For the Spanish national team, associative football was the legacy of Luis Aragonés, the coach that led Spain to win the Euro2008. The new national coach, Vicente Del Bosque, has seemed reluctant to fully embrace this style based on constant passing since he got the job.
When attacking, Del Bosque prefers a more vertical football. He wants faster passing (thus risking the ball a little more, and losing more balls per game) and he would love playing with wings. He prefers playing two destructive midfielders on the field (typically Busquets and Xabi Alonso), as opposed to playing just one. He'd rather play muscular Arbeloa on the defensive left side, eventhough he is a right-footer, than the lefty, better passer, better scorer, and more skillful yet not so strong Capdevilla. And so on. Del Bosque leans towards more conservative choices whenever he is faced with two options, and yet, his teams receive more goals against than Luis Aragonés'.
Why is that? Well, Del Bosque has not fully embraced the defensive style that must go with associative football either. Under associative football there is no choice: Spain must defend by keeping the ball and finishing each play, however long it may need to be, with a shot. That is why having Capdevilla is defensely better than having Arbeloa. That is why having Xavi Hernández lead the team accompanied by just one defensive midfielder is better than playing with two defensive midfielders and Xavi Hernández closer to Villa and Torres. It is better because in this way Spain losses less balls, and attacks more effectively, and it becomes safer overall.
The good news is that in the game against Saudi Arabia, the A team played decent although still a bit too slow associative football. Let´s keep an eye on this.
martes, 1 de junio de 2010
Does Xabi Alonso fit in?
Xabi Alonso is a great player, no question about it. However, his long passes are best suited for a very vertical playing style, such as Liverpool's or Real Madrid's. Luis Aragonés during the Euro2008 used to play Alonso in the second halves, when Spain was already leading the score. His mission was to launch counter attacks with his long passes.
When he plays for Spain in the starting team, he has a tendency to become very disruptive for the combinative style of his team mates. Every player in the team but him is trying to move the ball quickly in short pasess. When the ball reaches Alonso, he would risk it, and often lose it, with a 40m pass. When he has the option of passing the ball quickly to an open team mate close to him, he often waits a little too long. He first has this urge to look for a superb a master pass. When he does not see it possible, then he makes the easy, shorter pass... a little too late. I only wish that he could accept a more modest role in the team and keep the ball circulating quickly. He can do that. He is really versatile. In the end, it is not entirely his fault. He has a coach, Del Bosque, that must persuade him of the importance of playing quick short passes. If only Del Bosque fully believed in the efectiveness of associative football as much as Luis Aragonés did!
Here you have a selection of bad passes (12 in total) and a few extra bad choices Xabi made in the only game Spain lost in the last four years, against the US. It is probably unfair. He does not normally miss so many passes, but it gives you an idea of his tendency to go too direct, as opposed to passing quickly to the closest team mate. The person who did the compliation seems to have a similar opinion. He is being sarcastic with the title "mejores jugadas". Check it out.
To be fair, here you have some good long passes of his:
Del Bosque has played him from the get go, together with another defensive midfielder, either Busquets or Senna. The alternative to playing Alonso would be to play a more combinative player, Fábregas, or else an extra forward instead. Busquets would then have to play right in front of the 2 central defenders, and Xavi Hernández together with Cesc Fábregas in the creative midfield accompanied by Silva and Iniesta, and just one fordward. Or else, only Xavi Hernández as a organizing midfielder (Fábregas on the bench), plus Silva and Iniesta, plus two forwards, Torres and Villa, together.
The problem with all this is that Del Bosque is in love with Xabi Alonso. I am too, by the way, if only he could fully adapt to the collective style!
The good news is that Alonso played much more associatively against Saudi Arabia. He seemed less interested in impressing everyone with his long passes, and much more involved in the collective enterprise of associative football. There are reasons for hope. With such great players, there always are.
