The new way of playing soccer: scoring goals, attacking, playing proactively – proactive, the possession game (“…which people didn’t know what to do with” Lalas), and within that, a different way of playing. You know that possession game, how different it is. It’s so different. It’s that new brand of soccer. No one’s ever heard of it. Because when West Germany won the title in 1990 the last thing they did was possess the ball. I see how “new” this possession thing is, laid down by Spain. As a matter of fact, it’s so new I didn’t see Brazil 58’ playing the two-man game (passing back to the player that just passed to you) in the image of modern Spanish style soccer. Or is that an illusion? Nope, I did not see that. Spain has brought that style of play to a new level, but it has its roots in the depths of soccer history. “How to combat Germany?” Haven’t we heard these things before? People will risk things to go forward and score goals, as though they didn’t in the past. Some of these coaches have the courage to go forward and score goals, as opposed to what – coaches that don’t want to score goals? Everything’s new and great and marvelous and no one knows how to counter this new way of playing – the way of playing that scores goals? Huh? What?
One salient factor the top teams have in common is passing to one another within a matter of inches (of the opponents’ outstretched shoe). On top of that, Germany, the winning team, shared a similar trait with previous Cup champions – creative midfield play. Of course, every team, in theory, on one level or another, whether they’re right or not, tries to field a team with one or multiple creative players (e.g. Lothar Matthaus, Zidane, Ronaldinho, Pele, Maradona). In 2010 it was Iniesta and Xavi. In 2006 it was Pirlo, Totti (though, he was absent in much of the final). In 2002 it was Ronaldinho and Rivaldo. In 1998 it was Zidane and Deschamps. In 1994 it was Rai (for the early rounds), later replaced with a group effort helping in the creation, for forwards Romario and Bebeto. In 2014 it was Schweinsteiger, Kroos, Ozil, Lahm. These are all teams with strong creative playmakers. The other teams lack that trait. They have inferior creative playmakers. They lack the skill. They lack the intuition; the instincts; the eye for the moment; the eye for the right pass; the eye for the right dribble; the eye for the right interception – many of these traits are things that can’t be taught. They may be improved on, in some degree to another, but, typically, they can’t be taught. The player either has it or they don’t. Some things Platini did, you can’t explain. He saw a pass before it was realized as a possibility by the opposing team, and he made it, in the wink of an eye. Valderrama, Roger Milla, Riquilme, Veron, Geovanni, Arshavin, to name a few, had or have this capability. Many of these players didn’t win the World Cup, but that has much to do with their support system rather than their individual play. What they did was raise the quality of play on their respective teams. When it comes to World Cup wins, each championship team has creative playmakers that stand out amongst the other tournament players. Their passes are a little bit better; their instincts for the right moment are a little bit better. And, as is often the case a coupling of these types of players come together at the right time. There’s nothing new about it, but, for those who are just waking up to it, be it Americans or Europeans figuring out what’s wrong with their system, such as Russia or England, it might just be a revelation.
One salient factor the top teams have in common is passing to one another within a matter of inches (of the opponents’ outstretched shoe). On top of that, Germany, the winning team, shared a similar trait with previous Cup champions – creative midfield play. Of course, every team, in theory, on one level or another, whether they’re right or not, tries to field a team with one or multiple creative players (e.g. Lothar Matthaus, Zidane, Ronaldinho, Pele, Maradona). In 2010 it was Iniesta and Xavi. In 2006 it was Pirlo, Totti (though, he was absent in much of the final). In 2002 it was Ronaldinho and Rivaldo. In 1998 it was Zidane and Deschamps. In 1994 it was Rai (for the early rounds), later replaced with a group effort helping in the creation, for forwards Romario and Bebeto. In 2014 it was Schweinsteiger, Kroos, Ozil, Lahm. These are all teams with strong creative playmakers. The other teams lack that trait. They have inferior creative playmakers. They lack the skill. They lack the intuition; the instincts; the eye for the moment; the eye for the right pass; the eye for the right dribble; the eye for the right interception – many of these traits are things that can’t be taught. They may be improved on, in some degree to another, but, typically, they can’t be taught. The player either has it or they don’t. Some things Platini did, you can’t explain. He saw a pass before it was realized as a possibility by the opposing team, and he made it, in the wink of an eye. Valderrama, Roger Milla, Riquilme, Veron, Geovanni, Arshavin, to name a few, had or have this capability. Many of these players didn’t win the World Cup, but that has much to do with their support system rather than their individual play. What they did was raise the quality of play on their respective teams. When it comes to World Cup wins, each championship team has creative playmakers that stand out amongst the other tournament players. Their passes are a little bit better; their instincts for the right moment are a little bit better. And, as is often the case a coupling of these types of players come together at the right time. There’s nothing new about it, but, for those who are just waking up to it, be it Americans or Europeans figuring out what’s wrong with their system, such as Russia or England, it might just be a revelation.
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