Winning a World Cup single-handily may have been possible
before, yet can it happen in the modern game?
In the aftermath of the semi-final’s we have been faced with
the inevitable argument and debate regarding Maradona and Messi. Many believe
that without a World Cup Messi can be not be regarded in the pantheon of
greats. He is now one game away from this feat, however while Maradona achieved
success in 1986 almost single-handily, this kind of success, according to this
blog, simply isn’t possible anymore. To succeed requires more than one
individual, it requires a team collective.
This World Cup has been fixated on the ‘individual’. Lionel Messi,
James Rodriquez and Neymar have dominated the adverts and media pages. And while they have
all performed well, the key to their sides achievements in this tournament has
been the ever growing importance of the collective, that special trait of team
cohesion and togetherness.
In sides like Costa Rica, Chile, Colombia and even USA and
Greece we saw a level of togetherness and cohesion which bonded the side and
gave them extra energy and belief. They were organised, tactically intelligent
and committed to the strategy and each other. This is what modern football has
become.
Team cohesion key to
success
Arrigo Saachi’s achievement at Milan came from playing a system
and style where, as Sacchi explained, “players are connected to one another,
which moves together as if was a single player”. He stated that, “Today few teams know how to do this. Few
teams work as a unit. They are all made up of little groups. There is no great
connection, nor a good distribution of players around the pitch.”
Saachi was being listened to, his ideas were being taken on by modern coaches. This blog wrote an article before the 2013 Champions League
final between Bayern and Dortmund that the ideas of teamwork, cohesion and
above all selflessness had risen in the game. Both these sides were testament
to this, playing their high energy gegenpressing style. In players like Robben
and Ribery we saw hard defensive work from them both. They played for the team,
sacrificed themselves for it. And they succeeded because of this mentality.
Bill Cartwright, a basketball player who played for the Chicago Bulls under Phil Jackson and with Michael Jordan, a player who won three NBA championships wrote: “Most teams have guys who want to win but aren’t willing to do what it takes. What it takes is to give yourself over to the team and play your part. That may not always make you happy, but you’ve got to do it. Because when you do, that’s when you win.”
Jupp Heynckes succeeded by bringing together this squad of
talented players and bonding them together. Bayern had reached three Champions
League finals in four years. An astounding record. They possessed some great
players but were overcome by a stronger Inter ‘team’ in 2010 and a more
together and focused Chelsea side in 2012. It was almost like their individual
brilliance in players like Robben, Ribery and Gomez was not enough. To go from
second to first they needed to be a better team, they needed to sacrifice
themselves for the team. In the 2012/13 season looked unified; they had achieved
‘togetherness’.
After the 4-0 defeat of Barcelona in the 2nd leg of the semi-final Jupp Heynckes stated that
Bayern’s teamwork was key to their success. “The team were outstanding in executing the tactical plan. That was
top-class in terms of physical effort and fighting spirit. It's fantastic
teamwork.” Heynckes achieved the treble that season.
It is clear that the
top modern coaches realised that, in order to succeed, they needed to take
individuals and create a team. A year later and Atletico Madrid were minutes away from the
league and Champions League double, an incredible achievement based on the
resources Simeone had. And yet the key was his ability to mould a group into a
team. Mourinho, Guardiola, Ancelotti and Ferguson had all proved their teambuilding talents in the 21st century and thus had succeeded at the top level. This attribute, of team building, is now perhaps the most important asset of a top coach.
Spain’s dominance of world football, both at club and
national level came from a togetherness, the cohesion required to succeed. The
team played as one, they moved together, thought the same and worked for each
other both in and out of possession. It was as perfect a ‘team’ as you could
get and no surprise was the amount of trophies they collected. Spanish football
between 2008-2012 had proven the value of teamwork, sacrifice and belief in one’s
philosophy.
In this World Cup Holland’s progression to the semi-final
came from a compact defensive setup which sought to stifle the opposition and
break on the counter. It worked marvellously against the disjointed,
disorganised and ultimately weak Spain as well as being difficult for Chile to
break down. Van Gaal had somewhat neglected the ‘Dutch principles’ of the game,
as in expansive, attacking football, in order to win. A strong, defensive and
compact team in his opinion was the best route to success. Costa Rica were
evidence of this also.
What this World Cup has shown is that sides who are deemed ‘weaker’
can over exceed expectations due to their cohesion and togetherness. However,
those two sides reaching the final have done so because they have proven to be
not only a strong, organised team, but that they possess the talent of great
individuals also.
Blending individual brilliance with team togetherness
When we talk about a strong team, working together, when we
use words like cohesion, unity and organisation, it does not mean that the
individual player cannot express or shine. The idea of having a ‘go to guy’ is
not uncommon, in fact to be a world-class winning side you often need genuine
world class ability. The key message is that a successful winning side however cannot
be just about one player. A reliance on one player often makes a team too one
dimensional, predictable and ultimately easier to play against and defeat.
When we look at Argentina do we see a great team or do we see a great individual in Lionel Messi? During Barcelona’s dominant period what was important was how the team’s success came from the supporting cast. It was not always just been about Lionel Messi.
