TEAM JOGA WRITE UP
OVERVIEW
The side retains its 3-5-2 set-up with Der Raumdeuter Thomas Müller and Dutch maestro Clarence Seedorf slotting in seamlessly. Tactically, the side features a compact rear guard, a marauding wing-back duo, a dogged yet inventive midfield unit and of course a fluid and deadly forward ensemble.
Nothing flashy tactically - the defensive unit will look to run a tight ship at the back, the wing-backs will be unleashed on the flanks, the midfield will look to service the forward line and shield the defense, whilst the vibrant forward duo will be left to do their thing.
THE REAR GUARD
Eike Immel broke through as a 17 year old in Dortmund and instantly became a success in goal. Having made his international debut at just 19 years old (a record at that time), he went on to be a part of the 1980 Euro winning German vintage as back up to Schumacher. After 8 solid years for Dortmund, he then transferred to Stuttgart for a record transfer for a goalie - where he went on to win the Bundesliga in 1992 and made the UEFA final in addition to starting in goal for Germany in Euro 1988.
A formidable defensive barricade, consisting of three consummate defensive powerhouses, command the defensive lines and will run a tight ship at the back. All three of them were well-versed in the dark arts of man-marking but were complete defensive articles, perfectly capable of fulfilling various roles and positions along the defensive line. It is key to note that all three of them have excelled in the back 3 and have mastered the intricacies of the demanding system. It will take some doing to breach this defense with their all-encompassing defensive skill sets and defensive prowess.
An all time-great in the top echelon of RBs/RCBs,
Giuseppe Bergomi, the moustachioed hardman, certainly knew a thing or two about about shutting down the opposition, and holding the fort like few others. The Italian was an insurmountable presence in the right hand channels and central areas, having the athleticism to cover against wide threats in a back three, whilst stifling central forwards with his impeccable game inside the box.
Riccardo Ferri, trusted compatriot of Bergomi for both club and country, was an excellent all-round defender who was a mainstay in Inter's defense and kept the likes of Vierchowod and Ferrara out of the Italian side. The Italian is tailor made for the LCB role, with his dynamism and ease at defending on the flanks and the central areas, having even executed the tactically taxing, roaming defensive (ala Gentile) role to perfection. The German
Guido Buchwald patrols the core of the bedrock, and he perfectly suits the remit of squaring up against Ibra with his creative false 9-ish tendencies. Buchwald was equally adept as a midfield destroyer or as a defensive man-marker at the back; and as a free 3rd centre back in our set-up he is ideally suited to keeping an eye on Ibra whenever he drops deep to get on the ball, or limit his goalscoring threat in the box. He has truly shone on the biggest stages, winning the WC and man marking Maradona out of the final, whilst leading Stuttgart to two Bundesligas as the captain, scoring the deciding goal on the final day of the season to nab the second Bundesliga.
Two buccaneering wing-backs forged from the Brazilian ideals of joga bonito, both Roberto Carlos and Dani Alves are amongst the greatest attacking wing-backs to have ever graced the pitch. Both were real wrecking balls on their flanks and functioned as de-facto wingers for their sides even.
One of the only two full backs alongside Facchetti to have won the ballon d'Or silver ball and the Fifa World Player of the Year Silver Ball,
Roberto Carlos's impact as an attacking wing-back was undeniable. Players regularly came and went through the revolving doors of the Bernabeu but R.Carlos was a fixture down the left hand flanks, winning 13 trophies (including 4 la ligas and 3 CLs) and was awarded the UEFA Defender of the Year twice. It was quite the exhilarating and terrorising sight, watching him rapidly eat up grass on the left flank with his powerful rampages.
Dani Alves was a real tour de force on the right flank, with his barnstorming runs and sheer creative output - 15 league assists in a single season at his peak for Barca. He simply added a whole new dimension to one of the greatest sides ever with his wingsmanship and quality stream of supply from the right. The second-most decorated footballer in European competitions of all time, behind Maldini, with nine European medals.
ENGINE ROOM
A cohesive and well-oiled midfield ensemble with all three excelling in both basic phases of the game in their own distinctive way, whilst complementing each other brilliantly.
