World Cup: National Team threads #2
- Thread starter bleedblue1223
- Start date
You could, but you'd be wrong.
In 2018, Dalic played a high-press game while dominating the midfield with Modric-Brozovic-Rakitic.
He wanted to win the ball up the pitch, regain control at the halway line and he could do that, cause the trio upfront was Mandzukic/Rebic/Perisic - all 3 guys were big, fast and tireless.
We also had Lovren and Vida in the backline, who were good defenders, but not exactly world class with the ball.
The team actually stacked. Subasic from Monaco, Lovren in his prime, Vida in his prime (he went for Ukranian money in Kyiv so people didn't see him), Vrsaljko was a top-5 RB in Europe before ruining his career for the sake of that WC run, Modric, Brozovic, Rakitic, Kovacic, Mandzukic, Perisic, etc.
It was no fluke.
In 2022, there was no Mandzukic and no Rebic, and Perisic was now 33.
We were absolutely bereft of pace. No speed, questionable size.
Rakitic was replaced with Kovacic (which is fine), but Mandzukic and Rebic were not replaced with like-for-like.
And we got Gvardiol at the back end (and have Sutalo now, who is going to go for 60m+ in a year from Ajax).
So what Dalic did was change the high press to this tika-taka - sometimes LITERALLY without the aim to move the ball forward. Just keep the ball, slow the pace down. It's boring, but it works.
Point is, as much as Dalic gets hated on by casuals because of the boring playstyle, he adjusted to the players he has at his disposal.
And that's something a national team manager HAS TO DO.
System coaches in national teams very rarely - if ever - find success.
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DD is pragmatic but the results speak for themselves.
And in 2016, which was an OK team but without the breakthrough elite players that France has had since then - he nearly won the EUROs too.
1 WC win, 1 WC final, 1 EURO final. Won NL too (2nd tier tournament, but players want to win it once they get to the Final Four, do not doubt that).
That's an amazing resume.
And in Qatar, France had serious injuries as well.
I don't rate Disasi for example, etc., but on the whole, DD's done brilliantly for France.
AstrophysicalJet
Registered User
Eye of Ra
Grandmaster General of the International boards
Sweden has to win all remaining games. Today it starts. Our coach stopped with the Isak and Kulu at top with Mattias Svanberg right behind them. Good choice.
Hopefully he keeps going with Isak and Gyökeres upfront. Forsberg and Kulusevki as wingers. Jens Cajuste and Albin Ekdal (soon Hugo Larsson) in the middle.
Ken Sema and Emil Holm as VB and RB. Lindelöf and Isak Hien in the middle.
Robin Olsen given as keeper.
Viktor Claesson and Jesper Karlsson are good subs.
Martin Olsson in the squad ahead of Gabriel Gudmundsson is a big joke. Brunkmeister is the only person in the world who wants Martin Olsson in this team.
We have good quality on our players, just need the right system.
Hopefully he keeps going with Isak and Gyökeres upfront. Forsberg and Kulusevki as wingers. Jens Cajuste and Albin Ekdal (soon Hugo Larsson) in the middle.
Ken Sema and Emil Holm as VB and RB. Lindelöf and Isak Hien in the middle.
Robin Olsen given as keeper.
Viktor Claesson and Jesper Karlsson are good subs.
Martin Olsson in the squad ahead of Gabriel Gudmundsson is a big joke. Brunkmeister is the only person in the world who wants Martin Olsson in this team.
We have good quality on our players, just need the right system.
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Jussi
Registered User
Chimaera
same ol' Caps
injured his hamstring in the Villa match. Came off in the 73(? somewhere around there) minute. Will likely miss Wolves.
cgf
FireBednarsSuccessor
That’s always a hindsight thing though. The WM-winners got that same label until Brazil, and that didn’t stop them from adding another star.
There’s a lack of cohesion and confidence, and we’re still dealing with consequences of 4-5 weak age groups in a row. But a lot of the players had the mentality to win a CL not long ago
I think the team would benefit from empowering core kids like Wirtz & Musiala to take over the leadership of the team, while augmenting them with vets like Füllkrug & Gundogan.
But ultimately finding the right balance defensively will do way more for their self-belief / resiliency / confidence than anything the new staff does up front.
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cgf
FireBednarsSuccessor
Jogi’s downfall was he got arrogant and complacent. He stopped going to coaching conventions and stopped trying to integrate fresh blood. Instead keeping the same satiated core around for too long and creating this leadership vacuum where the next generation didn’t get to learn the resilience that the WM winners did, because some of those grandpa’s are still around in leadership roles.
That and he was never that tactically clever. If Pep hadn’t shown him what to do with Bayern, we may not have won in Brazil.
Duchene2MacKinnon
In the hands of Genius
- Aug 8, 2006
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Duchene2MacKinnon
In the hands of Genius
- Aug 8, 2006
- 46,805
- 10,087
AstrophysicalJet
Registered User
It's true that labeling a team or its players based on past performances can be somewhat of a hindsight bias. The example of the WM-winners and Brazil certainly highlights how quickly perceptions can change in football.That’s always a hindsight thing though. The WM-winners got that same label until Brazil, and that didn’t stop them from adding another star.
There’s a lack of cohesion and confidence, and we’re still dealing with consequences of 4-5 weak age groups in a row. But a lot of the players had the mentality to win a CL not long ago
I think the team would benefit from empowering core kids like Wirtz & Musiala to take over the leadership of the team, while augmenting them with vets like Füllkrug & Gundogan.
But ultimately finding the right balance defensively will do way more for their self-belief / resiliency / confidence than anything the new staff does up front.
I agree with your observation about the lack of cohesion and confidence in the German team, which could indeed be linked to the challenges faced by several weak age groups consecutively. It's crucial to consider the mentality of the players, especially those who have achieved success at the club level, as they can bring that winning mindset to the national team.
Empowering young talents like Wirtz and Musiala to take on leadership roles can be a positive step forward. Their enthusiasm and hunger for success can be infectious and inspire the team. Adding experienced players like Füllkrug and Gundogan can provide the necessary balance between youth and experience.
Furthermore, focusing on defensive stability is a valid point. A strong defense can build self-belief and confidence within the team, as it provides a solid foundation for success.
TLDR; I pretty much agree.
bluesfan94
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Duchene2MacKinnon
In the hands of Genius
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Because barca and Spain are too incompetent and play young players as if they’re seasoned vets. It’s why players like Pedri/Fati are always broken. They’re 16 asked to carry the load weekly.
bluesfan94
Registered User
Crazy that when I was 16, I was playing multiple games a day.
gary69
Registered User
Well, well...it's just a friendly but Muller puts Germany ahead against France's new CB pairing of Todibo and Saliba after only few minutes. Some nice passing preceding the goal.
Duchene2MacKinnon
In the hands of Genius
- Aug 8, 2006
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Yes totally the same thing. Never change mate
bluesfan94
Registered User
Cause I said it was the same thing? Did you read too much when you were 16 and now your reading skills are broken?
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Bringer of Jollity
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robertmac43
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