FORMATION
A 4-3-3 formation with Totti replicating his unique false 9 role, dropping deep to utilise his exceptional passing range whilst retaining a goal threat up top – demonstrated in his 32 goal 2006-07 season.
BRIEF TACTICS
FORWARDS
Very few footballers offer what Totti does – a striker with the creativity, technique and passing of a true number 10. Without a doubt one of the games greatest players, Totti’s legacy would be even greater if he had left Roma for bigger sides. The system is built to get the best out of Totti, giving complete freedom to roam and pull deep, dragging defenders and creating space for the inside forwards to exploit.
In the wide positions Stoichkov and Suarez + Cafu and Maldini offer fluidity and movement, with a direct threat that compliments the passing ability of Totti and Scholes. They will look to get behind the defence with diagonal runs, using their pace and dribbling to offer a direct goal threat.
On the left the 1994 Ballon d’Or winner Hristo Stoichkov takes the offence up a level in a system perfectly suited to his abilities –109 goals for the Barcelona Dream Team under Johan Cruff, the inside forward brings explosive pace, exceptional dribbling and guaranteed goals to the side.
Not simply a brilliant player shoehorned into a team, Stoichkov is quite simply perfect for the role being asked of here. He will dart inside and out, constantly latching onto the through balls of Paul Scholes and Francesco Totti.
MIDFIELD
In midfield sits the man Fabio Capello described as "Tactically Perfect" Fernando Redondo, behind Vieira and Scholes, providing the perfect platform for the two midfielders to influence the match. The security & mastery in behind allows Vieira to play box to box, breaking up play defensively and running from deep when the team is on the attack.
Paul Scholes will completely control the tempo of the match when in possession, spraying balls across to Cafu, Maldini, down the middle to Totti’s feet, or directly over the defence to feed Stoichkov & Suarez.
With the additions of the Arsenal captain & Real Madrid legend, Scholes/Vieira/Redondo is now perfectly balanced and complimentary - goals, creativity, pace, power and drive as well as defensive nous, positioning and toughness off the ball. A midfield trio that simply won't be beat in this match, but will actually take complete control of proceedings.
DEFENCE
The central back partnership formed a rock solid cornerstone of one of the Greatest Teams of the 1990's – with Juventus dominating Serie A and reaching three Champions League finals in a row.
Like many of the games great defensive partnerships, Ferrara/Montero know each other inside out and complement each other perfectly. The brute force of Montero vs the class and intelligence of the great Italian Ciro Ferrara – this is a partnership tested and proven at the highest level.
The Juventus defence is significantly improved on the right with the irrepressible Cafu bombing forward down the right flank and none other than the greatest left back of modern times, Paolo Maldini, to the left. With Redondo sat in front of this defence, there is a level of tactical awareness rarelly seen before.
ATTACKING FLEXIBILITY
The interplay between Vieira/Scholes/Totti allows the team to dominate possession and build slowly, or alternatively attack directly with pace and feed quick passes through to the likes of Savicevic/Stoichkov. All three are technically proficient at keeping the ball, yet all three also played in counter attacking/direct sides.
For United Scholes would constantly slow down the tempo and make seven or eight short passes, before suddenly spraying a 40 yard pass to initiate an attack. Likewise at Arsenal, Vieira controlled the play from midfield, but also constantly initiated counter attacks for Henry/Pires/Bergkamp.
TACTICAL CHANGE
As brilliant as Savicevic is (and he's had a fantastic tournament) due to the addition of Redondo playmaking from deep there isn't a need for another playmaker in there. Our side could do with more runs in behind for Totti, Scholes & Redondo, offering a bigger goal threat and also more work rate and energy. Savicevic lacks those qualities, therefore Luis Suarez comes into the side with Stoichkov moving to the right.
Basically it gives us another threat in behind for our passers to slip through balls into whilst also causing more problems for Gio's excellent back-line. Twisting and turning them, making life extremely difficult in a match where we expect our midfield to control preoceedings.
, and targeting the weakest part of TITO's defence - his centre-halves.