Who would win based solely on their peak in the chosen tournament?
TACTICAL OUTLINE
FORMATION: 5-2-3
STRATEGY: COUNTER-ATTACK (FLUID FRONT 3)
TEAM PHILOSOPHY (Barrilete Cósmico)
From the beginning of the draft, the plan was to gamble and put ourselves into a potential position to build a side around the greatest international peak footballer of all time.. the 86' version of Diego Armando Maradona.
In my opinion, he reached a zenith in that tournament which remains unparalleled and performed feats which god himself would struggle to reproduce if he laced up his boots.
In order to provide the ideal platform, we've gone with the Bilardo blueprint from 1986, with 7 defensive-minded players, and two roaming forwards who stretch the play and create the space for Diego to be at his rampant best. We've tweaked the formation slightly to add more flair up top, because Diego is in an all-time match and needs more support. Plus it is not a remake draft, and we want to ensure other great players get to star in their own right too.
Nevertheless we want to use the OP to indulgently highlight just how majestic he was in 1986...
JOURNEY TO 1986
Following his shameful dismissal against Brazil in 1982, the Argentine found himself struggling to adapt to life at a top European club, where success was not only demanded but also expected. A bout of hepatitis, a broken ankle following a challenge by Andoni Goikoetxea, and a mass brawl between players and officials of Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao at the end of the 1984 Copa del Rey final marred the Argentine’s turbulent stay in Catalonia.
The escape route was another world record transfer fee of £6.9 million to Napoli of Serie A, at the end of the 1983-84 season; the birthplace of Catenaccio, Gaetano Scirea and home to his nemesis, Claudio Gentile. In the south of Italy, Maradona was adored by the citizens of Naples. Feeling loved and appreciated, El Diego honed his skills and learnt to moderate his temperament. Maradona was growing up.
Wrestling with Passarella..
Following their ignominious exit in Spain, Argentina had a different manager at a World Cup for the first time since 1974, and his name was Carlos Bilardo. In 1983 he had visited Maradona in Spain, who was recovering from his bout of hepatitis; while there, the man Diego calls El Narigon asked him to be his captain. At the time, Maradona was only 22-years-old, but César Luis Menotti’s replacement was intent on building the national side around its talisman.
In the build-up to the tournament, the Argentine squad was in disarray. Qualification had only just been achieved and pre-tournament friendlies had not produced any performances that would serve notice for a successful World Cup. The final disruption saw icon and World Cup-winning captain, Daniel Passarella, walk out of the squad just prior to the opening group game. The defender never really came to terms with the captaincy being taken from him and handed to Maradona.
Tactical Set up...
Bilardo introduced a novel tactical setup for the Seleccion in 1986, a 3-5-2 formation which was revolutionary at the time, but so successful that it would become commonplace by the time the 1990 World Cup rolled around. The counter-attacking system was built from the midfield backwards, with up to seven players given largely defensive roles. In front of Nery Pumpido in goal were three defenders: stoppers Jose Luis Brown and Jose Luis Cuciuffo, and libero Oscar Ruggeri.
Sergio Batista was the most defensive of the midfield five, though Hector Enrique and the more advanced Jorge Burruchaga were expected to contribute to marker defense, as were Ricardo Giusti on the right and Julio Olarticoechea, who would often drop back to join the defensive line, on the left. The whole machine would have failed to spark, of course, without its most crucial component. Maradona was the dynamo who turned movement into electricity, linking the play and igniting the attacks.
Jorge Valdano was generally the most advanced player, cutting in from the right to benefit from Maradona's creativity, while Burruchaga also made forward runs in from the left side. The 4-4-2 formation that the vast majority of teams were using in Mexico was ill-suited to countering Bilardo's tactics, as they found themselves faced with a wall of defenders when in possession, and reinforced in the wrong areas of the pitch when Argentina, who played without the traditional pair of target men up front, had the ball.
WORLD CUP 1986 BEGINS (GROUP STAGES)
Kicked by Korea...
So what was a perceived as an average Argentine team in poor form, and as yet an unknown starting line-up and a young captain, took to the field against South Korea in the opening group game. To begin with, the game looked like a replica of any of Argentina’s 1982 fixtures. The South Koreans opted for the tried and tested tactic of kicking Maradona, either before he got the ball, while he had it, or after he’d released it.
But you sensed that this time it was different; there was no reaction from the 25-year-old. Frustration, yes, but also a steely determination to get up and get on with the game. Maradona’s refusal to react and have more and more of an influence on the game saw the Asian side resort to an early global introduction to their national sport, Taekwondo (it was only a demonstration sport at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul). The challenges were coming in higher and higher up Maradona’s five foot six inch frame.
The game finished 3-1 as Maradona assisted all three goals. His performance was outstanding, albeit against one of the tournament minnows. Brazil, my pre-tournament favourites, had played a day earlier in a rather uninspiring 1-0 win over Spain. Zico was injured going into the tournament, so I was starting with a clean slate, and anyone could claim my ‘undying affection’ for the next four weeks. As things stood, Maradona had put down the early marker. Could anyone match him?
The rematch v reigning world champions Italy...
The second game saw Argentina face Italy in a repeat of the 1982 x-rated fixture, which saw Claudio Gentile nullify Diego Maradona via the medium of violence. This would be the test – this game above all others would signify whether Maradona had matured into the world-class player everyone believed he was.
Gentile was no longer a member of the Italian squad, but Scirea was still there and so was Pietro Vierchowod, an able if slightly less Machiavellian centre-half than Gentile. However, this was now a Maradona who was plying his trade in the lion’s den. Playing every weekend in Serie A for the last two years had certainly influenced the forward.
It was a reformed character that took to the field. Despite going 1-0 down to an Italian penalty after six minutes, Maradona rallied his troops and took it upon himself to drag Argentina back into the game. This time the Azzurri couldn’t get near him as he was too quick and too clever for the Italians, drifting in and out of central positions so that the centre-backs didn’t know whether to go with him or hold their position.
In the 36th minute a clipped pass over the Italian back four from Jorge Valdano had Maradona racing through in the inside left position, and with an instinctive side-foot volley; he guided the ball into the far corner.