If you can read in Spanish, check this out about the purported incompatibility between Xabi Alonso and Xavi Hernández: http://www.as.com/opinion/articulo/raro-xabi-xavi-peguen/dasopi/20090813dasdaiopi_3/Tes
When he plays for Spain in the starting team, he has a tendency to become very disruptive for the combinative style of his team mates. Every player in the team but him is trying to move the ball quickly in short pasess. When the ball reaches Alonso, he would risk it, and often lose it, with a 40m pass. When he has the option of passing the ball quickly to an open team mate close to him, he often waits a little too long. He first has this urge to look for a superb a master pass. When he does not see it possible, then he makes the easy, shorter pass... a little too late. I only wish that he could accept a more modest role in the team and keep the ball circulating quickly. He can do that. He is really versatile. In the end, it is not entirely his fault. He has a coach, Del Bosque, that must persuade him of the importance of playing quick short passes. If only Del Bosque fully believed in the efectiveness of associative football as much as Luis Aragonés did!
Here you have a selection of bad passes (12 in total) and a few extra bad choices Xabi made in the only game Spain lost in the last four years, against the US. It is probably unfair. He does not normally miss so many passes, but it gives you an idea of his tendency to go too direct, as opposed to passing quickly to the closest team mate. The person who did the compliation seems to have a similar opinion. He is being sarcastic with the title "mejores jugadas". Check it out.
To be fair, here you have some good long passes of his:
Del Bosque has played him from the get go, together with another defensive midfielder, either Busquets or Senna. The alternative to playing Alonso would be to play a more combinative player, Fábregas, or else an extra forward instead. Busquets would then have to play right in front of the 2 central defenders, and Xavi Hernández together with Cesc Fábregas in the creative midfield accompanied by Silva and Iniesta, and just one fordward. Or else, only Xavi Hernández as a organizing midfielder (Fábregas on the bench), plus Silva and Iniesta, plus two forwards, Torres and Villa, together.
The problem with all this is that Del Bosque is in love with Xabi Alonso. I am too, by the way, if only he could fully adapt to the collective style!
The good news is that Alonso played much more associatively against Saudi Arabia. He seemed less interested in impressing everyone with his long passes, and much more involved in the collective enterprise of associative football. There are reasons for hope. With such great players, there always are.
If you can read in Spanish, check this out about the purported incompatibility between Xabi Alonso and Xavi Hernández: http://www.as.com/opinion/articulo/raro-xabi-xavi-peguen/dasopi/20090813dasdaiopi_3/Tes
What is to like about associative football?
Associative football is like a ballet or a well coorditante orchestra of 11 skillful players, rithmically and patiently passing the ball as they look for a crack in the opponent´s defense. In a football increasingly dominated by the most athletic teams, associative football challenges this dominant trend by betting for skill, ball possession, and constant attack. It is both a risky bet and beautiful to watch.
Putting together a full national team of players able to play like this, including the guys on the bench, is no easy task. Very few countries in the world can do it. More importantly, very few national coaches dare to do it. Very skillful players are needed, and skillful players are usually small guys. A team playing in this way is a physically light-weight team. It risks getting abused by more muscular teams. Defensively, a light-weight team is also at risk, in danger of being overpowered by stronger and taller teams. Here you can see why this bet is so unusual, and so risky.
Notice that for associative football to take place, each player in the team must have the ability to pass the ball immediately. This is the most valuable skill necessary for associative football-speed of mind. This is hard. Really hard. Most players professional and non-professional, need to stop the ball when they receive it, then rise their head, then lower it and take a look at the ball again, then kick it forward or backwards, then rise the head again and pass the ball. Way too slow! Not good for associative football. The ball needs to circulate as fast as possible. The ball should run more than the players, not the other way around. Only in this way the opponent´s defense can get out of place, distracted, cracked, and scoring becomes possible. Again, this is not achievable by just any team. To put it bluntly-any team can successfully play defensive football, yet only a very good team can play associative football.
