Tuppet
Formation: A balanced, modern 4-2-3-1.
Defense line: Normal.
Philosophy: Direct with high pressing.
Tactically my team plays similar to the Heynckes' brilliant Bayern side. The typical attacking play involve balls being dribbled or crossed into the centre from Zidane/Laudrup without holding much possession and a relatively small amount of direct passing. Both fullbacks are encouraged to make overlapping runs and support attack.
The hard working front 3 of Forlan/Enrique/Laudrup is crucial to win the ball high and put pressure on the opposition defense. Their high work rate allows Zidane to have a free role and focus more on playmaking and attacking through the middle. He is also complemented by the midfield engine of Schweinsteiger and Ince. Ince would take a destroyer role, breaking up play all over the pitch while Basti would be more of an all round playmaker. Its an explosive and mobile midfield duo which is focused mostly on winning the ball back and starting a quick attack. Together the midfield 3 of Zidane/Basti/Ince should be able to dominate both physically and technically any midfield you can throw on them.
Brian Laudrup would play as a typical right winger. He was an exceptional dribbler who can turn over even the best defenders and was able to play all over the front line. Here he would be sitting more wider of the two wingers acting as a wide playmaker. Luis Enrique on the left side would play similar to his Barcelona role and would sit slightly narrower and would be a more direct attacker of the two wingers.
Stam and Cannavaro are strong in the air, excellent tacklers, and fast on their feet – at least in long distance runs. The speed of these players lets them cover large spaces, and they serve as a secure protection against counterattacks. At the same time, they can very proactively use their intelligence, athleticism and strong tackling.
Petr Cech rounds off an excellent defense as one of the finest goalkeeper of the generation.
Joga Bonito/Gio
Mirroring Spain's 2008 fortunes, our side changes from a 4-4-2, to a 4-1-4-1.
Just as Fabregas came on for the injured Villa, Scholes is coming on for the relatively more attacking and less midfielder-ish Möller. A few points on how we plan to operate.
ESTABLISHING CONTROL
The key to establishing control starts from the back with an defense which is tactically astute and accomplished on the ball. Our defense is significantly better both defensively, with intelligent all-round defenders who augment the side really well, both defensively and esp, on the ball, with Neuer being key to rounding it all off as the slick ball-playing goalie. Popescu in particular is a great supporting act from the back, with his passing ability and build-up play, with Lucio's occasional rampages forward helping with the unpredictability and fluidity of the side.
-Despite not sporting a great defense (either on the ball or defensively with Capdevila-Marchena-Puyol-Ramos), Spain only conceded a measly 2 goals in the entire tournament, primarily due to the midfield's ability to establish control of proceeding and suffocate opposition's midfield (and their attack).
In midfield, Deschamps would play a pivotal role here, being freed up by Scholes's addition and will play as the 'windscreen wiper', who'd be key in limiting Zidane's influence here, and he offers great protection to the back line and provides the midfielders with the freedom to exhibit their creativity and fluidity - a handy player on the ball too. Xavi would be free to strut his stuff here, with several midfielders on the same wavelength to dovetail with. Arguably the greatest central midfielder of all time, Xavi at his incisive and fluid best, would thrive in this cauldron of fluidity and creativity.
Scholes's introduction changes the dynamics of the side and he offers a significant boost to the midfield whilst amping up the fluidity and freeing up the likes of Xavi, Nedved and Seedorf further (Deschamps too, defensively). He will be a nippy presence in the midfield who'd look to link up with his fellow midfielders whilst posing a goal threat on the ball.
Chapuisat in particular plays a key role. Thriving as the key forward at Dortmund (finishing 13th, 9th and 9th in the ballon d'Or from 1991-1993), Chapuisat was a deadly goalscorer who was technically gifted and most importantly a mobile and a fluid forward who'd augment the side brilliantly. Not only was he a deadly goalscorer, the third highest foreign goalscorer in the Bundesliga history, he was a slippery and a wily operator with his fluid movement and deft skills on the ball, frequently giving defenders the slips. His movement off the ball and his link-up play in particular would be right at the fore here, when combining with our midfielders, whilst his ability to capitalise on the slightest of openings or sniff out chances would result in goals.
