Team Tiger
Skillful Italy and Juventus forward Alessandro del Piero, renowned for his dribbling and finishing, is one of the most productive and consistent performers in Serie `A'. Now the all-time leading scorer of Juventus, he has scooped six Italian titles and a Champions League medal in a glittering career that has perhaps lacked only major success at international level. He could put that right as he features in his third World Cup this summer.
Del Piero is a creative and attacking player who is effective playing behind the frontline strikers as well as further forward. He is also recognised as one of the world's best dead-ball specialists.
Del Piero was born in Conegliano in the province of Treviso but such was his footballing talent he was spotted playing for hometown San Vandemiano he left home at the age of 13 to join the youth programme at Serie `B' club Padova.
He broke into the Padova first team in 1991 and two years later was snapped up by giants Juventus, his boyhood idols, in spite of interest from AC Milan.
Del Piero made his Serie `A' debut against Foggia in September 1993, scored his first goal in his next game against Reggiana and then grabbed a hat-trick against Parma on his first start. Juventus claimed their first Scudetto in eight years in his first season and success continued to follow. There were further titles in 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003 and 2005 and another one seems well on the way. He helped Juventus win the Champions League in 1996 and he has also lost three finals in 1997, 1998 and 2003
Philosophy/Ideology of tactical set-up
...
Style possession
Central player
Playing his favoured position behind the striker. Having Leonardo and Scifo on the flanks means they will naturally come narrow bringing the oppo fullbacks out of position and allowing Del Piero to play close to a free role in the final third. A solid central mid partnership of Essien and Stankovic meaning not too much on del piero to come deep.
Defense
Defensive Line - Normal
Marking - zonal
Off the ball - tucking in defenders to form compact defense
On the ball - Build up play
Midfield
...
Attack
...
Player Roles
Del Piero - Free Role/Trequartista
Fullbacks - provide the bulk of attacking wide play.
Essien - B2B
Stankovic- Sitting Midfield
The wingers - AM/inside forwards
Team P-nut/Enigma
Formation: 5-3-2
Style - Counter attacking set up. Sit deep and compact and break quickly.
Philosophy/Ideology of the tactical set up:
We're setting in a counter attacking formation with two no-nonsense defenders as stoppers, Vasovic sweeping behind and pushing forward in possession boosting numbers in midfield. 2 fast wingbacks, who are also good crossers of the ball and that can overlap in attack and man their flanks. In attack we are going with similar style to Herrera's Inter and using the basics - vertical football at great speed, with direct passes to get to the opponent's box as quickly as possible.
In defence we're staying deep, soaking the pressure, win the ball back in their half and launch the ball forward with speed and directness. Xabi Alonso or Vasovic can start an attack from deep and look for space on the flanks for our quick full backs, or either Signori, Mazzola or Vieri up field. All players can move quickly in transition and are used to counter attacking style of football. Directness is the key.
Mazzola has Vieri and Signori - two excellent goalscorers with solid link up game and most of all great off the ball movement which will allow him to create space for himself or use his passing and vision to set them up.
Player roles:
GK: Thibaut Courtois - Solid in the air and excellent at starting the attacks if needed.
LWB: Zé Roberto - Stretch the attack, man his own flank moving vertically through the lines when in and off possession. Cross from deep and get the ball to the forwards.
RWB: Eric Gerets - Same as Ze Roberto from the other side.
Libero: Velibor Vasović - last line of defence, start attacks from deep, overload the midfield moving vertically.
LCB: Karlheinz Förster - One of the outstanding stoppers in the pool. Fluent in 5-3-2 system, excellent marker who is also a great overall defender
RCB: Carles Puyol - pacy and good on the ball can cover the right side when Gerets goes forward.
Deep playmaker: Xabi Alonso - look for openings both on the flank and up field, get the ball to the forwards as quickly as possible.
Box to Box: Bryan Robson - An all action box to box midfielder, leader of the 80's United side and a great ball winner in midfield. He brings a lot of energy and never say die attitude in the middle of the pitch.
