Annahnomoss
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- Oct 4, 2012
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Team Enigma
Formation: 4-3-3
Style: Quick direct tempo
Players:
GK: Ulbaldo Fillol WC 1978 - quite possibly the best South American keeper had a blinder in the WC in 1978. He decided the game against Poland, saving a penalty by Kazimierz Deyna, and helping Argentina to win the first World Cup with a superb performance in the final against Holland. Fillol was voted the best goalkeeper of the 1978 World Cup, conceding only 4 goals in 7 games against the likes of Brazil, Netherlands, Italy, France, Peru, boasting with incredible attacking threats in their ranks.
DL: Paolo Maldini WC 1994- Many remember the incredible performance Baresi put against Romario in the final, but it was grande Paolo who put a pretty uninspiring(apart from Baggio) Italian side through the finals. Baresi was injured in the group stage, and Maldini put excellent performances both as a LB and CB bossing the defence and putting masterful performances in a patched up defence most of the time. He was voted in the team of the tournament and later 3rd in Ballon D'or on the back of that WC.
DR: Manuel Amoros WC 1986 - Best right back in Mexico and voted team of the tournament he provided solid performances against the likes of Brazil, France, the Soviet Union, etc in a team that conceded just 2 goals up until the SF's against West Germany. He provided defensive solidity and had a amazing performance against Brazil in the QF's.
CB: Bobby Moore WC 1966 - probably the highest peak of a defender in a WC tournament at the biggest stage with some of the GOATS on the other side of the pitch. Sir Geoff Hurst said he was his hero, Sir Alf Ramsey claims he was the best he ever worked with and that England would never have won the World Cup without him. Franz Beckenbauer, an opponent in that 1966 final, called him "the best defender in the history of the game" and Pele agreed. There were the last-ditch tackles - perfectly timed, of course - and the instinctive sense for danger that led Jock Stein to quip that "there should be a law against him as he knows what's happening 20 minutes before everyone else". And the final performance was truly spectacular:
CB: Sol Campbell WC 2002 - Albeit eliminated by Brazil in the QF's Campbell was immense throughout the tournament scoring the only goal against Sweden and putting a MoTM performance:
"MAN OF THE MATCH: Sol Campbell 8/10 - Unflappable." - The Times, 3 June 2002
Game against Argentina:
"They outplayed the team who had come into this tournament as favourites. England defended with supreme discipline, passed and moved with wit in midfield and attacked with intensity." - Daily Express, 8 June 2002
Game against Denmark
"England's defence was like a wall, it was so difficult to get through. Even the strikers defend brilliantly." - THOMAS GRAVESEN
The Makelele role WC 2006: Makelele formed a great partnership with Vieira in that tournament. Eventually it was Cannavaro who grabbed the headlines, but France was the other team with rock solid defence and midfield in that tournament, conceding just twice while eliminating some of the best sides in the tournament like peak Ronaldinho led Brazil, Ronaldo's Portugal and absolutely dominating Spain midfield boasting with Xavi, Alonso and Fabregas in their ranks.
Playmaker: Didi WC 1958: Golden ball winner, team of the tournament and the star of the tournament. In 6 games he scored 1 goal, and provided 6 assists. Key Performance: Brazil 5 - 2 France (Semi Final) 1 Goal, 2 Assists
One of the very best midfielders ever in the top of his game.
CM/AM Michael Ballack WC 2002: The 2002 - World Cup finalist and member of the All Star team literally dragged one of the most uninspiring German sides to the final with his 3 goals and 4 assists in 6 games. When Michael Ballack was carded for his team in the semi-final of 2002 World Cup meaning he would miss the final, just 4 minutes later he went on to score the goal that propelled his team to the very same final. Proper big game player.
LW: Hristo Stoichkov WC 1994 - Star of the tournament in an underdog Bulgarian side - he was at his best level scoring 6 and winning the Golden Boot. A menace throughout he is in his favorite LWF role here in a free role like the very same tournament.