Xabi Alonso was a playmaking metronome atypical of his ilk, possessing the defensive nous, doggedness and the work-rate which enabled him to play as the holding midfielder for Real. His incisive passing expertise and ability to orchestrate play with his unrivalled vision, made him a potent cocktail on the ball whilst his game off it, helped shore up the defense significantly. With the likes of Müller's movement, the wing-backs lung-bursting forays forward, Häßler's trickery, Seedorf's direct running and Forlan's predatory instincts to feed, Alonso's playmaking abilities will be right at the fore here.
A real force of nature at his peak,
Clarence Seedorf possessed a fearsome blend of physicality, technique and acute tactical acumen - making him a devastating package. A genuine all-rounder forged from the Dutch totaalvoetbaling philosophy, the Rossoneri legend simply oozed class and skill on the ball whilst being a real menace off it. Twice voted into the UEFA Team of the Year and winning the UEFA midfielder of the Year in 2007, Seedorf truly left his mark on Milan's during their quests for domestic and European success. He'd have the freedom to impose himself on the midfield in a box to box midfield role, whilst his combination with Alonso and Häßler is a mouth-watering one.
When Milan played well, which happened often, each and every time it occurred Seedorf played an amazing match. He is a world class player - Adriano Galliani
Thomas Häßler's was a real livewire whose creativity, incessant running and technical ingenuity made him stand out in a quality WC winning German generation. His dynamic game makes him the perfect bridge between offense and defense, in a free role which suits his game to a tee. A sublime playmaker, Häßler was expert at carving out gilt-edged chances with his inch-perfect passing, whilst his zest and trickery meant he was brilliant at carrying the ball from deep and jinxing past players with consummate ease. Be it driving forward from deep or to the flanks, aiding the team defensively with his graft or offensively with his craft, meshing together with his teammates or going on a mazy individual run, Häßler would be right at the heart of proceedings here. With the midfield of Alonso-Seedorf to dovetail with and the deadly roaming marksmen up front, it would be hard to put a stop to the pint-sized German genius.
OFFENSE
A lethal forward duo that just screams goals and has just about every array of finish in its arsenal.
Since his sudden rise to the limelight of world football in 2010, no player has transcended boundaries such as
Thomas Müller. An amalgamation of other-worldly unorthodox and traditionally fundamental — the self anointed Raumdeuter finds unique ways to create space, yet consistently makes textbook decisions with his passing and finishing. Possessing a borderline supernatural spatial awareness and a superlative all-round game, Müller would be absolutely deadly in this free role a right sided forward. The unorthodox German would cherish playing in between the lines in a roaming role, with umpteen reserves of creativity and fluidity flowing through the side. It's testament to his quality that Thomas Müller has arguably been the most consistent and pivotal player for both club and country from 2009, alongside Lahm. No mean feat given that it's WC winning Germany and CL winning Bayern that we are talking about here.
Diego Forlan would look to reprise his free role from his Atletico days, where he forged a fearsome duo with Aguero. Forlan had tremendous link-up play and a nose for sniffing out goals in the box whilst being absolutely lethal outside it. With the Raumdeuter to link up with and an enviable supply line providing the ammunition, the Uruguayan gunslinger would be a goalscoring force to be reckoned with here. Not only was Forlan a finisher of the highest calibre, his wholesome style of play meant that he could contribute to various aspects of the game - his ceaseless running always giving others options, intelligent movement distracting/occupying opposition defenders and his link-up play making him a delight to play alongside. 2 pichichis and 2 European Golden Shoes, isn't too shabby for someone who played for the unfancied Villareal and Atletico - his average rating, has seen him among Spain's top five for four of the five consecutive seasons, at his glorious peak.
It's also notable that whilst both Forlan and Müller were fantastic central goalscoring threats, they married it with excellent games on the channels and flanks, industry off the ball, relentless movement and selfless link-up play - truly making it a dynamic and fluid forward duo capable of excelling at various phases.
In what promises to be a tight match, we believe our defense, which matches up well to his attack tactically, and our attack should just give us the edge in this game. Good luck
@Gio
As a free 3rd centre-back, funnily enough, the most famous comparison that comes to mind is his companion Bergomi, who used to play this role for Italy. Not a libero, but a free man-marker.