Spain is not the first team ever that plays in this way. Brazil national team has played in a slower motion, but very similar way, for decades. In this World Cup it will not play in this way, though. Dunga, the Brazilian coach, favors a more physical style-press, steal and run. Played in faster and more dynamic way, it is prohably the Netherlands in the World Cup of 1974 the point of reference. Ajax of Amsterdam, Arsenal and Barcelona are the three football clubs in Europe that play in this way. And then the Spanish national team, starting about 3 years ago. It all started with this Denmark vs. Spain in October 2007, and in particular, with this goal, scored only after 28 consecutive passes:
There are other very difficult and very effective ways to play football. Italian defensive football played at its best is an art. British and Irish push-and-run direct football played at its best is also an art. Each of these styles require a very different type of player. Each has its followers and its own beauty too.
Putting together a full national team of players able to play like this, including the guys on the bench, is no easy task. Very few countries in the world can do it. More importantly, very few national coaches dare to do it. Very skillful players are needed, and skillful players are usually small guys. A team playing in this way is a physically light-weight team. It risks getting abused by more muscular teams. Defensively, a light-weight team is also at risk, in danger of being overpowered by stronger and taller teams. Here you can see why this bet is so unusual, and so risky.
Notice that for associative football to take place, each player in the team must have the ability to pass the ball immediately. This is the most valuable skill necessary for associative football-speed of mind. This is hard. Really hard. Most players professional and non-professional, need to stop the ball when they receive it, then rise their head, then lower it and take a look at the ball again, then kick it forward or backwards, then rise the head again and pass the ball. Way too slow! Not good for associative football. The ball needs to circulate as fast as possible. The ball should run more than the players, not the other way around. Only in this way the opponent´s defense can get out of place, distracted, cracked, and scoring becomes possible. Again, this is not achievable by just any team. To put it bluntly-any team can successfully play defensive football, yet only a very good team can play associative football.
Spain is not the first team ever that plays in this way. Brazil national team has played in a slower motion, but very similar way, for decades. In this World Cup it will not play in this way, though. Dunga, the Brazilian coach, favors a more physical style-press, steal and run. Played in faster and more dynamic way, it is prohably the Netherlands in the World Cup of 1974 the point of reference. Ajax of Amsterdam, Arsenal and Barcelona are the three football clubs in Europe that play in this way. And then the Spanish national team, starting about 3 years ago. It all started with this Denmark vs. Spain in October 2007, and in particular, with this goal, scored only after 28 consecutive passes:
There are other very difficult and very effective ways to play football. Italian defensive football played at its best is an art. British and Irish push-and-run direct football played at its best is also an art. Each of these styles require a very different type of player. Each has its followers and its own beauty too.
A few acknowledgments for Spain's associative football
Spain would not play associative football had Barcelona not played it for the last two decades with great success.
And Barcelona would not play it had Johan Cruyff in the 1990s not imposed it as the compulsory style for all divisions of Barcelona, from little kids to grown up pros. Cruyff probably also owes a lot to his former coach, Rinus Mitchel.
The last two brilliant years of Guardiola as a Barcelona coach have also been critical to persuade Del Bosque that this style that he is not so fond of can be just as effective, if not more effective, than any other approach.
Barcelona plays with fantastic footballers bred in town in the younger divisions, such as Valdés, Piqué, Puyol, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta, Messi, Pedro or Bojan. As any other private and wealthy club, Barcelona can also afford to fill in the remaining possitions with players tha would fit the team style, such as Márquez, Alves, Yaya Touré, Keita, Henry, and Ibrahimovic...
A general acknowledgment is also due to Latin American football, in particular, Brazilian football. From Mexico to Patagonia, all Latin America speaks a smiliar football language--a big appreciation for a very skilfull, associative, and aesthetic way of playing. Thousands of Latin American players have played in the Spanish professional league over the years. Besides, Spain feels very strongly emotionally and culturally connected to Latin America. The Spanish football taste has always been influenced by this connection.