RW: Zbigniew Boniek WC 1982 - After his stunning hat trick against Belgium in the 1982 World Cup, Pelé himself stated this, that a player such as Boniek needs to be unleashed and his talent should not be confined and limited to a role in midfield. And indeed it did - after his amazing performance in the WC, later he was third in the Ballon D'or the same year he got transferred to Juventus. Finished the tournament with 4 goals in total the other against a pretty strong Peru side.
CF: Gerd Muller WC 1970 - Der Bomber won the Ballon D'or the same year on the back of that WC performance, and what a performance it was. A strong contender for the very best individual performances in an international tournament. Muller netted the Golden Shoe for his ten strikes and he also provided three assists ensuring he makes the record books once again for the best ever individual contribution by a player in a single finals since 1966. Trailing Morocco in the first game it took an equaliser from Uwe Seeler and a late winner from Muller to secure the two points. Muller's winner was trademark bomber stuff as he nodded in from barely a yard out after the ball rebounded off the crossbar.
The Nationalmannschaft were rolling with Muller in particular in sparkling form. A hat-trick including a bullet header for his third was the highlight in the next match against Bulgaria while he added another hat-trick in West Germany's final group game against Peru. All in the space of 20 minutes!
Muller's second hat-trick of the tournament proved he wasn't just a poacher as he scored a goal with both feet and added a dipping header for his third. Seven goals already and that was just the group stage.
Thoughts on the game:
Defence: Obviously the biggest asset of Skizzo's team is his formidable attacking trio in Rivaldo/Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. Our defence however boasts with two of the very best defenders in the game in Maldini and Moore at their absolute best, while Sol Campbell and Manuel Amoros aren't too shabby either. Makelele screening the defence also provides additional protection which is key for our team sniffing the danger of Skizzo's attacking trio.
Midfield: I think our team has the advantage here with Didi being the best midfielder on the pitch and running the show, provided the protection Makelele offers(similar to what Zito offered in 1958) but also combined with Ballack dynamism and additional steel in midfield. Ballack himself this time won't be the only world class player in the team and given his decisive contribution in 2002 in both phases he will be useful both running late in the box and also providing passes to der Bomber to head home.
Atttack: Our attack consist of lot of grit, determination,flair, creativity but also predatory instinct. Muller won't need many chances to decide the game and given his credentials in terms of finishing in that tournament I'd back him to score most of his chances.
-----------------------------------Team Enigma
-----------------------------------------VS
-----------------------------------Team Skizzo
Team Skizzo
FORMATION: 3-5-2/5-2-3
INSPIRATION FOR THE SIDE: Brazil 2002. The trio of World Class Brazilian attackers who devastated the opposition along the way to securing the biggest prize in football. All three of them made the World Cup All Star team, and combined for 15 of the 18 goals Brazil scored that World Cup.
THE TWEAKS
Brazil 2002 lined up with a free flowing front three, who were relied upon to carry the attacking burden, while the rest of the team kept things rigid defensively.
Looking at that team, the first thing that stands out after the ability of the front three, is the distinct lack of star quality through the rest of the team. Here, we've managed to create an almost like-for-like representation of the team, with a distinct quality upgrade in every position bar two.
Marcos/Dida to Buffon (World Cup 06) - Bringing in the legendary Italian, he was the starting goalkeeper of the Italian team that won the 2006 Fifa World Cup, which saw him keep a record five clean sheets, and concede only two goals, neither of which were in open play. He received the Yashin Award for his performances that year.
Roque Junior to Burgnich (Euro Cup 68) - Described as a defensive colossus, La Roccia helped marshall an Italian defense to the Championship, keeping Dzajic quiet in the final. Here he would play a tucked in role to let the wing back attack, while forming a solid defense in front of Buffon.
Lucio to Kohler (Euro Cup 92) - The German defender looks to raise the entire level of the defensive unit, and he brings his Team of the Tournament performances from Euro 92, where he was on another level.
Edmilson to Olsen (Euro Cup 84) - The Danish Libero, who went through a renaissance period when moved to a deeper position. Here he would take up that role, as the extra defender, and also looking to carry out the ball from deep as Edmilson did throughout the tournament.
