World Cup 2014: 6 things we learned as Brazil set up Chile clash and Mexico progress

The hosts were in amongst the goals, but it was the Netherlands' tactical prowess that impressed Ed Malyon in Sao Paulo. Here's what he learned yesterday
Dean Mouhtaropoulos
Dutch courage: The Netherlands impressed tactically against Chile
Day 12 of the World Cup marked the beginning of the end for the group stages, as a Neymar-inspired Brazil cruising past Cameroon and Mexico seeing off Croatia to book their place in the knockout stages in Group A.
First place was up for grabs in Group B, with the already-qualified Netherlands and Chile facing off in Sao Paulo, while down-and-out duo Spain and Australia also faced off. 
Without further ado, here's what we learned.

Like Veteran Gold
It's been written about more at length here but it was impressive how the Dutch adapted their gameplan for the third successive match with no problems and came away, once again, with all three points.
Facing criticism from the media back home, he can once again point to the results to vindicate himself, and it only took two questions in his post-match press conference before he was doing just that.
He is likely to make the Premier League a very interesting place next season, and Old Trafford a more successful one.
Shapeshifters
Juan Mata of Spain scores his team's third goal past Mathew Ryan of Australia during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group B match between Australia and Spain at Arena da Baixada on June 23, 2014 in Curitiba, Brazil.
A really noticeable aspect of Holland's play from the high position of the Itaquerao press box was how flexible the Holland shape was.
At time it appeared a 4-3-3 with Daley Blind at left-back, but within seconds of the game situation changing they had collapsed into a 3-5-2 with Dirk Kuyt becoming left wing-back and the impressive Blind tucking in alongside Ron Vlaar and Stefan de Vrij. When Chile really pushed, that became a back five of course, and then when Wesley Sneijder pressed Gary Medel or Marcelo Diaz to stop La Roja being able to pass so freely, it occasionally appeared a 3-4-3.
The nature of football is that numerical formations will never be precise and these things are obviously open to change, but when you compare it to the sheer rigidity of what Manchester United showed under David Moyes last year there is reason to be excited at Old Trafford.
Fernando Torres of Spain scores his team's second goal past Mathew Ryan of Australia during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group B match between Australia and Spain at Arena da Baixada on June 23, 2014 in Curitiba, Brazil.
The pain in Spain lies mainly at the end of the reign


I'm sure that there are many lessons that someone could learn from watching Spain vs Australia.


Regrettably I didn't as I was at Netherlands vs Chile, so I can only really muse on the more general points, but fortunately the situation throws up plenty to talk about.
Sergio Ramos of Spain hands his jersey to a fan in the crowd after defeating Australia 3-0 during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group B match between Australia and Spain at Arena da Baixada on June 23, 2014 in Curitiba, Brazil.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

El-Rufai’s Son Killed In Auto Crash

Image
Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has lost one of his sons in a car crash. Hamza El-Rufai died Tuesday morning in Abuja. The former Minister and Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, broke the news on his faceboook page today. El-Rufai wrote: “From Allah, we came and to Him we shall return. Please join our family in praying for the repose of the soul of my son, Hamza El-Rufai who died in a motor accident in Abuja.” See more photo below:
Read more

President Jonathan, Wife, Gov Dickson Pay Tributes To Deceased Bayelsa Female Politicians, As They Are Laid To Rest In Yenagoa

Image
The remains of the female politicians, who died in a ghastly auto accident have been laid to rest at the Bayelsa State cemetery, Azikoro in Yenagoa, the state capital. President Goodluck Jonathan his wife, Dame Patience and the Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson as well as wives of the Anambra and Ekiti State Governors joined other sympathizers at a special memorial service in honour of the deceased women at the Dr. Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre, in Yenagoa.
Read more

Atiku: I Did’t Join APC to Contest for Presidency

Image
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said that he did not join the All Progressive Congress (APC) so as to run for the Presidency in 2015,  but to nurture the party and ensure that good governance is entrenched in Nigeria  come 2015. Atiku who spoke in an interview with the BBC Hausa service, monitored in Kaduna on Monday,  maintained that if it were because of a  presidential ambition, he had clear chances of occupying the number one seat when he was in office with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, or even recently when he was in the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN ). He  said   he let that go in the interest of the nation. Atiku   vowed that he would never return to the PDP, saying that from all indications, the party would no longer be what it used to be.
Read more