Spain as a national team only played in this combinative style very recently, under the coaching of Luis Aragonés. In the history of Spanish coaching, Aragonés is probably one of the most pragmatic and least style oriented of all coaches. A lover of good defense strategy, steal and run, he was well known for critizicing players who would try to play "pretty", as opposed to "playing well". Who would have thought that he would end up implementing the most beautiful style Spain ever played!
After two years of coaching the Spanish national team without any major success, Aragonés slowly but surely veered towards playing with his best players all at once, without sparing a single one on the bench. The problem was that they all shared a very similar profile: midfielder, small, skillful, associative, imaginative, not very muscular...
Acknowledging and embracing the abundance of this type of player in Spain was not an easy task. National coaches in the past, including Aragonés himself, had shared a common fear: if Spain plays with all the talented guys at once, it may get abused by the muscle power of all other teams. All coaches in the past had chosen to "balance" the national team by sitting down some of the best players on the bech and introducing some muscle instead. This led to decades of a confusing style, at times muscular, at times skillful, but never fully either one.
Luis Aragonés was the first coach to come to the conclusion that the problem of Spain in the past had been one of split-personality: it had aspired to play beautiful football but never played its best players all at once; it bred talent but played with muscle. For the first time in the history of the Spanish team, Aragonés dared to play all the talented little people together, and to make them play the style that fits them best, a style that no Aragonés team in his long coaching career had ever played before-combinative football.
Thank you, Luis, for daring. Thank you, Johan and Barcelona, for your vision. Thank you Rinus, for opening the way.
And Barcelona would not play it had Johan Cruyff in the 1990s not imposed it as the compulsory style for all divisions of Barcelona, from little kids to grown up pros. Cruyff probably also owes a lot to his former coach, Rinus Mitchel.
The last two brilliant years of Guardiola as a Barcelona coach have also been critical to persuade Del Bosque that this style that he is not so fond of can be just as effective, if not more effective, than any other approach.
Barcelona plays with fantastic footballers bred in town in the younger divisions, such as Valdés, Piqué, Puyol, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta, Messi, Pedro or Bojan. As any other private and wealthy club, Barcelona can also afford to fill in the remaining possitions with players tha would fit the team style, such as Márquez, Alves, Yaya Touré, Keita, Henry, and Ibrahimovic...
A general acknowledgment is also due to Latin American football, in particular, Brazilian football. From Mexico to Patagonia, all Latin America speaks a smiliar football language--a big appreciation for a very skilfull, associative, and aesthetic way of playing. Thousands of Latin American players have played in the Spanish professional league over the years. Besides, Spain feels very strongly emotionally and culturally connected to Latin America. The Spanish football taste has always been influenced by this connection.
Spain as a national team only played in this combinative style very recently, under the coaching of Luis Aragonés. In the history of Spanish coaching, Aragonés is probably one of the most pragmatic and least style oriented of all coaches. A lover of good defense strategy, steal and run, he was well known for critizicing players who would try to play "pretty", as opposed to "playing well". Who would have thought that he would end up implementing the most beautiful style Spain ever played!
After two years of coaching the Spanish national team without any major success, Aragonés slowly but surely veered towards playing with his best players all at once, without sparing a single one on the bench. The problem was that they all shared a very similar profile: midfielder, small, skillful, associative, imaginative, not very muscular...
Acknowledging and embracing the abundance of this type of player in Spain was not an easy task. National coaches in the past, including Aragonés himself, had shared a common fear: if Spain plays with all the talented guys at once, it may get abused by the muscle power of all other teams. All coaches in the past had chosen to "balance" the national team by sitting down some of the best players on the bech and introducing some muscle instead. This led to decades of a confusing style, at times muscular, at times skillful, but never fully either one.
Luis Aragonés was the first coach to come to the conclusion that the problem of Spain in the past had been one of split-personality: it had aspired to play beautiful football but never played its best players all at once; it bred talent but played with muscle. For the first time in the history of the Spanish team, Aragonés dared to play all the talented little people together, and to make them play the style that fits them best, a style that no Aragonés team in his long coaching career had ever played before-combinative football.