Cafu to Maicon (Copa America '07) - The one area where it isn't an upgrade, but the Brazilian is comfortable in an attacking role, and will be freed up by midfield support and Burgnich covering. His contributions to the attacking phase will help open space for the front trio.
R. Carlos to Cabrini (World Cup 82) - The other area where, while not a direct upgrade, is by no means a downgrade. While he may not offer as much in attack, he is a more solid defender. He will look to offer his foraging runs forward, highlighted by his game winning goal against Argentina.
Gilberto Silva to Horst Szymaniak (World Cup 58) - The German was rated as one of the best players at World Cup 58 where the Germans came 4th. Renowned for his defensive ability, his slide tackles, and his vision with the ball, he'll look to offer us another outlet when springing our attack forward.
Kleberson to Tardelli (World Cup 82) - The Italian was known for giving his all on the field, and able to contribute to both phases of play equally well. He would look to take up the supporting midfield role here, pressuring hard while on defense, but looking to drive forward at times as well.
Ro-Ri-Ro making cameo appearances as themselves.
The roles themselves are easy to explain, and its testament to the fact that Scolari was able to take a team of players who were far from what was usually expected of a Brazil side, and able to create a functional, rigid defensive set up, while allowing it to flow beautifully in attack.
BENEFITS OF THE TEAM/WHY I BELIEVE WE WILL WIN
While the team is focused around getting the best of the World Class trio leading the attack, the "supporting roles" are filled with players who have had match winning and colossus performances of their own. For example.
Marco Tardelli - Doubt many will ever forget his iconic celebration after netting the second goal in the 82 World Cup final en route to a 3-1 win.
Antonio Cabrini - The second member of that '82 World Cup winning squad, who scored a decisive goal of his own in the 2-1 win over Argentina.
On the defensive side, we have players who were able to dig in and put on some monstrous performances, and with Buffon in goal, I see us able to limit the opposition to minimal clear cut opportunities, and minimal goals. That stands us in good stead to be able to break teams apart when we attack with the Magic Trio up front who can win games on their own, and who are now supported with an able cast who can support them on a whole new level.
Formation: 4-3-3
Style: Quick direct tempo
Players:
GK: Ulbaldo Fillol WC 1978 - quite possibly the best South American keeper had a blinder in the WC in 1978. He decided the game against Poland, saving a penalty by Kazimierz Deyna, and helping Argentina to win the first World Cup with a superb performance in the final against Holland. Fillol was voted the best goalkeeper of the 1978 World Cup, conceding only 4 goals in 7 games against the likes of Brazil, Netherlands, Italy, France, Peru, boasting with incredible attacking threats in their ranks.
DL: Paolo Maldini WC 1994- Many remember the incredible performance Baresi put against Romario in the final, but it was grande Paolo who put a pretty uninspiring(apart from Baggio) Italian side through the finals. Baresi was injured in the group stage, and Maldini put excellent performances both as a LB and CB bossing the defence and putting masterful performances in a patched up defence most of the time. He was voted in the team of the tournament and later 3rd in Ballon D'or on the back of that WC.
DR: Manuel Amoros WC 1986 - Best right back in Mexico and voted team of the tournament he provided solid performances against the likes of Brazil, France, the Soviet Union, etc in a team that conceded just 2 goals up until the SF's against West Germany. He provided defensive solidity and had a amazing performance against Brazil in the QF's.