While many believe that you can only have 'one' real star in a side, the modern game is proving that to succeed you need to have more. It is
important, almost essential, to have supporting players in the side who can
offer the team more dynamism and variability. Barcelona achieved Champions League success in 2009 and 2011 because they had attacking trio's of Henry, Eto'o and Messi and Villa, Pedro and Messi, allied with Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets behind. Three attacking individuals who worked in harmony together, three midfielders who dominated games with supreme technical skill and excellent game intelligence. It was not about one player, it was about a team. When this attacking balance started to waver the team dropped off.
Messi can be said to be the Michael Jordan of football. For three years he
was the near perfect team player who offered those moments of individual brilliance. A player,
like Jordan, who could come up with something special when required. Yet like Jordan, the
players around Messi became over-reliant on him. His talents were so brilliant
that it appeared that his team mates were placing too much hope on him and reducing
their own effectiveness. As Messi soared to great individual heights it was
clear that this was having a negative effect on the quality of Barcelona as a
team.
Is this was has happened with Argentina? Has too much reliance been put
on Messi’s shoulders? It appears he is having to drop deep to be the playmaker,
as well as be in positions to score goals. He is having to do too much to help
his side win games.
However Argentina have surprised this blog with their impressive defensive record,
not conceding a goal in the knockout rounds, something reminiscent of Spain
from 2008-2012. This defensive strength means only one goal is needed to
progress and win. All that is required is that one special moment from Messi,
or even a set-piece (of which we have seen many key goals being scored in this
tournament).
Sabella's side may not have entertained the fans with open, attacking
football, but that is the very reason they have reached the final. Sabella has found a great balance and defensive shape which works for his side and has shut out Switzerland, Belgium and Holland. He has appreciated Messi's talent yet has not sought to destablise the balance of the side by shaping the team completely around his star. In fact while others would play Messi higher up the pitch, Sabella has used his playmaking talents to good effect.
Argentina have
been organised, disciplined, intelligent tactically and benefitted from the
genius of the world’s best player. Looking at this and you see a side built for
World Cup glory.
Complete collectivism
And then we consider Germany. The semi-final performance against
Brasil was every bit as superb as Brasil was shocking. It was incredible to see
a side in the semi-final of the World Cup play such open, suicidal football. It
was arguably the worst performance from a top side I’ve ever watched. One could
say they choked, that the pressure got to them, but ultimately they got their
tactics and strategy shockingly wrong and were punished for it.
Germany on the other-hand were organised, disciplined and simply ruthless in attack. Those same
components which took Bayern to the top of European football were on show in
this game. The change of tactics and strategy by Loew after the Algeria game
gave Germany the balance and confidence they required to take the steps forward
to the final. They dominated the France game although they were content to
settle for the 1-0. Against Brasil they smelled blood and punished them dearly.
The key however to this side, the contrasting element which looks to stand Germany
above Argentina, is that while Messi is the world’s best, there is only one of
him. Look at Germany and there is world class talent running through the whole
side; Neuer, Hummels, Lahm, Kroos, Ozil and Muller are all world class talents.
All can provide goals and moments of brilliance.
Add the impact
that Khedira had in the Brasil game and you see a fit and hungry player whose athleticism
could seriously affect Argentina’s defence. So too could Andre
Schurrle, who has provided key moments when coming off the bench. He offers a new dimension to
their attacking play, allied with his speed and finishing talent.
What you see a
group of players who not only play together (and who have grown as the
tournament has progressed) but who possess the individual talents required to
win trophies, the key element which has been evidenced by the success of Bayern and Dortmund these past few
years.
This tournament has been set out to be one for the
individuals and the media and perhaps fans would love Messi to shine and lift the
trophy. The comparisons with Maradona will be rife, yet the game will be decided by the better team. And in reality the German’s should be too strong.
German football has been building these past several years,
we have all witnessed it and marvelled at the players coming through and we have just been waiting for them to turn good performances into trophies. This
tournament (after changing the system) they now look ‘complete’. They are the perfect model of the modern and are moving towards building for the future game. They epitomise the modern games's need for collectivism.
Germany are
built for the modern game and all that it requires; a great defensive block out of
possession, world class players in several positions, a ruthlessness on the
counter attack where any number of players can score and the ability to control
games both in and out of possession. And above all they have the mindset of a
winner, of that there is no doubt. They have not celebrated their progress with
surprise or over the top exuberance, they are here to do a job and that is to
win the World Cup, thus they know it is 1st or nothing. This ruthlessness, this kind of focus will see them through to the end.
The past few tournaments they have fell short and questions have been asked of their mentality, now seems the time for them to push through that barrier and lift the trophy. One can only imagine what this will mean for the coming years if they were to win, a period of dominance and brilliance which perhaps could even surpass Spain of recent years.
The Whitehouse Address @The_W_Address
Related articles
- Who is Going to Win in Brasil?
- Five Reasons Why Germany Won't Beat France
- Can Argentina Really Win the World Cup?
- The Selfless Ideal of Teamwork
- Are Bayern The Most Complete Team Ever?
- Football’s New Era
- The Rise of the Bundesliga
- The Modern Game | A Place for Strikers?
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