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| 2014 World Cup gave us memories and tactical trends still prevalent today... |
The following piece
was written three years ago (August 21, 2014) after the 2014 World Cup. Three
years later, some of its points are relevant today.
The 2014 Fifa
World Cup, it seemed, left as quickly as it came but it did leave some
indelible legacies. As with previous editions Brazil 2014 showcased today’s en
vogue tactical trends, where the game stands at the moment and, perhaps, where
it is headed.
Mostly, there
was a refreshing bravery and, after a counter-punching 2010 edition, this was
perhaps confirmation of another shift in collective philosophy – a new cycle
where attack is king.
Certainly,
around Europe, clubs in the supremacy right now are those with attacking
approaches.
In Germany,
the two top sides – Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund – are proponents of an
attractive, offensive game. In England, Manchester City and Liverpool both
scored over 100 league goals last season and, in Spain, Barcelona and Real
Madrid continue to add to their rich attacking talent every year.
Even in Italy,
the land of defensive arts, last season’s top two teams – Juventus and Roma – averaged
two goals per game over the course of the league campaign.
Now, with the
focus shifted to the new football season, here are some trends from the World
Cup to look out for over the course of the 2014-15 season.
The return of the back three
For a decade
the back three seemed extinct from the game with teams preferring a four-man
defence of two centre-backs and two full-backs. As explained here by Zonal
Marking, this was partly down to a rising prevalence of one-striker formations which
often left the third centre-back redundant in both phases of the game.
However, the
use of three central defenders has gradually crept back into the game and was
in full vogue at the World Cup.
Costa Rica,
Mexico, Chile and the Netherlands all used the system throughout the
tournament.
All were
highly successful and all reached the last 16.
The advantages
of the system are clear with defensive solidity being the most obvious (in
total, Costa Rica, Mexico, Chile and the Netherlands conceded only 13 goals in
20 tournament games).
But,
offensively there are benefits, too. Three centre-backs allow the fullbacks to
push even higher up the pitch, making it possible to squeeze opponents back
because the extra centre-back is able to cover or sweep up balls over the top.
The wingbacks,
therefore, are able to support attacks as well as defend.
Teams will no
doubt look to adopt this tactic this season with Louis Van Gaal’s transition
from Netherlands coach to Manchester United being the most intriguing.
It will be
interesting to see how widespread and frequent the use of three central
defenders will be.
Is this the
return of the back three?
The advanced keeper
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| Manuel Neuer was at times an extra outfield player for Germany... |
Germany’s
Manuel Neuer introduced a new position at the World Cup – the advanced keeper.
Of course the
concept of a sweeper keeper isn’t new. It is widely credited to the Dutch and was
popularised by Rinus Michels and Total Football in the 60s. Gerrit Bals, the
Ajax Amsterdam goalkeeper at the time, was encouraged to patrol the space
behind the defence by Michels and the stopper played a notable role in Ajax’s
dominant side from the mid-60s to early 70s.
Later, Edwin
van der Sar became perhaps the role’s first master, being able not only to
sweep behind the defensive line, but initiate attacks with his distribution as
well.
Fast forward
to Brazil 2014 and Neuer took things a step further by basically becoming an
extra outfield player for Germany, most famously in their last 16 tie against
Algeria.
Manuel Neuer’s famous heat-map v Algeria:
Image via
Squawka
- 59 touches of the ball
- 19 outside penalty box
In the chess game
that is football, coaches are forever seeking an upper hand over opponents and
the 11th-man keeper has obvious advantages – he allows the team to push higher
up the pitch because he covers space behind the defence and can also launch
attacks.
Apart from
Neuer, other exponents of the advanced keeper are Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris and Victor
Valdes, now at AS Monaco.
Modern
football is more holistic.
Increasingly
every player on the team has to contribute more; the advanced keeper is just
another step in this evolution.
The winger-playmaker
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| Arjen Robben was influential at the 2014 World Cup as a winger-playmaker |
This was a
particular quirk of the World Cup, the winger that was essentially a number10,
i.e. the team’s main creator.
Arjen Robben
was the best example of this.
Nominally a
winger, Robben spent a lot of time creating havoc in central zones. Costa
Rica’s Bryan Ruiz also had a successful tournament drifting infield from a wide
position while Mesut Özil was similarly influential in Germany’s World Cup
final win over Argentina drifting in from the wing.
The reasons
for this shift are also clear.
The
introduction of the Makelele midfielder
has minimised the work space of the traditional number 10, usually seeing him
harassed and chased for 90 minutes.
For the winger
playmaker, however, there is often to space be found when the opposing fullback
ventures forward, a major part of the modern game. The winger-playmaker usually
gains possession in wide areas and can then decide whether to cut inside or
attack on the outside.
By a winger-playmaker
cutting inside it means fullbacks are unable to use the sideline as an extra
defender and, by engaging midfielders centrally, the winger-playmaker creates
space for runners coming from deep and teammates on the overlap.
The rise of
the counterattack as a team strategy, not just phase of play, is another cause of
this strategy as the languid, traditional number 10 has been sacrificed for
quicker alternatives. The team’s most creative player is now frequently stationed
out wide.
This was seen,
for example, with Atletico Madrid last season, and they had great success with
skilled ball-players Koke and Arda Turan who could put in a shift out wide and also
drift infield to dangerous effect.
Two-man pivot remains the way
Even with a
three-man defence the Netherlands still employed a two-man pivot in front of
the defence, just like all the other three semi-finalists – Germany, Argentina
and Brazil.
Standard interpretation of the midfield double-pivot:
This is a
tactic that was solidified at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and has become
standard today. The double-pivot provides protection to the defence and ensures
the team isn’t overrun in midfield.
Still, it is
vital the two central midfielders are able to build play and dictate the game
in an offensive sense as well. That was a problem Brazil had; Paulinho and Luiz
Gustavo were unable to progress play into the final third.
Balance
between the double pivot's defensive abilities and capacities for progression is
crucial. Germany were successful because at all times they had a duo able
gradually press opposition back and dictate the life of the game.
This area
remains key.
Importance of set-pieces
Not so much of
a tactical trend, but a confirmation: set-pieces are crucial in the modern
game.
Roughly
set-pieces account for 30% of goals scored at the highest level and they have
become a crucial part of the game.
For example,
from the quarterfinal stage to the final (barring Germany’s 7-1 mauling of
Brazil), four of the six goals scored came from set-pieces.
It is simple.
The biggest
games are decided by the smallest margins because all teams involved are highly
skilled and defensively prepared. Space and clear-cut chances from open play
are at a premium.
Set-pieces,
thus, provide a golden opportunity to decide a game.
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