OTHER POINTS
As monstrous a pairing Cannavaro-Stam is, the key here isn't taking them head on but to take them out of their comfort zone. Without a conventional spearheading centre-forward or attack to contend with, but rather a fluid attack with forwards frequently drifting into the channels, out wide, exchanging positions and side midfielders moving inwards etc, the goal threat isn't limited to a singular forward or a dangerous wing-forward cutting in. As such it makes it harder to defend against and they don't have a particular offensive target or two to 'shut-down' here.
Deschamps is arguably the best man in the draft to square up against Zidane here, who is extremely pivotal to Tuppet's tactics here as the #10 whom the side revolves around. Whereas, Tuppet can't exactly claim to offer the same level of resistance to Xavi and his fellow midfielders establishing control here.
As good as his midfield is, I'd back our midfield to gain the edge over proceedings here and Schweinsteiger could find his work cut out trying to get to grips with the midfield combinations and fluidity of our side.
Defensively, we are well poised in setting up a chokehold on Tuppet's side with Deschamps posing significant resistance to Zidane, Scholes being a relentless presence in midfield offering plenty of bite and hampering the opposition's midfield, and Xavi's intelligent positioning and industry (covering the most distance in the 2008 Euros and 2010 WC tournaments) posing a compact and complete defensive midfield blockade.
Seedorf and Nedved's physicality and work-rate doesn't need much introduction on here and they can be counted on to make the side more compact defensively. Likewise, Lucio squares up well against Ibra's physicality in the box whilst Popescu would be well versed in dealing with the Swede's threat when dropping deep into the hole, having played as a CB-DM throughout his career. Tuppet could potentially boast two excellent flanks here with Laudrup-Evra and Enrique-Arce but with Nedved-Benarrivo and Babbel-Seedorf, we boast two formidable flanks which are more compact tactically whilst posing a more varied threat on the ball.
Formation: A balanced, modern 4-2-3-1.
Defense line: Normal.
Philosophy: Direct with high pressing.
Tactically my team plays similar to the Heynckes' brilliant Bayern side. The typical attacking play involve balls being dribbled or crossed into the centre from Zidane/Laudrup without holding much possession and a relatively small amount of direct passing. Both fullbacks are encouraged to make overlapping runs and support attack.
The hard working front 3 of Forlan/Enrique/Laudrup is crucial to win the ball high and put pressure on the opposition defense. Their high work rate allows Zidane to have a free role and focus more on playmaking and attacking through the middle. He is also complemented by the midfield engine of Schweinsteiger and Ince. Ince would take a destroyer role, breaking up play all over the pitch while Basti would be more of an all round playmaker. Its an explosive and mobile midfield duo which is focused mostly on winning the ball back and starting a quick attack. Together the midfield 3 of Zidane/Basti/Ince should be able to dominate both physically and technically any midfield you can throw on them.
Brian Laudrup would play as a typical right winger. He was an exceptional dribbler who can turn over even the best defenders and was able to play all over the front line. Here he would be sitting more wider of the two wingers acting as a wide playmaker. Luis Enrique on the left side would play similar to his Barcelona role and would sit slightly narrower and would be a more direct attacker of the two wingers.
Stam and Cannavaro are strong in the air, excellent tacklers, and fast on their feet – at least in long distance runs. The speed of these players lets them cover large spaces, and they serve as a secure protection against counterattacks. At the same time, they can very proactively use their intelligence, athleticism and strong tackling.
Petr Cech rounds off an excellent defense as one of the finest goalkeeper of the generation.
Joga Bonito/Gio
Mirroring Spain's 2008 fortunes, our side changes from a 4-4-2, to a 4-1-4-1.
UEFA Technical Report said:
Just as Fabregas came on for the injured Villa, Scholes is coming on for the relatively more attacking and less midfielder-ish Möller. A few points on how we plan to operate.
