Now that the World Cup is well and truly underway, one cannot help but appreciate the level of preparation, execution, distinctness and organisation in and among teams.
There was never any doubt about the exit of one of the European giants from Group B. I had predicted that it would be Netherlands, but I was proven wrong. Of course the reason one of them was always going to fall by wayside was the threat posed by Chile, which was always going to qualify to the next round. Those who are fortunate enough to follow all qualifying matches across the globe would have known that it would be very difficult to eliminate Chile in Brazil, which is arguably their territory. It is regrettable that due to our colonial history, only European matches, nations, or clubs are made available to the local public. Even where we have the opportunity to see other nations from other parts of the world, we have grown accustomed to only paying attention to those who represent the “master”.
Without going into details, as one is not fully informed about the goings on in the Spanish camp, there was departure from their innate and very special game approach. The introduction of Diego Costa, like Fernando Torres … it would seem, brought a different dimension and created a lot of predictability in their game. Both in 2010 World Cup and in 2012 Euro Championship, Spain did not have a “target” man.
In both tournaments, they played a very fluid game with complex and intricate ball actions. This aspect was missing this time around and I can only associate its absence to the “target” man factor. Agreed, their team is very experienced, but I do not agree that the team is old. There are older teams that might do better. All countries that bring young players to the senior level, do at some point have a very experienced yet average team on age.
Until and unless Africa ‘breastfeeds’ its own children, there is no future for her on the world stage, where nations pride themselves of their own home-grown talent in their own culture
The “target” man meant they have one player less in their preparation for penetration and at the same time, the opponent had at least, two defenders that are always in the right defensive areas or positions. This worked against them.
This tournament is indeed going to be decided by a player, or two, rather than the average performance of the team. Equally, teams that only depend on an individual player without an equally good team will be going home earlier than most.
Teams that do not have or do not encourage individuality are going to slowly but surely make way for the big players to take centre stage. Overrated teams are also going to suffer the same fate. Now that the World Cup is going around the world (2010 South Africa, 2014 South America-both Southern Hemisphere), the playing field is becoming level and the true potential of all countries that are serious about their game is coming to the fore.
It is amazing to think that South America, the CONMEBOL, with only 10 members in FIFA is always there and has 1 World Cup less than Europe, the UEFA, who bring 13 teams to the finals, after 2010. If the qualifying process would have required that our five teams should decide against CONMEBOL teams (home and away), to go to the finals, we may not have any teams from our continent, with 54 members in FIFA.
I still expect most (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay) , if not all, of them to go through to the knockout stages of the competition, bar those who will face each other along the way unlike in Africa where only one CAF member (Ghana) went through to the 2nd round, on “home” soil.
This tournament has again highlighted the significance of high technical demands of the game on individual players. There is no way any player who needs time and/or space on the ball can make any contribution in this tournament, for his team. More and more abilities, coachable and those from improvisation, are required to deal with situations as they present themselves.
It is very clear from the matches played so far that the future is technique. Most coaches and their technical teams have solutions to the most persistent play combinations, most of the time. What none of them has not been able to contain is high technical ability of individual players, the unpredictable movements of individual players, the “showboating” as the uninitiated would call it, the improvised actions on a given situation, the sophisticated ability to disguise one’s movements or non-movements – all these factors, which are applicable in both offensive and defensive moments.
I am yet to see a successful action or goal based on height, strength (in the traditional sense), speed (athletic) as there is no space, etc. Of course there have been many goals scored as a result of very basic defensive blunders, in which case any factor can be in operation. Once the first round is done and the knockout tournament begins, we will see the real attributes of players that will decide the cup come to shine. Many different players might score many goals. However, the cream de la cream will rise above the rest and carry their team to Maracana on July 13, and possibly lift the World Cup.
The African story is a sad one indeed. Until and unless Africa ‘breastfeeds’ its own children, there is no future for her on the world stage, where nations pride themselves of their own home-grown talent in their own culture. Africa’s players will continue to make waves in top European clubs and that is where it will all end.
Nations with identity (as in all other aspects of life) will continue to dominate for as long as Africa continues to lease the franchises. How sad for Africa!
– By Opinion: Zipho Dlangalala, Professional football coach and development guru
