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Team Stobzilla
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Team Stobzilla
Defence
The leader of the unit, undoubtedly is BECKENBAUER he will, as usual control the play seeing the entire field, able to pick passes between the lines or take a more considered approach. He is flanked in the middle by possibly the Soviet's best player at Euro '88 KUZNETSOV his performances in the tournament earned him an 11th place rating in World Player Of The Year voting, particularly high for a defender. Had the Soviet's had him in the final ... who knows. On the other side is one of two underrated Spaniards in the starting XI, MARCHENA was a rock for Spain during their Euro 08 campaign, another who is quite happy to play the ball out from the back.
Next to him on the left flank is CAPDEVILA, when not being apart of a rock solid Villareal defence, he was busy helping Spain to a Euro '08 victory and was a quiet mainstay of that great side, understated but effective. STANKOVIC is thought of in some quarters as the best right back Yugoslavia produced, Stanley Matthews certainly seemed to think so, but his performences in European international competition certainly cemented that opinion.
They are backed up expertly by PFAFF the custodian for Belgium's runners up performance at Euro '80
Midfield
A decidedly English feel to the middle of the park for my side, endless running, grit, determination and quality between messrs GASCOIGNE and CHARLTON, both have the distinction of being named to Team Of The Tournaments in their respective best years, they can offer themselves as a short option for Beckenbauer or equally tear through the midfield area's themselves with superb drive and dribbling skills. Charlton offers a deeper goal threat while Gascoigne is capable of ... anything.
Attack
Speaking of capable of anything, BROLIN was possibly the standout of Euro '92 where he demonstrated a brilliant all around skill set. Here he is asked to operate alongside another stand out from the same Euro '92 tournament B. LAUDRUP who was one of many heroes for the eventual winners Denmark. BICAN rounds out the attack, tall, strong, elegant, quick with an enviable goal scoring record, he drew the ire of Czech team mates for being just too damn good calling him the "Austrian Bastard"
Set-Up
The idea is to stay as solid as possible at the back, only committing our full backs when we absolutely can do, both are capable when they get across the half way line, their job here however is to defend first. Play will run through Beckenbauer primarily, but he has ball players around him as well. Brolin will get into pockets of space while Gascoigne and Charlton do a lot of the midfield running, driving with the ball when possible.
Laudrup and Bican's pace will be able to stretch the defence and offer Brolin a bit of space to work his magic and there is always the aforementioned Charlton and Gascoigne who can both arrive late in the box and get beyond the striker.
Lastly, Good luck to Edgar and his management team.
vs
Team EAP
Formation:
A solid & flexible 4-4-2 Diamond.
Defensive Line:
Nothing much needs to be said for the D-line. All known names who have the reputations of being one of the best at their roles. Every one of them stalwart defenders who are comfortable on the ball too.
Midfield:
Defence support from the midfield:
- Deschamps was a dedicated DM, well known for his high work-rate, tenacity, stamina, and his efficacy at pressing and tackling opponents. Tactically intelligent, his brilliant positional and organisational sense helped him in excelling at impeding the opposition's attacking movements.
- Masopust's usual position was a left half (close to a defensive central midfielder in modern formations)
- Schweinsteiger was the established DM for the German side in Euro 2012.
Workrate:
VERY HIGH. All 3 of my midfielder's are known for their high workrate. They will be perfect in recovering the ball and shuttling between the boxes all game.
Creativity/Play-making from the midfield:
- Deschamps was a good passer of the ball and was perfectly capable of starting up attacking plays once he won back possession.
- Masopust's was renowned for his box-to-box ability to support attack with his slalom runs. He Possessed exemplary ball control, his transmission with ball on foot through the field was clinical, which he utilized for both; basic work, from the recovery of the ball in defense, to driving menacingly through the opposition in what was termed 'Masopust's slalom'. During these solo runs Masopust would seamlessly switch between both feet, easily jinking to the left and right but always moving forward.
- Schweinsteiger, called as "the brain" of the German national team by his coach Joachim Löw. One of the best midfielders in the world he possesses a fearsome shot from range as well as a wicked delivery from set-pieces and has a knack of scoring spectacular goals due to his good positioning. The "midfield mastermind" is someone who you can trust to run the game from the middle.
Attack:
It's a highly flexible, versatile and lethal front 3.
- Puskas and Gullit are a total package. Both capable of leading the attack or dropping back to creating for the other.
- Sneijder is capable of drifting left or move up to score himself. He scored the goal of the tournament in Euro 2008.
- Gullit and Schweini are both capable of drifting right and will link well in that flank.
Why I'll win:
- Solid defensive line.
- Midfielder who are solid defensively, have great passing range, renowned for their offensive contribution, can score goals. Perfection.
- One of the best attacks in the draft.
The Midfield Numbers Game:
Hierro is capable of stepping up to defensive midfield when we have the ball, giving much more liberty for my midfield to move up to pitch without losing defensive shape or he can choose to sit back and let a rampaging Breitner do the damage. On the other end, both Puskas and Gullit are total players who can drop back and create for the other and score on their own, Gullit especially has played in the middle and will have a equally devastating contribution to the team overall. Sneijder is a intelligent player who has a free role here. He can drop deep to balance for a attacking Masopust or move up into spaces vacated by CB's following Puskas/Gullit and score a goal or two on his own. This flexibility gives me a huge tactical advantage in the middle. I can retain and move the ball around better.
Vareity of Goal Threats:
+ Obviously Puskas & Gullit, arguable the best attacking duo of this draft
+ Sneijder, who scored the Goal of the Tournament in Euro 2008.
+ Masopust, going on his fabulous 'slalom' runs.
+ Schweinsteiger is always dangerous even from a distance.
Flexibility:
There is no single 'threat' that my opponent can concentrate or man mark to save himself. The team is set up that it is flexible to adapt during both attack and defence. With the midfelder's dropping deep or defenders moving up to join/support attack, it will be done as a whole leaving no gaps to exploit during the counter.
EURO Form Guide:
1. Breitner
1972 TotT
2. Sol Campbell2004 TotT
3. Durkovic1960 TotT
4. Masopust1960 ToTT
5. Deschamps1996 TotT
6. Sneijder2008 TotT | Man of the Match: vs. Italy, vs. France | Best Goal of the Tournament: vs France
7. Puskás1948/53 CEIC Top Scorer.
8. Gullit1988, 1992 TotT
9. Pepe (Substitute)2008, 2012 TotT
10. Schweinsteiger"I have been really impressed by the Germany captain so far in Euro 2012 and he is the kind of midfield player that I really like. He can do everything. He tackles, defends, is powerful when going forward, has a good shot and is also good on the ball." - Patrick Vieira
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Good luck @Stobzilla @Edgar Allan Pillow @MJJ @coolredwine
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