Central player: Sandro Mazzola - focal point of the attack. Getting the ball to him, playing in a free role and pressing the opposition defenders off the ball.
LWF - Giuseppe Signori - use his pace on counters, stretch the attack wide and more often on his favorite left position.
CF: Christian Vieri - target man, keep the opposition defence honest, make space for Mazzola, use his strength in aerial duels to bring the ball down.
Central player - Sandro Mazzola
Mazzola’s role in the Grande Inter team was particularly tasking. A wonderfully creative player who combined a glorious touch with dangerous pace and agility, Mazzola was relied upon to bring Suarez and Picchi’s sweeping balls under control and immediately feed Peiro or take a shot on goal. Inter’s system relied upon maximum efficiency up front, and it was largely down to Mazzola to turn hopeful passes into clear-cut opportunities. Mazzola was a brilliant dribbler and finisher often leading Inter goalscoring charts. The combination of notoriously hard to please and a strict disciplinarian - Herrara, and a perfectionist and hard worker - Mazzola, was always going to produce scintillating displays of football on the pitch. One where technique, flair and skill meet hard work, determination, tactics and will to win. Mazzola's role in defending was not to fall back on the pitch when not with ball, but to harry defenders get the ball back.
In this particular set up Vieri and Signori will compliment Mazzola's strengths but also allow him to play his natural game. Vieri with his strength up field can engage the central defencers in a way Peiro did, whilst allowing space for Mazzola to get the ball and run towards the goal or either look for Signori who will be hovering around the box or at the left wing. He will be overlapped by Gerets also allowing him to utilize the right flank and a 5-3-2 system will give more space for him to operate with two other clinical forwards around him.
Like Grande inter in this set up we have chosen two very efficient forwards in Vieri and Signori, fluent in counter attacking set up and very direct with their movement towards the goal.
The midfield is based on getting the ball as quickly as possible to Mazzola with two excellent passers in Robson and Alonso, who also possess considerable work rate and can stay deep to break attacks.
The set up is aimed to get the best out of Mazzola in a way that it would highlight his dribbling and creative talent by being our focal attacking point and would allow Alonso, Robson and Vasovic to find him into space while Signori and Vieri occupy the opposition defenders. In the same time we have very direct and fast players on both wings and up front who will give a lot of passing options for him to link up and combine in the attacking third.
Defence - Our defence is made up of 2 stoppers combined with a sweeper. A classic 5-3-2, composed of one of the best stoppers in history in Karlheinz Förster and Carles Puyol who slots perfectly into the RCB role. Both CB's will be tasked with no nonsense defending. When they win the ball they will simply shift it to either the sweeper in Vasović or play a simple ball to Alonso if it is on.
Vasović will be tasked with deciding when to step into midfield and when to drop off so that our defence always has the numbers to deal with any threat.
Both wing backs will provide the same roles of manning their flanks and providing outlets out wide. Ze Roberto will have slightly more license to tuck into midfield if the situation arises where he has to, however most of the time he will keep his width.
Defensive Line - Deep
Marking - Custom (1 stopper to pick up the striker, other sliding wide to help the wing back, sweeper following any strikers that drop deep)
Off the ball - Standing off
On the ball - Rapid transitions through sweeper (or Alonso)
Midfield roles:
Robson will be playing as a complete box to box midfielder. His energy passing range and strength will be a huge boost. Both Xabi Alonso and Robson will be deeper when off the ball then either move vertically into space and shoot from distance, combine with Mazzola or get the ball to the attackers. Vasović in his libero role will be pushing up when needed to overload the midfield and keep things tight. When off the ball Zé Roberto can also shore the space by tucking in.
Attack - Three pronged attack all designed to give Mazzola space to work and options to link up with. Vieri will occupy the centre backs whilst Signori keeps the pitch stretched to afford maximum room. Attack can expect to receive the ball quickly and will stay high up the pitch in order to gain ground on quick counter attacks.
