Team Joga Bonito
Style of Play :
Offensive Phase
The play starts from the back with Scirea taking charge of build-up responsibilities whilst Nasazzi plays as the covering CB. The fact that all four of my defenders are terrific in possession, makes it much more easier to generate attacks. Nilton Santos has full freedom to bomb forward and contribute to the attack, with his mazy runs and quality crossing.
N.Santos has the perfect complementary partner ahead of him in Rivaldo, who will give him full freedom to express his attacking instincts and allow him to dominate the entire left flank. Rivaldo loved occupying the left hand channels and posed a legitimate threat there - this naturally meant that the oppositions RM/RCM/RB were a bit more tucked in than usual and this freed up space on the left flank for Rivaldo's partner in crime to burst forward.
Him occupying the left hand channels attracts opposition's defenders and midfielders to him like a moth which presents room for the LWB to thrive in
Crosses for R.Carlos after a mazy run
The midfield duo have relatively straightforward roles with Keane as the defensive B2B and Varela as the DM screening the defense. It is vital to keep in mind that they are not just limited defensive players, and will offer passing avenues and keep themselves available for the ball as always, when the team is in possession. This is absolutely integral for Cruyff to shine in and he can't have players in limited defensive roles in the same team as him. Both Varela and Keane were defensive behemoths but were excellent on the ball as well. Less so for Varela perhaps, but he was tidy in possession and could spread play, if need be.
In attack, Conti plays as the up and down right winger, which made him one of the best wingers in the eighties and arguably the best player in the World cup 1982 final. Conti had blistering pace, great link-up abilities and more importantly a stunning cross which Law would simply feast on. He also has priors with Briegel and faced him in the World Cup final and Conti came up trumps, with Briegel conceding a penalty by fouling Conti and losing control of the battle, with Conti running wild.
Rivaldo plays as the inside left which makes full use of his multi-faceted game. Rivaldo could drop into the midfield, let Keane or Santos surge past him, and supply a deft, defense-splitting pass. He could venture out left and send in a perfect, pinpoint cross. He could play a one-two with Law, receive the return pass on the edge of the box, and with a sublime first touch, finish deftly pass the keeper. He could drift into the centre of the area and score a header with surprising confidence. And when the opposition was prepared for all these things, he could score a long-range screamer from well outside the box.
That was his genius. How do you prepare against a player like Rivaldo? Mark him one way and he'd simply beat you another. Deny him one channel and he'd find a second. He was a playmaker, penetrator and punisher all in one.
Law is not playing as a traditional centre forward who is functioning as a mere focal point up top, but rather as a roaming and mobile goalscoring forward. Be it probing across the entire forward line, dovetailing with Rivaldo and Cruyff, posing a legitimate threat with Santos and Brehme's crossing, playing as a foil for Rivaldo and Cruyff's goalscoring abilities, poaching and posing a proper pacy threat on the counter - The King will be in his element, with service aplenty and technical maestros for company.
Johan Cruyff will be the glorious conductor of the orchestra. It is hard to find the right set-up for Cruyff as he requires
a fluid environment and a superlative tactical and technical company to thrive in. I believe he has just that and then some with the likes of Scirea, N.Santos, Bossis, Keane, Conti, Rivaldo and Law around him - all of whom offer something different but are all highly technical and intelligent footballers who would be on the same wavelength as The Flying Dutchman.Cruyff has all the freedom in the world and has full tactical authority over the team - one moment he could be found drifting into his favourite left hand channels or he could be making an incisive run forward to link up with Law or he could be dropping deep wherever and whenever he wants. Simply put, he has full range of movement all over the pitch and full command here, with the ideal platform for him to shine in. What truly made him special, was his ability to truly impose himself in just about every position on the pitch - be it overloading either of the flanks, dropping deep and going on a mazy run to score all by himself and linking up with players or providing the defense splitting pass/cross. He truly was an all-round threat all over the pitch.
Goals
Creativity
Creativity
One crucial aspect which differentiates Cruyff from most playmakers of his ilk, is his sheer electric and dynamic game. He had phenomenal technique, creativity and intelligence but he could do all of this at speed - both physically and mentally. It truly made him a nightmare to deal with and he could literally conjure up intricate combinations and plays all in his head, and could execute them all seamlessly on the pitch. In fact, he came up with the Cruyff turn impromptu - no real wonder when his moniker is Pythagoras In The Boots
If I show this video to someone who hasn't watched Cruyff before, they will probably group him with the likes of Best, Boniek and Littbarski as an electric showman. Cruyff was obviously much much more than that, and when you throw in his goal-scoring ability and his ability to orchestrate a game flawlessly, it makes for a stunning all-round package. Very few rival him in the history of the game and for me he is probably the greatest player ever, after Maradona and Pele.
Defensive Phase
Off the ball, the team will obviously have a keen eye on Mardona and MDFC's dynamic forwards - Seeler and Boniek. Keane and Varela form a formidable wall shielding the defense and in tandem with the legendary Scirea (who already has experience of squaring up against El Pibe), look to limit Maradona's (and Neeskens) influence.
In Seeler and Boniek, MDFC has two extremely dynamic forwards who will constantly be roaming and probing to find openings. The back-line is full of well-rounded individuals who do not have any particular weaknesses and are comfortable in various positions and phases - which bodes well, when dealing with the pacy and mobile Seeler and Boneik.
Conti's industry would also prove vital against Briegel's forays forward and it showed in the WC final where Conti helped nullify Briegel's forays forward to a large extent.
Cruyff's can put in a shift off the ball and can help in the midfield battle whilst Rivaldo and Law would be looking to take up intelligent positions to pose an immediate threat on the counter.
Why I think I have the edge
1) Too much firepower
Cruyff, Law and Rivaldo are proven match-winners who share 5 ballon d'Ors between them. They can turn a match on its head with their sublime skills and also have a sterling supporting cast to back them up - Conti, Keane, Bossis and Santos who are all great players within their own right. As much as I like the complementary partnership of Ferrara and Vierchowod, I would back my attack to have the edge on them.
2) Best suited to deal with his threats, relatively
Maradona is a great player but he couldn't face more resistance here, as it stands he is operating inside the fiery quadrant of fire. The Great Marshal, Nasazzi - the only defender to win the World Cup Golden Ball, was named the player of the tournament in two Copa Americas - no mean feat for a centre back. Scirea is widely regarded as the best libero ever after Beckenbauer, and someone who commandeered his teams to just about every trophy out there. Varela is quite simply another monstrous player who was arguably the best, if not the most influential, player at the 1950 WC and is one of the top 5 DMs to grace the game imo. Keane? This smilie simply says it all
.Maradona has an immense job on his hands trying to operate in that area and in getting past that defense.