Thank you, Luis, for daring. Thank you, Johan and Barcelona, for your vision. Thank you Rinus, for opening the way.
Switzerland vs. Spain, Wednesday, June 16, 2010, Durban, South Africa
Opening game for Spain and Switzerland in the tournament. This will be a major test for Spain.
Switzerland is coached by Ottmar Hitzfeld, a phe-no-me-nal coach. Hitzfeld won two European Championships (nowaday called Champions Leagues) with two different clubs, Borusia Dortmund (1997) and Bayern Munich (2001). Only two more coaches in the history of European football have accomplished such an achievement (Ernst Happoel and Jose Mourinho).
It will be interesting to see what strategy he uses against Spain. Let me make an educated guess--tight defense and one player forward. That is, the way the US beat Spain in the ConfeCup, and the way that Inter Milan beat Barcelona in the last Champions Leage. Defense, defense, defense, and direct football whenever they steal the ball. With this strategy, Hitzfeld will settle for a tie and hope for a lonely goal in his favor. He will not give up on the possibility of scoring in a counter-attack, a free kick or a shot from far away. For example, Ilner scored from far away in a friendly game against Italy a few days ago
The Swiss defensive mistake in the Italian goal is also quite remarkable.
Thus Switzerland will most likely test Spain's ability to score against a tight defense put up by a muscular, very disciplined, and very well-organized team. Needless to say, if Spain scores first, then the game will change completely.
Spain will meet with this type of defensive strategy again and again in the tournament. Italy and Brazil will eventually play Spain in the exact same way, possibly with the defensive line a little further away from their goalie than Switzerland can afford. It is up to Del Bosque to rehearse as we speak the kind of attacking moves that can cut throught this kind of ultra-defensive strategy. Constant movements without the ball and passing the ball fast are the two mantras that Spain must keep repeating to itself. If it stays true to them, it should beat Switzerland. As for Brazil and Italy... we will see in due time.
Switzerland is coached by Ottmar Hitzfeld, a phe-no-me-nal coach. Hitzfeld won two European Championships (nowaday called Champions Leagues) with two different clubs, Borusia Dortmund (1997) and Bayern Munich (2001). Only two more coaches in the history of European football have accomplished such an achievement (Ernst Happoel and Jose Mourinho).
It will be interesting to see what strategy he uses against Spain. Let me make an educated guess--tight defense and one player forward. That is, the way the US beat Spain in the ConfeCup, and the way that Inter Milan beat Barcelona in the last Champions Leage. Defense, defense, defense, and direct football whenever they steal the ball. With this strategy, Hitzfeld will settle for a tie and hope for a lonely goal in his favor. He will not give up on the possibility of scoring in a counter-attack, a free kick or a shot from far away. For example, Ilner scored from far away in a friendly game against Italy a few days ago
The Swiss defensive mistake in the Italian goal is also quite remarkable.
Thus Switzerland will most likely test Spain's ability to score against a tight defense put up by a muscular, very disciplined, and very well-organized team. Needless to say, if Spain scores first, then the game will change completely.
Spain will meet with this type of defensive strategy again and again in the tournament. Italy and Brazil will eventually play Spain in the exact same way, possibly with the defensive line a little further away from their goalie than Switzerland can afford. It is up to Del Bosque to rehearse as we speak the kind of attacking moves that can cut throught this kind of ultra-defensive strategy. Constant movements without the ball and passing the ball fast are the two mantras that Spain must keep repeating to itself. If it stays true to them, it should beat Switzerland. As for Brazil and Italy... we will see in due time.