Skillful Italy and Juventus forward Alessandro del Piero, renowned for his dribbling and finishing, is one of the most productive and consistent performers in Serie `A'. Now the all-time leading scorer of Juventus, he has scooped six Italian titles and a Champions League medal in a glittering career that has perhaps lacked only major success at international level. He could put that right as he features in his third World Cup this summer.
Del Piero is a creative and attacking player who is effective playing behind the frontline strikers as well as further forward. He is also recognised as one of the world's best dead-ball specialists.
Del Piero was born in Conegliano in the province of Treviso but such was his footballing talent he was spotted playing for hometown San Vandemiano he left home at the age of 13 to join the youth programme at Serie `B' club Padova.
He broke into the Padova first team in 1991 and two years later was snapped up by giants Juventus, his boyhood idols, in spite of interest from AC Milan.
Del Piero made his Serie `A' debut against Foggia in September 1993, scored his first goal in his next game against Reggiana and then grabbed a hat-trick against Parma on his first start. Juventus claimed their first Scudetto in eight years in his first season and success continued to follow. There were further titles in 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003 and 2005 and another one seems well on the way. He helped Juventus win the Champions League in 1996 and he has also lost three finals in 1997, 1998 and 2003
Philosophy/Ideology of tactical set-up
...
Style possession
Central player
Playing his favoured position behind the striker. Having Leonardo and Scifo on the flanks means they will naturally come narrow bringing the oppo fullbacks out of position and allowing Del Piero to play close to a free role in the final third. A solid central mid partnership of Essien and Stankovic meaning not too much on del piero to come deep.
Defense
Defensive Line - Normal
Marking - zonal
Off the ball - tucking in defenders to form compact defense
On the ball - Build up play
Midfield
...
Attack
...
Player Roles
Del Piero - Free Role/Trequartista
Fullbacks - provide the bulk of attacking wide play.
Essien - B2B
Stankovic- Sitting Midfield
The wingers - AM/inside forwards
Team P-nut/Enigma
Formation: 5-3-2
Style - Counter attacking set up. Sit deep and compact and break quickly.
Philosophy/Ideology of the tactical set up:
We're setting in a counter attacking formation with two no-nonsense defenders as stoppers, Vasovic sweeping behind and pushing forward in possession boosting numbers in midfield. 2 fast wingbacks, who are also good crossers of the ball and that can overlap in attack and man their flanks. In attack we are going with similar style to Herrera's Inter and using the basics - vertical football at great speed, with direct passes to get to the opponent's box as quickly as possible.
In defence we're staying deep, soaking the pressure, win the ball back in their half and launch the ball forward with speed and directness. Xabi Alonso or Vasovic can start an attack from deep and look for space on the flanks for our quick full backs, or either Signori, Mazzola or Vieri up field. All players can move quickly in transition and are used to counter attacking style of football. Directness is the key.
Mazzola has Vieri and Signori - two excellent goalscorers with solid link up game and most of all great off the ball movement which will allow him to create space for himself or use his passing and vision to set them up.
Player roles:
GK: Thibaut Courtois - Solid in the air and excellent at starting the attacks if needed.
LWB: Zé Roberto - Stretch the attack, man his own flank moving vertically through the lines when in and off possession. Cross from deep and get the ball to the forwards.
RWB: Eric Gerets - Same as Ze Roberto from the other side.
Libero: Velibor Vasović - last line of defence, start attacks from deep, overload the midfield moving vertically.
LCB: Karlheinz Förster - One of the outstanding stoppers in the pool. Fluent in 5-3-2 system, excellent marker who is also a great overall defender
RCB: Carles Puyol - pacy and good on the ball can cover the right side when Gerets goes forward.
Deep playmaker: Xabi Alonso - look for openings both on the flank and up field, get the ball to the forwards as quickly as possible.
Box to Box: Bryan Robson - An all action box to box midfielder, leader of the 80's United side and a great ball winner in midfield. He brings a lot of energy and never say die attitude in the middle of the pitch.