Maradona scored some great goals at the 1986 World Cup, but this was a goal of exquisite technique and ability. The change of stride and the height, at which he struck the ball, would have been impossible for most players. Maradona wheeled away and jumped the hoardings at the side of the pitch. Another impressive physical feat based on their size (and his).
The ghost’s of 1982 had been vanquished with a subtle stroke of his left foot. The game finished 1-1 and now the world was starting to take notice of this Argentine team and their inspirational number 10.
Skipping past Bulgaria...
The final group game saw a straightforward 2-0 victory against Bulgaria. Maradona skipped past his marker down the left and hooked in a perfect cross for Burruchaga to head in Argentina's second goal. Argentina finished top of the group and would face Uruguay in the second round. The initial uncertainty and unrest that had dogged their preparation was gone, and the Argentine side had become a tight unit willing to fight for each other.
ROUND OF 16
Argentina 1 - 0 Uruguay
The scoreline gives little indication of the extent to which Argentina, and in particular Maradona, dominated this South American grudge match. Argentina versus Uruguay is the South American equivalent of England versus Scotland. Separated only by the River Plate, the two countries contested the first World Cup final, which Uruguay won 4-2 in Montevideo. Since that game, football has been the tool of choice for both nations with which to demonstrate their superiority over each other.
The game was a typically tense and scrappy affair, the occasion outweighing the performance. The Uruguayans were so intent on containing their opponent's shaggy haired captain that they offered virtually no attacking threat themselves.
As the game wore on, Maradona was becoming more and more influential. It was the poise and balance with which he received the ball and then, in one or two touches, was away from his marker that had fans agasp. They hadn’t seen a player have such sustained influence on games. The Brazil 1982 squad just rotated their brilliance amongst the whole team, but here was one man so far ahead of the other players on the pitch it was almost unfair. Ultimately, Maradona proved uncontainable, wriggling through the midfield at will and consistently laying on passes for his teammates, who should have finished more chances.
THE QUARTER-FINAL VERSUS ENGLAND
Argentina 2 - 1 England
The quarter-final between Argentina and England was the most memorable encounter of the 1986 World Cup, and the defining match of Diego Maradona's career. During God Save The Queen the camera cut to Maradona, who was looking at the England team. Dark eyes casting a disdainful glance up and down the English players, his face betrayed the emotion of a nation that four years earlier had lost the Falklands War. Bobby Robson’s men innocently sung their anthem, while the Artful Dodger in blue decided how best to make the English pay. The dye was cast.
The first half was a cagey affair, with Argentina the better side. The No. 10 had an early free kick tipped over the bar by Peter Shilton after the shot had taken a huge deflection off the England wall. Argentine goalkeeper Nery Pumpido nearly gifted England a goal when he chased a ball outside his box, but Peter Beardsley could not take advantage as he failed to find the open net with his curling shot from a tough angle.
Maradona won a free kick just outside the England box when his scything run was halted illegally by Kenny Sansom, but his shot flew just wide, and the sides went into the break tied at nil-all. England were more content with stopping Argentina rather than playing their own game. The 0-0 scoreline at half-time flattered England.
Hand of God...
In the 51st minute, Maradona once again weaved his way through the English midfield before pushing the ball to Valdano on the edge of the box. Steve Hodge attempted to clear the ball but only managed to flick it dangerously towards his own keeper...
GOAL OF THE CENTURY...
On 55 minutes, it happened again: 10.8 seconds, 44 strides and 12 touches was all it took. Four minutes later, Maradona scored a goal which is now etched into the mind of every football fan on the planet, picking the ball up inside his own half and sashaying effortlessly past every English defender who tried to halt his exquisite passage, never once touching the ball with his right foot and never once looking like he wouldn't score...
THE SEMI-FINAL VERSUS BELGIUM
Argentina 2 - 0 Belgium
Argentina were now unstoppable, the semi-final against Belgium was merely a stepping-stone in what seemed to be Argentina’s pre-ordained destiny to win the World Cup. Just in case anybody thought Diego Maradona's stunning performance against England in the quarter-final had been a fluke, the little maestro repeated the dose against Belgium in the semis.
He timed a diagonal run to the right perfectly to latch on to a beautiful Burruchaga through ball and spoon it with the outside of his left foot over Belgian custodian Jean Marie Pfaff for the opening goal.
For his second trick, Maradona shimmied through a cluster of Belgian defenders then finished past Pfaff to register a sublime individual goal to put on the mantelpiece alongside his effort against England. A goal of the tournament contender at any other finals, such was the standard of the goal against England that many overlook his effort against Belgium. Argentina had qualified for their third World Cup final, and Maradona had increased his goal tally to five for the tournament.
THE WORLD CUP FINAL
Argentina 3 - 2 West Germany
The final saw Argentina take on the efficient West Germans. They had barely registered on my radar throughout the tournament and were functional rather than inspirational. Lothar Matthäus – the man Maradona would later claim as the best player he ever came up against – was the final throw of the dice for the rest of the world in their quest to stop El Diego.
Matthäus probably did a better job of stopping Maradona play than anyone else had done in the tournament, but Argentina's collective effort saw them dominate the majority of the contest.
Argentina scored in the 23rd minute through full-back José Brown, to go in at half-time 1-0 up. The tie looked to be over after Jorge Valdano produced a composed finish after 55 minutes. The Germans, however, have a reputation for resilience and the introduction of Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Dieter Hoeness helped swing the momentum in West Germany's favor, and the former halved the deficit 16 minutes before the end of regular time, before goal-machine Rudi Voeller equalized. Suddenly Bilardo’s men began questioning themselves. How could they get to within nine minutes of winning the World Cup after dominating the tournament and then throw it away?
Maradona had one final moment of genius to contribute to the tournament, however. The only way the story could have ended better is if Maradona scored the third and final goal but instead it was a sublime first-time visionary pass from the number 10 which split the entire West German midfield and back-four. Jorge Burruchaga raced clear and calmly slid the ball past Harald Schumacher to make it 3-2 with six minutes left on the clock.
The goal clinched the match and a second world title for Argentina. Argentina had gone from perceived no-hopers to world champions. Never before had a tournament been influenced by just one player. Never had one man made such a difference to a team. It was almost an understatement to award Diego Maradona the Golden Ball for player of the tournament.