Honduras vs. Spain, Monday, June 21, 2010
Honduras has the Latin American taste for skill plus some muscle. Núñez can give good assists, and Wilson Palacios is besides a very strong guy a very skillful player. Against Spain, Honduras will probably take one step back and will look for quick attacking transitions, trying to launch Pavón, Costly or Suazo, very fast runners. If the Catrachos (Hondurans) try to pass the ball to each other too much, instead of quickly launching their forwards, they will loose it right away.
In other words, presumably Honduras will suffer with the Spanish pressure in the midfield. Honduras players will have to move the ball much faster than most of them are used to, or else Spain will steal it pretty quickly. Another challenge for Honduras will be to keep their defensive order and discipline before the Spanish dynamism and passing game. If Honduras is able to keep defenively organized for the entire game and manages to send fast and direct attacks, it may have some chances.
Honduras scored some impressive goals during the qualification round to the World Cup, particularly some signed by Costly from far away
I am certain that any one who has followed Honduras during the qualification round can offer more details.
In other words, presumably Honduras will suffer with the Spanish pressure in the midfield. Honduras players will have to move the ball much faster than most of them are used to, or else Spain will steal it pretty quickly. Another challenge for Honduras will be to keep their defensive order and discipline before the Spanish dynamism and passing game. If Honduras is able to keep defenively organized for the entire game and manages to send fast and direct attacks, it may have some chances.
Honduras scored some impressive goals during the qualification round to the World Cup, particularly some signed by Costly from far away
I am certain that any one who has followed Honduras during the qualification round can offer more details.
Spain vs. Chile, Friday june 25th, pre-game thoughts
Chile is a fantastic team, coached by a great Argentine coach, Marcelo Bielsa.
Spain played Chile in November 2008 in a friendly game and won only after a big effort. The final result, 3-0, was misleading. Chile played a phenomenal first half, particularly in pressing Spain in the midfield. Brilliant job, really. Chile missed two very clear scoring opportunities, the first one when the game was 0 - 0, and received two silly goals against, one after a dumb penalty and another one after the ball hit the back of a Chilean defender
Chile also run an excellent qualifying tournament for the World Cup 2010. It qualified second after Brasil.
Chile vs. Spain is the last game of Group H. By the time they meet, both teams may have been qualified for the next round. By then it will be also known for sure how Brazil did in its group. Mind you that the winner of Brazil group will play the second of group H (probably either Chile or Spain), and vice-versa. Spain may very well play with its B team against Chile, just as it did in the Euro2008 against Greece. This gave some very necessary rest to the A team as it kept in good shape and highly motivated the B players. If Spain plays with its A team, Chile can still beat Spain. If Spain plays with its B team, it is even more possible. Thus Chile may very well qualify first of Group H, and Spain may have to play Brazil in the first play-off.
Watch Chile. It may go far into the play-offs. It does not play Spain´s associative foothball, but it plays excellent football too.
Spain played Chile in November 2008 in a friendly game and won only after a big effort. The final result, 3-0, was misleading. Chile played a phenomenal first half, particularly in pressing Spain in the midfield. Brilliant job, really. Chile missed two very clear scoring opportunities, the first one when the game was 0 - 0, and received two silly goals against, one after a dumb penalty and another one after the ball hit the back of a Chilean defender
Chile also run an excellent qualifying tournament for the World Cup 2010. It qualified second after Brasil.
Chile vs. Spain is the last game of Group H. By the time they meet, both teams may have been qualified for the next round. By then it will be also known for sure how Brazil did in its group. Mind you that the winner of Brazil group will play the second of group H (probably either Chile or Spain), and vice-versa. Spain may very well play with its B team against Chile, just as it did in the Euro2008 against Greece. This gave some very necessary rest to the A team as it kept in good shape and highly motivated the B players. If Spain plays with its A team, Chile can still beat Spain. If Spain plays with its B team, it is even more possible. Thus Chile may very well qualify first of Group H, and Spain may have to play Brazil in the first play-off.
Watch Chile. It may go far into the play-offs. It does not play Spain´s associative foothball, but it plays excellent football too.
Suscribirse a:
Entradas (Atom)