ESTABLISHING CONTROL
The key to establishing control starts from the back with an defense which is tactically astute and accomplished on the ball. Our defense is significantly better both defensively, with intelligent all-round defenders who augment the side really well, both defensively and esp, on the ball, with Neuer being key to rounding it all off as the slick ball-playing goalie. Popescu in particular is a great supporting act from the back, with his passing ability and build-up play, with Lucio's occasional rampages forward helping with the unpredictability and fluidity of the side.
-Despite not sporting a great defense (either on the ball or defensively with Capdevila-Marchena-Puyol-Ramos), Spain only conceded a measly 2 goals in the entire tournament, primarily due to the midfield's ability to establish control of proceeding and suffocate opposition's midfield (and their attack).
In midfield, Deschamps would play a pivotal role here, being freed up by Scholes's addition and will play as the 'windscreen wiper', who'd be key in limiting Zidane's influence here, and he offers great protection to the back line and provides the midfielders with the freedom to exhibit their creativity and fluidity - a handy player on the ball too. Xavi would be free to strut his stuff here, with several midfielders on the same wavelength to dovetail with. Arguably the greatest central midfielder of all time, Xavi at his incisive and fluid best, would thrive in this cauldron of fluidity and creativity.
Scholes's introduction changes the dynamics of the side and he offers a significant boost to the midfield whilst amping up the fluidity and freeing up the likes of Xavi, Nedved and Seedorf further (Deschamps too, defensively). He will be a nippy presence in the midfield who'd look to link up with his fellow midfielders whilst posing a goal threat on the ball.
Chapuisat in particular plays a key role. Thriving as the key forward at Dortmund (finishing 13th, 9th and 9th in the ballon d'Or from 1991-1993), Chapuisat was a deadly goalscorer who was technically gifted and most importantly a mobile and a fluid forward who'd augment the side brilliantly. Not only was he a deadly goalscorer, the third highest foreign goalscorer in the Bundesliga history, he was a slippery and a wily operator with his fluid movement and deft skills on the ball, frequently giving defenders the slips. His movement off the ball and his link-up play in particular would be right at the fore here, when combining with our midfielders, whilst his ability to capitalise on the slightest of openings or sniff out chances would result in goals.
OTHER POINTS
As monstrous a pairing Cannavaro-Stam is, the key here isn't taking them head on but to take them out of their comfort zone. Without a conventional spearheading centre-forward or attack to contend with, but rather a fluid attack with forwards frequently drifting into the channels, out wide, exchanging positions and side midfielders moving inwards etc, the goal threat isn't limited to a singular forward or a dangerous wing-forward cutting in. As such it makes it harder to defend against and they don't have a particular offensive target or two to 'shut-down' here.
Deschamps is arguably the best man in the draft to square up against Zidane here, who is extremely pivotal to Tuppet's tactics here as the #10 whom the side revolves around. Whereas, Tuppet can't exactly claim to offer the same level of resistance to Xavi and his fellow midfielders establishing control here.
As good as his midfield is, I'd back our midfield to gain the edge over proceedings here and Schweinsteiger could find his work cut out trying to get to grips with the midfield combinations and fluidity of our side.
Defensively, we are well poised in setting up a chokehold on Tuppet's side with Deschamps posing significant resistance to Zidane, Scholes being a relentless presence in midfield offering plenty of bite and hampering the opposition's midfield, and Xavi's intelligent positioning and industry (covering the most distance in the 2008 Euros and 2010 WC tournaments) posing a compact and complete defensive midfield blockade.
Seedorf and Nedved's physicality and work-rate doesn't need much introduction on here and they can be counted on to make the side more compact defensively. Likewise, Lucio squares up well against Ibra's physicality in the box whilst Popescu would be well versed in dealing with the Swede's threat when dropping deep into the hole, having played as a CB-DM throughout his career. Tuppet could potentially boast two excellent flanks here with Laudrup-Evra and Enrique-Arce but with Nedved-Benarrivo and Babbel-Seedorf, we boast two formidable flanks which are more compact tactically whilst posing a more varied threat on the ball.
)