There have been great players at many World Cups – Pelé and Johan Cruyff to name just two – but they were all part of a great team. I doubt very much there will be a tournament dominated by one player to such an extent ever again.
Maradona arrived at Mexico '86 as a player firmly in the shadows of Platini and Zico - who were the standard-bearers for the attacking midfield position from the late '70s to mid '80s with their exploits for Juventus and France, and Flamengo and Brazil. Forever on the cusp of becoming either one of the world’s best, or one of the world’s greatest since his anointment as El Pibe de Oro as a prodigiously talented teenager - Maradona had yet to etch his name in the annals of the game. But after what transpired in that magical summer in Mexico, he left the tournament as the most mischievously captivating and arguably, the greatest footballer of all time - rivaled only by Pelé, consigning both Platini and Zico to a lower tier, and dwarfing an entire era of footballers.
Never before or since has any one player loomed so large over an International Tournament.
---------------------------------Raees/Invictus---------------------------------------------------------------------Team Tuppet
Sub and tactics change for Tuppet
Puskas was looking with despair as his shot at redemption and finally winning a prestigious international tournament was being torn apart from an Argentine kid in the opposition team. He couldn't believe things this kid can do, when before the match his coach was saying "look at that little fat chap, we would murder this lot". He goes to his childhood friend Bozsik and ask if he wants to leave the stadium and drive back to hotel. "You do realize that there are substitutions ? we could still be needed" says Bozsik. Wut ? Puskas, used to playing with rules where you stay out of the pitch when you are not selected in starting xi, is already dragging Bozsik with him on the pitch. Injury or no injury he is going to have a thing or two to say before this game is over. He orders the lanky Russian guy to get out of his pitch, who is happy to oblige, Maradona has already done enough to make him think that may be he should have stayed with 100m racing career after all. He ask Bozsik to kick the long haired hippie out of the pitch and take his place. We'll show this coach what real tactics look like -
Sub - Shesternyov for Puskas and Bozsik for Redondo. Tactic change to mighty magyars.
Platini as Hidegkuti, Garrincha as Czibor and Zagallo as Budai.
Facing Maradona 86 is a daunting task for any team and pose some very interesting tactical challanges. It would be near impossible to stop Maradona completely with the great supporting cast R/I have assembled around him. I think R/I would go with a narrow wingerless attack here and majority of their attacking thrust would be in the middle of the pitch. So to counter this we need to
a) Back our attack and try to outscore them
b) Stay tight in the middle to atleast make it difficult for Maradona and
c) Stretch the pitch on both sides with wide players.
Check, check and check. We move from 4-2-4 in last game to a 4-2-3-1 to exert more control in midfield and provide more defensive solidity against a fantastic midfield of R/Is. We have quite a strong attacking lineup with pedigree in their respective international tournaments. We fill the central defensive area with 2 great defensive midfielders in front of 4 great defenders (all made their respective ToTs) and finally we have two great flanks in Nilton Santos - Zagallo on left and Garrincha on right. And as a bonus we have a fantastic route 1 option in Nilton/Garrincha/Zagallo crossing to the greatest header of the ball in Kocsis.
Defensive Strategy:
As mentioned before the only relative weakness in R/Is setup is centralized nature of their attack and reliance on Maradona for playmaking. If you can trouble Maradona to some extant it would make their attack a lot less impressive. Its obviously easier said than done, probably even impossible to do but this is what we are set up to do. The brilliant playmaker Bozsik makes room for Redondo, who is a lot more defensively secure.
We would play in a normal defensive line. Assuming there is no wide forward to mark out, Victor Andrade would tuck in and make a back 3. While my defense sports less stellar names than my opposition, all of them had brilliant international tournaments and made it to their ToTs. My defenders have relatively easier task as well, as they can stay compact in the middle. Another factor is that all 4 of my defenders are really fast, esp Andrade & Shesternyov and can match well physically with Eusebio & Suarez, neither of which is going to test my defense aerially that much.
Don't want to overplay the narrow attack card. All of Eusebio/Suarez/Maradona can go to wide areas. Its a different type of threat than what an out and out winger provide, while R/I's attacker would go out, they would still look to cut in to central positions which makes my defense able to handle them better. Brehme is obviously a great threat as a wingback, but he has to contend with a god mode Garrincha, so I don't think he can afford to be too attacking. Even when he ventures forward I have him well covered with Andrade, and he'll be taking a pretty big risk on counter leaving Garrincha 1 on 1 with their LCB. Kaltz has to contend with the proven flank of Nilton Santos & Zagallo. One of the best flank in world cup history, I think this could be too much for Kaltz to handle. Kaltz was anyway more about his crossing than storming on the flank and R/I doesn't really have a target man to take advantage of it. Also I don't really know much about Kaltz's performance in whichever international tournament he is representing, so interested in learning more about that.
Offensive Strategy:
Platini would be the playmaker in chief, given the freedom to drop to be deepest midfielder or move beyond Kocsis to a false number 9ish role. Kocsis has experience in playing in this strategy with Hidegkuti. Platini has a solid platform with two hard working midfielders behind, 2 great wingers making space for him and a brilliant and technically proficient target man in front.
Nilton Santos has the freedom of flank on left side, aided by a tucked in Andrade on the other side, even when Santos goes on his mazy run defense would still have 3 man at the back. There is not much between Brehme & Santos, but Brehme has Garrincha to contend with while Santos is free to run the flank with his partner in crime Zagallo. He is IMO better defender as well, as he showcased in his brilliant performance against France at 58 WC, where he is largely credited with shackling a rampaging Fontaine.
Garrincha's instructions are simple, when he gets the ball he would try and beat players and either shoot himself or cross for my "referencia de área" Kocsis to head into. Defensively I don't think he would participate at all and his biggest defensive contribution is to make sure that Brehme is more apprehensive of making his runs on that flank.
Zagallo also has a better platform to perform here, not having to battle with another winger, having a peak Nilton behind, so not having to cover for him, he is finally unleashed to utilize his brilliant tactical knowledge and crossing ability.
