World cup round-up
Posted by Martin in World Cup | 16 June 2006
That’s us a few day’s into the World Cup and a few things have become clear. The BBC’s John Motson is now like a likeable forgetful Worthers Original eating granddad. How many mistakes has he made this World Cup? Giving corners when thy have been bye kicks, saying things are fouls when they are clearly not and also just meandering and rambling like Grandpa Simpson.
Could be worse though you could be watching the coverage on UKTV G2 with it’s take on Sky’s soccer AM format but with worse guests and coverage which looks like it is beamed from Mars and not Germany. Don’t get me started but ITV’s World Cuppa but a word to the producers- Baddiel and Skinner realised they were rubbish.
The main talking points have really been about the missing goal-den boys of France and Brazil. Henry and Ronaldo- or Fat Ronnie as he shall be known- and their terrible performances in their respective games. Tarring both of them with the same brush is wrong though as one was poor due to tactics and the other is a lazy sod living on past glories.
France played a 4-5-1 with Henry the main man. When Arsenal play 4-5-1 Henry excels as he gets the support from the midfield runners. Against the Swiss he got no support whatsoever from Ribery or Wiltord and ZZ is a shadow of his former self.
The system was the same basically employed by the Dutch to great effect but you need movement and pace from the midfield to make this work. France had none of this making Henry an easy scapegoat in the eyes of Les Blue fans and media.
Ronaldo looked like his teams formation. Out of shape, lacked cohesion and wallowing in self-interest or self pity as in fat Ronnie’s case. It was sad to watch this one time tormentor of defenders being reduced to lumbering over weight hulk who reminded me of George Foreman.
The main keys to success this World Cup is already plain to see. You need your strikers to be on form and your diminutive number 10’s i.e. the playmakers to be able to open up already tightly compact teams.
International teams have maybe -if countries are lucky- 4 or 5 world-class players and the rest are decent enough pro’s. Countries tactics are reflecting this with being tight, closing down quickly and setting two banks of 4 or 5 35 yards from goal when you haven’t got the ball being the new vogue.
To break this down you need the special ones to be on fire and it is no surprise that Robben, Cole, Nedved, Rosicky, Kaka, Figo and Pirlo have already shone in this world cup. Packed defences means these guys need to pick a pass through the eye of a needle and deliver inch perfect set plays to create goals.
On top of this you need your forwards to look dangerous by being willing to work their behinds off to drag lumbering oafs out of positions thus creating space for the special ones to play and also to create space for themselves to do what selfish goal scorers do.
The Czechs, Italians and Dutch all looked like their front men were up for this task. The Italians especially. Their front two- Gilardino and Toni looked a right hand full and if Totti gets himself fit again and find some form those two could be unstoppable.
I’m loving this World Cup as the tactics are giving the flair player the tanner ba- as we say in Scotland- player the chance to play and create. Was quite critical of some teams before the start but so far they have played to their strengths and we haven’t had a gubbing yet.
The winner of this world cup will come from teams who special ones maintain their form all the way through the 4 weeks and have strikers willing to do a lot of donkey work.
Does that sound like England?
Hail Hail
KevinG of Lord of the Wing
