending wins by penalty shootouts). In Euro 2008 that tradition continues. I honestly think that this German team is not that special. Either way since 2006 the ‘Mannschaft’ has shown some improvement, considering the spiral decline from the late 90s all the way to 2006.

I find it interesting that German players, in contrast to the England players, do not always perform well for their clubs (e.g. Podolski and Klose) but seem to do well with the national team. I think Germany has always set the national team as a priority, while England (as Spain) have a stronger club culture, more considering the insanely long and energy sapping football season we get in England.

Euro 2008 predictions update

So the group stages are over. There has been some surprises, more with how Holland demolished the French and Italians. Defending has been suspect, but the attacking play by Spain, Portugal and Holland was excellent. Overall my predictions are going fine! I put Russia for the quarter-finals and the Croats for the semi-finals, and both look like happening. I thought the Italians will start slow but get through, which again has happened. Italy I thought were potential winners, considering the pool of teams in the tournament.

But what happens now?

I think the Italians remain my favourites, as the Spanish will find it more difficult against a more organised defence. I’m going for a 1-0 to Italy. Croatia, Holland and Germany are the other teams that I think should make the semi-finals quartet. The only one I have some inhibition about calling is the Portugal Vs. Germany match, as I can see Portugal beating Germany. What makes me think that Germany will edge this one, is the type of defenders Germany have, tall and good at set pieces but can be undone by an intelligent passing movement. But I think it can go Germany’s way, by them scoring from a set piece (as Portugal can be weak when defending from set pieces). I’ll stick with Germany.

For the final, it is very possible that we see an Italy and Croatia final. Even though I put Croatia down for the semis, it is possible Croatia will do a double over Germany, who seem to excel against the ‘bigger’ teams (and can defend, be physical  and play fluid football). It is a difficult one to call, if we did have that match up for the semis. Alright, I will put down Italy and Croatia for the final, but with Italy going out as winners!

Euro 2008 update: Why Holland will not win the European championships

Holland defeated both France and Italy by emphatic score lines. It does not happen often, and I think both results flattered the Dutch. Holland rely upon deep defending with quick counter attacks, the strategy did work; but this considering that Holland took two early leads against the French and Italians. Their opponents seeing themselves behind were forced to take the game to the Dutch, only for Holland to then open them up with quick counter attacks.

Can such a style work against other teams in the knock-out stages? It depends on the opponents and the flow of the game, but it is a risky strategy to play. Against teams that are relatively younger (in defence) to both to the Italians and French it may not work, as they would more than likely have the legs to track back. Then teams like Spain and Portugal are more than able to control possession for longer periods, which means that the Dutch will defend deep in their own half for long periods of the game, if that happens then the initiative would be in the hands of the opponents, especially if the Dutch have to chase the game if they go behind. That’s why I think they will come unstuck in the later stages, and in that manner.

Just a quick note on Italy, I predicted they would triumph, as did Beckenbauer, but they have made such a slow start to the tournament. But I wouldn’t discount them at all, they are known slow starters, as they were in the 1982 world cup, which they went on to win. If they manage to get out of their group then they can grind out results, the same applies to the Germans. As for France they seem out of it, they are old, battered and lacking in spirit (something the Italians did not show at any stage against Romania)…

Predictions for Euro 2008

I haven’t blogged for a while. While away lots of things have happened in the footie world. Manchester United won the premier league and were lucky in yet another Champions League final. Hull City got promoted, for the first time, to the top tier of English club football. Will they do a Derby and go straight back down? Probably yes. Charlton Athletic blew their season and finished mid-table, whilst hovering in the play-off zone for most of the season. I was impressed with Zenit St. Petersburg, a slick team, that hammered Bayern Munich in the UEFA cup and dominated Rangers in a one-sided UEFA cup final. It was an interesting contrast of footballing styles, disciplined defensive grit against intelligent technical football. This time the better team won, but it can go wrong — remember the Euro 2004 final between Portugal and Greece?

Now the Euros are upon us, so thought I would post something on it. Who will win? Most of the pundits over at the BBC think it could be Spain’s year. Their team has depth, that just shadows other teams. Will they finally do away with the label of perennial underachievers? I don’t think so. Tournament football is not always about the best team, Brazil in ‘82 and ‘86 were arguably the best team. The same goes for Michelle Platini’s France in ‘82 and ‘86, compared to the Germans. Often these tournaments are decided by moments of luck, especially penalty shoot-outs. Holland, England and Spain don’t have the best record when it comes to these make or break moments, and I think there lies the secret of their label as underachievers. Then Spain do not have the ruthless streak of finishing top teams off, something France has shown in two world cups (‘98 and ‘06) and in Euro ‘00. Prior to that the French were ranked with the three previously identified teams. The French built a winning mentality in key moments, they were able to beat top ranked teams and win key penalty shoot outs. Returning to Spain, in Euro 2000 and the ‘06 world cup, they were brushed aside by France. They lost penalty shoot outs in Euro ‘96 and the ‘02 world cup. They didn’t even make it past the group stages in the ‘98 world cup and Euro 2004. History hangs over them and I don’t think they have the psychology of winners, plus experience does not cut across their squad. But anything can happen in a tournament.

But who will win? I think it could come from any possible pool of teams but Germany, France or Italy are strong favourites. It is odd that Germany should come up, player for player they are a good team but nothing compares them to Spain, Portugal, France or Italy. Yet no one can discount them, they are over-achievers because they have the mental resolve to win a penalty shoot-out or are intelligent enough to make the most of what talent they have. It all depends on the route to the final but I believe Italy are the firm favourites for this tournament. They don’t play spectacular football but have this ability to grind out results in tournaments and appear almost unnoticed till the later stages. Also they failed miserably at the last Euros and would want to make up for that. So I’ll go for them but might change once I see how the early stages of the tournament. The French team are too old and the German lack of depth will eventually show (as it did in the last world cup).

Possible surprises? I am going for Croatia and Russia. Croatia have some good players and the Russians have the Hiddink factor. One of them might take a semi-final spot while the other could make it to the quarters. I’d possibly put Croatia for a place in the semi-finals. I’ll blog more as the tournament kicks off. In the meantime I recommend this excellent piece — ‘English spirit vs. European brains’ by John Sinnot