Garrincha - Platini Conundrum:
Garrincha & Platini are easily 2 of my best players and along with Maradona 3 best players on the pitch. One thing I would like to mention that if you try to remember most of the fun Garrincha stories like him beating a player then going back to beat him again or waiting on goalline with the ball for goalkeeper to come back so he can beat him again or not remembering who Russians were day after beating them. All of these stories are from 1958 WC. In 62 Garrincha was a different player a more mature player who took responsibilty to drag his team to a world cup win over trying tricks. I am not trying to say he wasn't still very individualistic or a ball hog but that he is much more interested in seeing his team win than his 58 incarnation who was more about having fun. Also the Garrincha not giving a feck about tactics is a bit overstated. He was an international player and was clearly followed instructions, even in his 58 incarnation -
Now Garrincha has played with some of very dominating players in the team with Pele & Didi, both of whom likes to be on the ball and dribble around. Its still not optimal and he would not be seeing the ball as much as 62 but that won't stop him from being a devastating dribbler, fantastic crosser and overall a brilliant forward.
From Platini side, he is the alpha dog in the team as Garrincha simple doesn't care about being that, he has played with greater super stars and performed just as well. Even Platini has played with quite a few very good ball players for France and that never stopped him. He was a direct player in Di Stefano mould, he probably would get a bit frustrated in the beginning as Garrincha is unlikely to play 1-2 with him, but when he sees how much space it creates for him/Kocsis in the middle as he drag opposition defenders around, beating them for fun, he would come to appreciate the value of such a weapon, much like Didi found out.
In the end its about whether to go with 1 brilliant plan and hope it works or have multiple options in the attack. While opposition midfield can try and take Platini out of the game with their very good midfield, Garrincha would step up and run the game from right side. As mentioned before Garrincha/Zagallo/Santos crossing to Kocsis also give us a simple yet very effective goal scoring route. While R/Is defense is very good, I don't think its possible to defend against so many options.
New Additions:
Platini (EU 84) - In 1984 EU Platini was the synthesis of the best of French football. Marrying the playmaking of Kopa with finishing of Fontaine in one neat package he gave us one of the all time greatest performance in a national team shirt. Here he takes the role of the primary playmaker of the team, who would have all the freedom to move to a number 9 position or drop deep to collect the ball from defenders. With so many amazing scorers in my team, he probably would not replicate his amazing goal scoring feats here (although I won't bet against it). The important point is that he don't need to, he is here to orchestrate & control the rhythm of the game and in that he is one of the greatest of all time.
Kocsis (WC 54) - The Golden boot winner of world cup 54 scored an astonishing 11 goals with clutch performances in quarterfinals & semifinals where he score 2 goals apiece against Brazil & Uruguay respectively. He provides an excellent outlet for goals with my brilliant wingers by either heading in or knocking them down for Puskas & Platini to use their lethal finishing. R/I's defense is very good but the combination of greatest pure winger in Garrincha with greatest header of the ball Kocsis is just impossible to shut down for entirety of match.
Redondo (CA 93) - Replaces Bozsik to provide more defensive solidity in midfield while not losing much creatively. He would also clash less with Platini than Bozsik. 24 year old Redondo was part of the 2 man midfield with Simeone, that won the last international trophy for Argentina. He was majestic in Copa America 93, breaking opposition and creating play for Argentina from deep. Argies had a pretty great team with Batigol the star, but were without their talisman Maradona who was still suspended. The competition level was pretty high, with a Brazil that won World cup next year in 94 and had Cafu & Carlos in the ranks, Valderamma led Colombia side and an aging Hugo Sanchez led Mexico.
The one not to be underrated - Mario Zagallo (WC 62):
Mario Zagallo is not a stellar name and in the crowd of great forwards he might seem like a lesser player. But he is exactly the type of player this draft is suppose to shine. I had options of Orsi/Puskas/Fransescoli to chose from to play on the left side, but I believe Zagallo 62 was as better than all of them, not to mention his proven partnerships with Nilton Santos & Garrincha, which elevates him further and IMO to GOAT level for left wing position in this draft.
His contributions to World cup 62 were as important as any player's in this match. In 62 he provided 5 assists and 1 goal, while covering for aging Nilton Santos and providing counter weight to Garrincha's individualism on the other side, getting selected in ToT. His contributions also came in crunch matches he broke the deadlock in the first game. Then in Spain's game after Brazil had fallen behind Zagallo's cross was headed in to get Brazil back in the game after which Garrincha's cross from right won the game for Brazilians. He provided another assist to break the deadlock against England headed in the net via Garrincha. But his best game came in the semifinal where he displayed outstanding wing work from left side providing 3 assists in a 4-2 win. His crossing at times was phenomenal and here he has a peak Nilton Santos behind him and the greatest header of ball in Kocsis, I would not be surprised if Zagallo/Kocsis would decide this game with good old kick it out & cross it in.
More detailed info on Garrincha and other players in my squad could be found in previous game thread here - https://www.redcafe.net/threads/tuppet-vs-2mufc0-nt-peak-draft.428019/[
TACTICAL OUTLINE
FORMATION: 5-2-3
STRATEGY: COUNTER-ATTACK (FLUID FRONT 3)
- Khan (WC 2002) - Goalkeeper - Strong, vocal presence, long-range distribution key for fast counter-attacks
- Bergomi (EU 1988) - Defensive full-back, intuitive, muscular and in his prime, will be marking Puskas
- Baresi (WC 1990) - Sweeper, coming out of defence to meet Platini/Puskas if they evade their markers, responsible for initiating counters.
- Desailly (WC 1998) - Stopper, will be instrumental against Kocsis (again) and assist with Garrincha
- Kaltz (EU 1980) - One of the great wing-backs of the 80's. his rampaging runs, provided the width for Schuster to dominate the Euro's.
- Brehme (WC 1990) - Balanced wing-back, who will combine with Tigana to stop Garrincha and provide GOAT width when going forwards
- Varela (WC 1950) - 'El Negro' The Great Destroyer, will man mark Michel Platini
- Tigana (EU 1984) - Box to Box Controller, dictate the tempo, feed the forwards and provide defensive security against Platini/Garrincha.
- Suarez (CA 2011) - Fluid 9, at his most aggressive, quick.. nightmare to defend against and will bring best out of Eusebio and Maradona
- Maradona (WC 1986) - The greatest will feature mostly at IR, but has freedom to roam and wreak havoc as only he can.