CB: Bobby Moore WC 1966 - probably the highest peak of a defender in a WC tournament at the biggest stage with some of the GOATS on the other side of the pitch. Sir Geoff Hurst said he was his hero, Sir Alf Ramsey claims he was the best he ever worked with and that England would never have won the World Cup without him. Franz Beckenbauer, an opponent in that 1966 final, called him "the best defender in the history of the game" and Pele agreed. There were the last-ditch tackles - perfectly timed, of course - and the instinctive sense for danger that led Jock Stein to quip that "there should be a law against him as he knows what's happening 20 minutes before everyone else". And the final performance was truly spectacular:
CB: Sol Campbell WC 2002 - Albeit eliminated by Brazil in the QF's Campbell was immense throughout the tournament scoring the only goal against Sweden and putting a MoTM performance:
"MAN OF THE MATCH: Sol Campbell 8/10 - Unflappable." - The Times, 3 June 2002
Game against Argentina:
"They outplayed the team who had come into this tournament as favourites. England defended with supreme discipline, passed and moved with wit in midfield and attacked with intensity." - Daily Express, 8 June 2002
Game against Denmark
"England's defence was like a wall, it was so difficult to get through. Even the strikers defend brilliantly." - THOMAS GRAVESEN
The Makelele role WC 2006: Makelele formed a great partnership with Vieira in that tournament. Eventually it was Cannavaro who grabbed the headlines, but France was the other team with rock solid defence and midfield in that tournament, conceding just twice while eliminating some of the best sides in the tournament like peak Ronaldinho led Brazil, Ronaldo's Portugal and absolutely dominating Spain midfield boasting with Xavi, Alonso and Fabregas in their ranks.
Playmaker: Didi WC 1958: Golden ball winner, team of the tournament and the star of the tournament. In 6 games he scored 1 goal, and provided 6 assists. Key Performance: Brazil 5 - 2 France (Semi Final) 1 Goal, 2 Assists
One of the very best midfielders ever in the top of his game.
CM/AM Michael Ballack WC 2002: The 2002 - World Cup finalist and member of the All Star team literally dragged one of the most uninspiring German sides to the final with his 3 goals and 4 assists in 6 games. When Michael Ballack was carded for his team in the semi-final of 2002 World Cup meaning he would miss the final, just 4 minutes later he went on to score the goal that propelled his team to the very same final. Proper big game player.
LW: Hristo Stoichkov WC 1994 - Star of the tournament in an underdog Bulgarian side - he was at his best level scoring 6 and winning the Golden Boot. A menace throughout he is in his favorite LWF role here in a free role like the very same tournament.
RW: Zbigniew Boniek WC 1982 - After his stunning hat trick against Belgium in the 1982 World Cup, Pelé himself stated this, that a player such as Boniek needs to be unleashed and his talent should not be confined and limited to a role in midfield. And indeed it did - after his amazing performance in the WC, later he was third in the Ballon D'or the same year he got transferred to Juventus. Finished the tournament with 4 goals in total the other against a pretty strong Peru side.
CF: Gerd Muller WC 1970 - Der Bomber won the Ballon D'or the same year on the back of that WC performance, and what a performance it was. A strong contender for the very best individual performances in an international tournament. Muller netted the Golden Shoe for his ten strikes and he also provided three assists ensuring he makes the record books once again for the best ever individual contribution by a player in a single finals since 1966. Trailing Morocco in the first game it took an equaliser from Uwe Seeler and a late winner from Muller to secure the two points. Muller's winner was trademark bomber stuff as he nodded in from barely a yard out after the ball rebounded off the crossbar.
The Nationalmannschaft were rolling with Muller in particular in sparkling form. A hat-trick including a bullet header for his third was the highlight in the next match against Bulgaria while he added another hat-trick in West Germany's final group game against Peru. All in the space of 20 minutes!
Muller's second hat-trick of the tournament proved he wasn't just a poacher as he scored a goal with both feet and added a dipping header for his third. Seven goals already and that was just the group stage.
Thoughts on the game:
Defence: Obviously the biggest asset of Skizzo's team is his formidable attacking trio in Rivaldo/Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. Our defence however boasts with two of the very best defenders in the game in Maldini and Moore at their absolute best, while Sol Campbell and Manuel Amoros aren't too shabby either. Makelele screening the defence also provides additional protection which is key for our team sniffing the danger of Skizzo's attacking trio.
Midfield: I think our team has the advantage here with Didi being the best midfielder on the pitch and running the show, provided the protection Makelele offers(similar to what Zito offered in 1958) but also combined with Ballack dynamism and additional steel in midfield. Ballack himself this time won't be the only world class player in the team and given his decisive contribution in 2002 in both phases he will be useful both running late in the box and also providing passes to der Bomber to head home.
