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Physiocrat........................................................................................................................Šjor Bepo & Gio
..........VS...........
Team Physiocrat (H. Crespo dropped for J-P. Papin)
Tactics Overview
Tactics – Direct/ Mixed
Formation - Out of possession 4411, in possession it is somewhat fluid. This gives an idea of how it could look.
Defensive Line Balanced
Marking – Zonal
Schuster is at the heart of the side who can drop deep to play make and also burst forward. Cueleman’s (Onze Bronze Winner in 81’, behind Kaller and Breitner) role is that of an attacking 8. Out of possession his job is to use his stamina and imposing physicality to unsettle Pirlo on the ball. In possession Cuelemans will either join Crespo as an SS utilising his aerial and shooting ability (37 in 94 games at his peak as a midfielder) allowing Albert to move into the AM position or stay a little further back to allow Albert the freedom to roam further forward – Albert is a Ballon D’or winner with excellent dribbling and scoring ability (79 goals in 76 games at his peak).
Ballon D’or winning Papin is the all-round, quick striker, good in the air, decent feet and is a tremendous volleyer (63 goals in 95 games at his peak including one season in Serie A). Zagallo takes his Brazil national side role as the hardworking left winger with an excellent cross on him to provide in the air for Papin and Cuelemans as well as lower balls for Albert. Carrick provides excellent positioning and defensive nous to keep an eye on Hideguti, plus of course he has great unshowy passing.
Zmuda marshals the defence with his excellent organising and game reading ability. He was probably Poland’s best ever CB appearing in 4 World Cups and is joint third on the all-time World Cup appearances. Partnering him is the uncompromising Santamaria, known as The Wall, who held the fort in the incredibly attacking Real side of the 50s and was regarded as one of the best CBs of his time. He will provide an excellent complement to Zmuda. Crazy Horse Hughes will play as a balanced left-back and Bessonov the attacking right back, utilising his stamina and crossing ability to provide for Papin and Cuelemans. Finally, I have the greatest Belgian keeper of all-time, Jean-Marie Pfaff and winner of the IFFHS’s Best Goalkeeper in 1987.
Team Šjor Bepo & Gio (B.Dietz dropped for V. Candela)
DEFENCE
Led by Carlos Mozer who became the defensive bedrock for 3 of the best teams of the 1980s: the world-conquering Flamengo side, and serial European Cup finalists Benfica and Marseille. He will be the athletic ball-playing sweeper next to Riccardo Ferri who was a defensive stalwart in Serie A in its hey-day and despite the lofty company was ranked among the top 2-3 central defenders in the league for 3 seasons. Behind him is his colleague for club and country Walter Zenga: their partnership for Inter and Italy was almost inpenetrable in the late 1980s and at the 1990 World Cup. Supporting on each side are the French pair of the one-man flank Vincent Candela and the all-rounder Willy Sagnol.
MIDFIELD
The midfield is built around Andrea Pirlo so pivotal as the creative force behind Milan, Juventus and Italy. His Europe and world-beating partnership with Gattuso gains an upgrade in the ultimate midfield dynamo and hound-dog in N'Golo Kante. Bringing goal threat, passing range, ball-carrying and loads of hustle is Paul Gascoigne who was simply unplayable for much of his peak 3-year period.
ATTACK
Nandor Hidegkuti is the centrepoint of the attack: injecting goals (39 in 69 for Hungary, over 300 in his career), creativity (bazillions of assists), and'intelligence 'fine technique and tactical guile' [Sebes]. Racing from the left is Claudio Lopez who will relish the ability of Hidegkuti to create space. Surging from the right is Kylian Mbappe whose 3-year peak is starting to look ridiculously stacked (a goals+assists to games ratio of 1:1 and rising in L1 and CL, irrespective of opponent; and a World Cup capped off by that R9-esque demolition of Argentina).
KEY POINTS
- Strong midfield trio who should take control of the tie with arguably the most effective deep-lying playmaker and ball-winner in the pool. Bursting dangerously forward from midfield will be pre leg break Paul Gascoigne and he has the tools to find a way past two of Petit/Carrick/Schuster/Cocu.
- Clean front three based around the original false 9 Hidegkuti, flanked by the full-back eviscerating Mpabbe and the surging Claudio Lopez. Mbappe's pace and trickery will cause Hughes plenty of problems while Lopez's speed will make life uncomfortable for the Zmuda/Santamaria partnership.
Good luck @Physiocrat @Šjor Bepo @Gio!