- Eusebio (WC 1966) - IL/LW/CF/SS - Indefinable, inexhaustable turbo-charged powerhouse forward who will take men away from Diego.
TEAM PHILOSOPHY (Barrilete Cósmico)
From the beginning of the draft, the plan was to gamble and put ourselves into a potential position to build a side around the greatest international peak footballer of all time.. the 86' version of Diego Armando Maradona.
In my opinion, he reached a zenith in that tournament which remains unparalleled and performed feats which god himself would struggle to reproduce if he laced up his boots.
In order to provide the ideal platform, we've gone with the Bilardo blueprint from 1986, with 7 defensive-minded players, and two roaming forwards who stretch the play and create the space for Diego to be at his rampant best. We've tweaked the formation slightly to add more flair up top, because Diego is in an all-time match and needs more support. Plus it is not a remake draft, and we want to ensure other great players get to star in their own right too.
Nevertheless we want to use the OP to indulgently highlight just how majestic he was in 1986...
JOURNEY TO 1986
Following his shameful dismissal against Brazil in 1982, the Argentine found himself struggling to adapt to life at a top European club, where success was not only demanded but also expected. A bout of hepatitis, a broken ankle following a challenge by Andoni Goikoetxea, and a mass brawl between players and officials of Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao at the end of the 1984 Copa del Rey final marred the Argentine’s turbulent stay in Catalonia.
The escape route was another world record transfer fee of £6.9 million to Napoli of Serie A, at the end of the 1983-84 season; the birthplace of Catenaccio, Gaetano Scirea and home to his nemesis, Claudio Gentile. In the south of Italy, Maradona was adored by the citizens of Naples. Feeling loved and appreciated, El Diego honed his skills and learnt to moderate his temperament. Maradona was growing up.
Wrestling with Passarella..
Following their ignominious exit in Spain, Argentina had a different manager at a World Cup for the first time since 1974, and his name was Carlos Bilardo. In 1983 he had visited Maradona in Spain, who was recovering from his bout of hepatitis; while there, the man Diego calls El Narigon asked him to be his captain. At the time, Maradona was only 22-years-old, but César Luis Menotti’s replacement was intent on building the national side around its talisman.
In the build-up to the tournament, the Argentine squad was in disarray. Qualification had only just been achieved and pre-tournament friendlies had not produced any performances that would serve notice for a successful World Cup. The final disruption saw icon and World Cup-winning captain, Daniel Passarella, walk out of the squad just prior to the opening group game. The defender never really came to terms with the captaincy being taken from him and handed to Maradona.
Tactical Set up...
Bilardo introduced a novel tactical setup for the Seleccion in 1986, a 3-5-2 formation which was revolutionary at the time, but so successful that it would become commonplace by the time the 1990 World Cup rolled around. The counter-attacking system was built from the midfield backwards, with up to seven players given largely defensive roles. In front of Nery Pumpido in goal were three defenders: stoppers Jose Luis Brown and Jose Luis Cuciuffo, and libero Oscar Ruggeri.
Sergio Batista was the most defensive of the midfield five, though Hector Enrique and the more advanced Jorge Burruchaga were expected to contribute to marker defense, as were Ricardo Giusti on the right and Julio Olarticoechea, who would often drop back to join the defensive line, on the left. The whole machine would have failed to spark, of course, without its most crucial component. Maradona was the dynamo who turned movement into electricity, linking the play and igniting the attacks.
Jorge Valdano was generally the most advanced player, cutting in from the right to benefit from Maradona's creativity, while Burruchaga also made forward runs in from the left side. The 4-4-2 formation that the vast majority of teams were using in Mexico was ill-suited to countering Bilardo's tactics, as they found themselves faced with a wall of defenders when in possession, and reinforced in the wrong areas of the pitch when Argentina, who played without the traditional pair of target men up front, had the ball.
WORLD CUP 1986 BEGINS (GROUP STAGES)
Kicked by Korea...
So what was a perceived as an average Argentine team in poor form, and as yet an unknown starting line-up and a young captain, took to the field against South Korea in the opening group game. To begin with, the game looked like a replica of any of Argentina’s 1982 fixtures. The South Koreans opted for the tried and tested tactic of kicking Maradona, either before he got the ball, while he had it, or after he’d released it.
But you sensed that this time it was different; there was no reaction from the 25-year-old. Frustration, yes, but also a steely determination to get up and get on with the game. Maradona’s refusal to react and have more and more of an influence on the game saw the Asian side resort to an early global introduction to their national sport, Taekwondo (it was only a demonstration sport at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul). The challenges were coming in higher and higher up Maradona’s five foot six inch frame.
The game finished 3-1 as Maradona assisted all three goals. His performance was outstanding, albeit against one of the tournament minnows. Brazil, my pre-tournament favourites, had played a day earlier in a rather uninspiring 1-0 win over Spain. Zico was injured going into the tournament, so I was starting with a clean slate, and anyone could claim my ‘undying affection’ for the next four weeks. As things stood, Maradona had put down the early marker. Could anyone match him?
The rematch v reigning world champions Italy...
The second game saw Argentina face Italy in a repeat of the 1982 x-rated fixture, which saw Claudio Gentile nullify Diego Maradona via the medium of violence. This would be the test – this game above all others would signify whether Maradona had matured into the world-class player everyone believed he was.
Gentile was no longer a member of the Italian squad, but Scirea was still there and so was Pietro Vierchowod, an able if slightly less Machiavellian centre-half than Gentile. However, this was now a Maradona who was plying his trade in the lion’s den. Playing every weekend in Serie A for the last two years had certainly influenced the forward.
It was a reformed character that took to the field. Despite going 1-0 down to an Italian penalty after six minutes, Maradona rallied his troops and took it upon himself to drag Argentina back into the game. This time the Azzurri couldn’t get near him as he was too quick and too clever for the Italians, drifting in and out of central positions so that the centre-backs didn’t know whether to go with him or hold their position.
In the 36th minute a clipped pass over the Italian back four from Jorge Valdano had Maradona racing through in the inside left position, and with an instinctive side-foot volley; he guided the ball into the far corner.