Central player: Sandro Mazzola - focal point of the attack. Getting the ball to him, playing in a free role and pressing the opposition defenders off the ball.
LWF - Giuseppe Signori - use his pace on counters, stretch the attack wide and more often on his favorite left position.
CF: Christian Vieri - target man, keep the opposition defence honest, make space for Mazzola, use his strength in aerial duels to bring the ball down.
Central player - Sandro Mazzola
Mazzola’s role in the Grande Inter team was particularly tasking. A wonderfully creative player who combined a glorious touch with dangerous pace and agility, Mazzola was relied upon to bring Suarez and Picchi’s sweeping balls under control and immediately feed Peiro or take a shot on goal. Inter’s system relied upon maximum efficiency up front, and it was largely down to Mazzola to turn hopeful passes into clear-cut opportunities. Mazzola was a brilliant dribbler and finisher often leading Inter goalscoring charts. The combination of notoriously hard to please and a strict disciplinarian - Herrara, and a perfectionist and hard worker - Mazzola, was always going to produce scintillating displays of football on the pitch. One where technique, flair and skill meet hard work, determination, tactics and will to win. Mazzola's role in defending was not to fall back on the pitch when not with ball, but to harry defenders get the ball back.
In this particular set up Vieri and Signori will compliment Mazzola's strengths but also allow him to play his natural game. Vieri with his strength up field can engage the central defencers in a way Peiro did, whilst allowing space for Mazzola to get the ball and run towards the goal or either look for Signori who will be hovering around the box or at the left wing. He will be overlapped by Gerets also allowing him to utilize the right flank and a 5-3-2 system will give more space for him to operate with two other clinical forwards around him.
Like Grande inter in this set up we have chosen two very efficient forwards in Vieri and Signori, fluent in counter attacking set up and very direct with their movement towards the goal.
The midfield is based on getting the ball as quickly as possible to Mazzola with two excellent passers in Robson and Alonso, who also possess considerable work rate and can stay deep to break attacks.
The set up is aimed to get the best out of Mazzola in a way that it would highlight his dribbling and creative talent by being our focal attacking point and would allow Alonso, Robson and Vasovic to find him into space while Signori and Vieri occupy the opposition defenders. In the same time we have very direct and fast players on both wings and up front who will give a lot of passing options for him to link up and combine in the attacking third.
Defence - Our defence is made up of 2 stoppers combined with a sweeper. A classic 5-3-2, composed of one of the best stoppers in history in Karlheinz Förster and Carles Puyol who slots perfectly into the RCB role. Both CB's will be tasked with no nonsense defending. When they win the ball they will simply shift it to either the sweeper in Vasović or play a simple ball to Alonso if it is on.
Vasović will be tasked with deciding when to step into midfield and when to drop off so that our defence always has the numbers to deal with any threat.
Both wing backs will provide the same roles of manning their flanks and providing outlets out wide. Ze Roberto will have slightly more license to tuck into midfield if the situation arises where he has to, however most of the time he will keep his width.
Defensive Line - Deep
Marking - Custom (1 stopper to pick up the striker, other sliding wide to help the wing back, sweeper following any strikers that drop deep)
Off the ball - Standing off
On the ball - Rapid transitions through sweeper (or Alonso)
Midfield roles:
Robson will be playing as a complete box to box midfielder. His energy passing range and strength will be a huge boost. Both Xabi Alonso and Robson will be deeper when off the ball then either move vertically into space and shoot from distance, combine with Mazzola or get the ball to the attackers. Vasović in his libero role will be pushing up when needed to overload the midfield and keep things tight. When off the ball Zé Roberto can also shore the space by tucking in.
Attack - Three pronged attack all designed to give Mazzola space to work and options to link up with. Vieri will occupy the centre backs whilst Signori keeps the pitch stretched to afford maximum room. Attack can expect to receive the ball quickly and will stay high up the pitch in order to gain ground on quick counter attacks.