Atttack: Our attack consist of lot of grit, determination,flair, creativity but also predatory instinct. Muller won't need many chances to decide the game and given his credentials in terms of finishing in that tournament I'd back him to score most of his chances.
-----------------------------------Team Enigma
-----------------------------------------VS
-----------------------------------Team Skizzo
Team Skizzo
FORMATION: 3-5-2/5-2-3
INSPIRATION FOR THE SIDE: Brazil 2002. The trio of World Class Brazilian attackers who devastated the opposition along the way to securing the biggest prize in football. All three of them made the World Cup All Star team, and combined for 15 of the 18 goals Brazil scored that World Cup.
THE TWEAKS
Brazil 2002 lined up with a free flowing front three, who were relied upon to carry the attacking burden, while the rest of the team kept things rigid defensively.
Looking at that team, the first thing that stands out after the ability of the front three, is the distinct lack of star quality through the rest of the team. Here, we've managed to create an almost like-for-like representation of the team, with a distinct quality upgrade in every position bar two.
Marcos/Dida to Buffon (World Cup 06) - Bringing in the legendary Italian, he was the starting goalkeeper of the Italian team that won the 2006 Fifa World Cup, which saw him keep a record five clean sheets, and concede only two goals, neither of which were in open play. He received the Yashin Award for his performances that year.
Roque Junior to Burgnich (Euro Cup 68) - Described as a defensive colossus, La Roccia helped marshall an Italian defense to the Championship, keeping Dzajic quiet in the final. Here he would play a tucked in role to let the wing back attack, while forming a solid defense in front of Buffon.
Lucio to Kohler (Euro Cup 92) - The German defender looks to raise the entire level of the defensive unit, and he brings his Team of the Tournament performances from Euro 92, where he was on another level.
Edmilson to Olsen (Euro Cup 84) - The Danish Libero, who went through a renaissance period when moved to a deeper position. Here he would take up that role, as the extra defender, and also looking to carry out the ball from deep as Edmilson did throughout the tournament.
Cafu to Maicon (Copa America '07) - The one area where it isn't an upgrade, but the Brazilian is comfortable in an attacking role, and will be freed up by midfield support and Burgnich covering. His contributions to the attacking phase will help open space for the front trio.
R. Carlos to Cabrini (World Cup 82) - The other area where, while not a direct upgrade, is by no means a downgrade. While he may not offer as much in attack, he is a more solid defender. He will look to offer his foraging runs forward, highlighted by his game winning goal against Argentina.
Gilberto Silva to Horst Szymaniak (World Cup 58) - The German was rated as one of the best players at World Cup 58 where the Germans came 4th. Renowned for his defensive ability, his slide tackles, and his vision with the ball, he'll look to offer us another outlet when springing our attack forward.
Kleberson to Tardelli (World Cup 82) - The Italian was known for giving his all on the field, and able to contribute to both phases of play equally well. He would look to take up the supporting midfield role here, pressuring hard while on defense, but looking to drive forward at times as well.
Ro-Ri-Ro making cameo appearances as themselves.
The roles themselves are easy to explain, and its testament to the fact that Scolari was able to take a team of players who were far from what was usually expected of a Brazil side, and able to create a functional, rigid defensive set up, while allowing it to flow beautifully in attack.
BENEFITS OF THE TEAM/WHY I BELIEVE WE WILL WIN
While the team is focused around getting the best of the World Class trio leading the attack, the "supporting roles" are filled with players who have had match winning and colossus performances of their own. For example.
Marco Tardelli - Doubt many will ever forget his iconic celebration after netting the second goal in the 82 World Cup final en route to a 3-1 win.
Antonio Cabrini - The second member of that '82 World Cup winning squad, who scored a decisive goal of his own in the 2-1 win over Argentina.
On the defensive side, we have players who were able to dig in and put on some monstrous performances, and with Buffon in goal, I see us able to limit the opposition to minimal clear cut opportunities, and minimal goals. That stands us in good stead to be able to break teams apart when we attack with the Magic Trio up front who can win games on their own, and who are now supported with an able cast who can support them on a whole new level.
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