Maradona scored some great goals at the 1986 World Cup, but this was a goal of exquisite technique and ability. The change of stride and the height, at which he struck the ball, would have been impossible for most players. Maradona wheeled away and jumped the hoardings at the side of the pitch. Another impressive physical feat based on their size (and his).
The ghost’s of 1982 had been vanquished with a subtle stroke of his left foot. The game finished 1-1 and now the world was starting to take notice of this Argentine team and their inspirational number 10.
Skipping past Bulgaria...
The final group game saw a straightforward 2-0 victory against Bulgaria. Maradona skipped past his marker down the left and hooked in a perfect cross for Burruchaga to head in Argentina's second goal. Argentina finished top of the group and would face Uruguay in the second round. The initial uncertainty and unrest that had dogged their preparation was gone, and the Argentine side had become a tight unit willing to fight for each other.
ROUND OF 16
Argentina 1 - 0 Uruguay
The scoreline gives little indication of the extent to which Argentina, and in particular Maradona, dominated this South American grudge match. Argentina versus Uruguay is the South American equivalent of England versus Scotland. Separated only by the River Plate, the two countries contested the first World Cup final, which Uruguay won 4-2 in Montevideo. Since that game, football has been the tool of choice for both nations with which to demonstrate their superiority over each other.
The game was a typically tense and scrappy affair, the occasion outweighing the performance. The Uruguayans were so intent on containing their opponent's shaggy haired captain that they offered virtually no attacking threat themselves.
As the game wore on, Maradona was becoming more and more influential. It was the poise and balance with which he received the ball and then, in one or two touches, was away from his marker that had fans agasp. They hadn’t seen a player have such sustained influence on games. The Brazil 1982 squad just rotated their brilliance amongst the whole team, but here was one man so far ahead of the other players on the pitch it was almost unfair. Ultimately, Maradona proved uncontainable, wriggling through the midfield at will and consistently laying on passes for his teammates, who should have finished more chances.
THE QUARTER-FINAL VERSUS ENGLAND
Argentina 2 - 1 England
The quarter-final between Argentina and England was the most memorable encounter of the 1986 World Cup, and the defining match of Diego Maradona's career. During God Save The Queen the camera cut to Maradona, who was looking at the England team. Dark eyes casting a disdainful glance up and down the English players, his face betrayed the emotion of a nation that four years earlier had lost the Falklands War. Bobby Robson’s men innocently sung their anthem, while the Artful Dodger in blue decided how best to make the English pay. The dye was cast.
The first half was a cagey affair, with Argentina the better side. The No. 10 had an early free kick tipped over the bar by Peter Shilton after the shot had taken a huge deflection off the England wall. Argentine goalkeeper Nery Pumpido nearly gifted England a goal when he chased a ball outside his box, but Peter Beardsley could not take advantage as he failed to find the open net with his curling shot from a tough angle.
Maradona won a free kick just outside the England box when his scything run was halted illegally by Kenny Sansom, but his shot flew just wide, and the sides went into the break tied at nil-all. England were more content with stopping Argentina rather than playing their own game. The 0-0 scoreline at half-time flattered England.
Hand of God...
In the 51st minute, Maradona once again weaved his way through the English midfield before pushing the ball to Valdano on the edge of the box. Steve Hodge attempted to clear the ball but only managed to flick it dangerously towards his own keeper...
GOAL OF THE CENTURY...
On 55 minutes, it happened again: 10.8 seconds, 44 strides and 12 touches was all it took. Four minutes later, Maradona scored a goal which is now etched into the mind of every football fan on the planet, picking the ball up inside his own half and sashaying effortlessly past every English defender who tried to halt his exquisite passage, never once touching the ball with his right foot and never once looking like he wouldn't score...
THE SEMI-FINAL VERSUS BELGIUM
Argentina 2 - 0 Belgium
Argentina were now unstoppable, the semi-final against Belgium was merely a stepping-stone in what seemed to be Argentina’s pre-ordained destiny to win the World Cup. Just in case anybody thought Diego Maradona's stunning performance against England in the quarter-final had been a fluke, the little maestro repeated the dose against Belgium in the semis.
He timed a diagonal run to the right perfectly to latch on to a beautiful Burruchaga through ball and spoon it with the outside of his left foot over Belgian custodian Jean Marie Pfaff for the opening goal.
For his second trick, Maradona shimmied through a cluster of Belgian defenders then finished past Pfaff to register a sublime individual goal to put on the mantelpiece alongside his effort against England. A goal of the tournament contender at any other finals, such was the standard of the goal against England that many overlook his effort against Belgium. Argentina had qualified for their third World Cup final, and Maradona had increased his goal tally to five for the tournament.
THE WORLD CUP FINAL
Argentina 3 - 2 West Germany
The final saw Argentina take on the efficient West Germans. They had barely registered on my radar throughout the tournament and were functional rather than inspirational. Lothar Matthäus – the man Maradona would later claim as the best player he ever came up against – was the final throw of the dice for the rest of the world in their quest to stop El Diego.
Matthäus probably did a better job of stopping Maradona play than anyone else had done in the tournament, but Argentina's collective effort saw them dominate the majority of the contest.
Argentina scored in the 23rd minute through full-back José Brown, to go in at half-time 1-0 up. The tie looked to be over after Jorge Valdano produced a composed finish after 55 minutes. The Germans, however, have a reputation for resilience and the introduction of Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Dieter Hoeness helped swing the momentum in West Germany's favor, and the former halved the deficit 16 minutes before the end of regular time, before goal-machine Rudi Voeller equalized. Suddenly Bilardo’s men began questioning themselves. How could they get to within nine minutes of winning the World Cup after dominating the tournament and then throw it away?
Maradona had one final moment of genius to contribute to the tournament, however. The only way the story could have ended better is if Maradona scored the third and final goal but instead it was a sublime first-time visionary pass from the number 10 which split the entire West German midfield and back-four. Jorge Burruchaga raced clear and calmly slid the ball past Harald Schumacher to make it 3-2 with six minutes left on the clock.
The goal clinched the match and a second world title for Argentina. Argentina had gone from perceived no-hopers to world champions. Never before had a tournament been influenced by just one player. Never had one man made such a difference to a team. It was almost an understatement to award Diego Maradona the Golden Ball for player of the tournament.
There have been great players at many World Cups – Pelé and Johan Cruyff to name just two – but they were all part of a great team. I doubt very much there will be a tournament dominated by one player to such an extent ever again.
Maradona arrived at Mexico '86 as a player firmly in the shadows of Platini and Zico - who were the standard-bearers for the attacking midfield position from the late '70s to mid '80s with their exploits for Juventus and France, and Flamengo and Brazil. Forever on the cusp of becoming either one of the world’s best, or one of the world’s greatest since his anointment as El Pibe de Oro as a prodigiously talented teenager - Maradona had yet to etch his name in the annals of the game. But after what transpired in that magical summer in Mexico, he left the tournament as the most mischievously captivating and arguably, the greatest footballer of all time - rivaled only by Pelé, consigning both Platini and Zico to a lower tier, and dwarfing an entire era of footballers.
Never before or since has any one player loomed so large over an International Tournament.
---------------------------------Raees/Invictus---------------------------------------------------------------------Team Tuppet
Sub and tactics change for Tuppet
Puskas was looking with despair as his shot at redemption and finally winning a prestigious international tournament was being torn apart from an Argentine kid in the opposition team. He couldn't believe things this kid can do, when before the match his coach was saying "look at that little fat chap, we would murder this lot". He goes to his childhood friend Bozsik and ask if he wants to leave the stadium and drive back to hotel. "You do realize that there are substitutions ? we could still be needed" says Bozsik. Wut ? Puskas, used to playing with rules where you stay out of the pitch when you are not selected in starting xi, is already dragging Bozsik with him on the pitch. Injury or no injury he is going to have a thing or two to say before this game is over. He orders the lanky Russian guy to get out of his pitch, who is happy to oblige, Maradona has already done enough to make him think that may be he should have stayed with 100m racing career after all. He ask Bozsik to kick the long haired hippie out of the pitch and take his place. We'll show this coach what real tactics look like -
Sub - Shesternyov for Puskas and Bozsik for Redondo. Tactic change to mighty magyars.
Platini as Hidegkuti, Garrincha as Czibor and Zagallo as Budai.
Facing Maradona 86 is a daunting task for any team and pose some very interesting tactical challanges. It would be near impossible to stop Maradona completely with the great supporting cast R/I have assembled around him. I think R/I would go with a narrow wingerless attack here and majority of their attacking thrust would be in the middle of the pitch. So to counter this we need to
a) Back our attack and try to outscore them
b) Stay tight in the middle to atleast make it difficult for Maradona and
c) Stretch the pitch on both sides with wide players.
Check, check and check. We move from 4-2-4 in last game to a 4-2-3-1 to exert more control in midfield and provide more defensive solidity against a fantastic midfield of R/Is. We have quite a strong attacking lineup with pedigree in their respective international tournaments. We fill the central defensive area with 2 great defensive midfielders in front of 4 great defenders (all made their respective ToTs) and finally we have two great flanks in Nilton Santos - Zagallo on left and Garrincha on right. And as a bonus we have a fantastic route 1 option in Nilton/Garrincha/Zagallo crossing to the greatest header of the ball in Kocsis.
Defensive Strategy:
As mentioned before the only relative weakness in R/Is setup is centralized nature of their attack and reliance on Maradona for playmaking. If you can trouble Maradona to some extant it would make their attack a lot less impressive. Its obviously easier said than done, probably even impossible to do but this is what we are set up to do. The brilliant playmaker Bozsik makes room for Redondo, who is a lot more defensively secure.
We would play in a normal defensive line. Assuming there is no wide forward to mark out, Victor Andrade would tuck in and make a back 3. While my defense sports less stellar names than my opposition, all of them had brilliant international tournaments and made it to their ToTs. My defenders have relatively easier task as well, as they can stay compact in the middle. Another factor is that all 4 of my defenders are really fast, esp Andrade & Shesternyov and can match well physically with Eusebio & Suarez, neither of which is going to test my defense aerially that much.
Don't want to overplay the narrow attack card. All of Eusebio/Suarez/Maradona can go to wide areas. Its a different type of threat than what an out and out winger provide, while R/I's attacker would go out, they would still look to cut in to central positions which makes my defense able to handle them better. Brehme is obviously a great threat as a wingback, but he has to contend with a god mode Garrincha, so I don't think he can afford to be too attacking. Even when he ventures forward I have him well covered with Andrade, and he'll be taking a pretty big risk on counter leaving Garrincha 1 on 1 with their LCB. Kaltz has to contend with the proven flank of Nilton Santos & Zagallo. One of the best flank in world cup history, I think this could be too much for Kaltz to handle. Kaltz was anyway more about his crossing than storming on the flank and R/I doesn't really have a target man to take advantage of it. Also I don't really know much about Kaltz's performance in whichever international tournament he is representing, so interested in learning more about that.
Offensive Strategy:
Platini would be the playmaker in chief, given the freedom to drop to be deepest midfielder or move beyond Kocsis to a false number 9ish role. Kocsis has experience in playing in this strategy with Hidegkuti. Platini has a solid platform with two hard working midfielders behind, 2 great wingers making space for him and a brilliant and technically proficient target man in front.
Nilton Santos has the freedom of flank on left side, aided by a tucked in Andrade on the other side, even when Santos goes on his mazy run defense would still have 3 man at the back. There is not much between Brehme & Santos, but Brehme has Garrincha to contend with while Santos is free to run the flank with his partner in crime Zagallo. He is IMO better defender as well, as he showcased in his brilliant performance against France at 58 WC, where he is largely credited with shackling a rampaging Fontaine.
Garrincha's instructions are simple, when he gets the ball he would try and beat players and either shoot himself or cross for my "referencia de área" Kocsis to head into. Defensively I don't think he would participate at all and his biggest defensive contribution is to make sure that Brehme is more apprehensive of making his runs on that flank.
Zagallo also has a better platform to perform here, not having to battle with another winger, having a peak Nilton behind, so not having to cover for him, he is finally unleashed to utilize his brilliant tactical knowledge and crossing ability.
Garrincha - Platini Conundrum:
Garrincha & Platini are easily 2 of my best players and along with Maradona 3 best players on the pitch. One thing I would like to mention that if you try to remember most of the fun Garrincha stories like him beating a player then going back to beat him again or waiting on goalline with the ball for goalkeeper to come back so he can beat him again or not remembering who Russians were day after beating them. All of these stories are from 1958 WC. In 62 Garrincha was a different player a more mature player who took responsibilty to drag his team to a world cup win over trying tricks. I am not trying to say he wasn't still very individualistic or a ball hog but that he is much more interested in seeing his team win than his 58 incarnation who was more about having fun. Also the Garrincha not giving a feck about tactics is a bit overstated. He was an international player and was clearly followed instructions, even in his 58 incarnation -
Didi raised his voice, talking to all of us:
"Look we got them beaten, we still have the finals to play. Lets not get anyone else hurt at this stage of the championship !"
We therefore changed our tactics. We had the game won and there really would be little sense starting the last game with one or more of our top player on bench or in hospital. So instead of attacking we passed the ball back and forth, from me to Vava to Garrincha to Didi to Zagallo back to Didi to Garrincha to Vava to me. The french team was getting irritated at our tactic, frustrated in their effort to get the ball back, to tackle to control. But they had little chance, In ball passing I honestly believe that 1958 team was the best ever assembled.
"Look we got them beaten, we still have the finals to play. Lets not get anyone else hurt at this stage of the championship !"
We therefore changed our tactics. We had the game won and there really would be little sense starting the last game with one or more of our top player on bench or in hospital. So instead of attacking we passed the ball back and forth, from me to Vava to Garrincha to Didi to Zagallo back to Didi to Garrincha to Vava to me. The french team was getting irritated at our tactic, frustrated in their effort to get the ball back, to tackle to control. But they had little chance, In ball passing I honestly believe that 1958 team was the best ever assembled.
Now Garrincha has played with some of very dominating players in the team with Pele & Didi, both of whom likes to be on the ball and dribble around. Its still not optimal and he would not be seeing the ball as much as 62 but that won't stop him from being a devastating dribbler, fantastic crosser and overall a brilliant forward.
From Platini side, he is the alpha dog in the team as Garrincha simple doesn't care about being that, he has played with greater super stars and performed just as well. Even Platini has played with quite a few very good ball players for France and that never stopped him. He was a direct player in Di Stefano mould, he probably would get a bit frustrated in the beginning as Garrincha is unlikely to play 1-2 with him, but when he sees how much space it creates for him/Kocsis in the middle as he drag opposition defenders around, beating them for fun, he would come to appreciate the value of such a weapon, much like Didi found out.
In the end its about whether to go with 1 brilliant plan and hope it works or have multiple options in the attack. While opposition midfield can try and take Platini out of the game with their very good midfield, Garrincha would step up and run the game from right side. As mentioned before Garrincha/Zagallo/Santos crossing to Kocsis also give us a simple yet very effective goal scoring route. While R/Is defense is very good, I don't think its possible to defend against so many options.
New Additions:
Platini (EU 84) - In 1984 EU Platini was the synthesis of the best of French football. Marrying the playmaking of Kopa with finishing of Fontaine in one neat package he gave us one of the all time greatest performance in a national team shirt. Here he takes the role of the primary playmaker of the team, who would have all the freedom to move to a number 9 position or drop deep to collect the ball from defenders. With so many amazing scorers in my team, he probably would not replicate his amazing goal scoring feats here (although I won't bet against it). The important point is that he don't need to, he is here to orchestrate & control the rhythm of the game and in that he is one of the greatest of all time.
Kocsis (WC 54) - The Golden boot winner of world cup 54 scored an astonishing 11 goals with clutch performances in quarterfinals & semifinals where he score 2 goals apiece against Brazil & Uruguay respectively. He provides an excellent outlet for goals with my brilliant wingers by either heading in or knocking them down for Puskas & Platini to use their lethal finishing. R/I's defense is very good but the combination of greatest pure winger in Garrincha with greatest header of the ball Kocsis is just impossible to shut down for entirety of match.
Redondo (CA 93) - Replaces Bozsik to provide more defensive solidity in midfield while not losing much creatively. He would also clash less with Platini than Bozsik. 24 year old Redondo was part of the 2 man midfield with Simeone, that won the last international trophy for Argentina. He was majestic in Copa America 93, breaking opposition and creating play for Argentina from deep. Argies had a pretty great team with Batigol the star, but were without their talisman Maradona who was still suspended. The competition level was pretty high, with a Brazil that won World cup next year in 94 and had Cafu & Carlos in the ranks, Valderamma led Colombia side and an aging Hugo Sanchez led Mexico.
The one not to be underrated - Mario Zagallo (WC 62):
Mario Zagallo is not a stellar name and in the crowd of great forwards he might seem like a lesser player. But he is exactly the type of player this draft is suppose to shine. I had options of Orsi/Puskas/Fransescoli to chose from to play on the left side, but I believe Zagallo 62 was as better than all of them, not to mention his proven partnerships with Nilton Santos & Garrincha, which elevates him further and IMO to GOAT level for left wing position in this draft.
His contributions to World cup 62 were as important as any player's in this match. In 62 he provided 5 assists and 1 goal, while covering for aging Nilton Santos and providing counter weight to Garrincha's individualism on the other side, getting selected in ToT. His contributions also came in crunch matches he broke the deadlock in the first game. Then in Spain's game after Brazil had fallen behind Zagallo's cross was headed in to get Brazil back in the game after which Garrincha's cross from right won the game for Brazilians. He provided another assist to break the deadlock against England headed in the net via Garrincha. But his best game came in the semifinal where he displayed outstanding wing work from left side providing 3 assists in a 4-2 win. His crossing at times was phenomenal and here he has a peak Nilton Santos behind him and the greatest header of ball in Kocsis, I would not be surprised if Zagallo/Kocsis would decide this game with good old kick it out & cross it in.
More detailed info on Garrincha and other players in my squad could be found in previous game thread here - https://www.redcafe.net/threads/tuppet-vs-2mufc0-nt-peak-draft.428019/[
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You guys are lucky to face each other as now it won't matter.
