Team Sjor Tactics
Sub: Osvaldo Ardiles '78
Formation: Staggered 3-4-3
The team is tailored to a standard 3-4-3 tactic. Neuer was one of the finest performers in '14 and forms the last line of defense. The core of the defense comprises of three historic world cup performers and should form an Iron Curtain considering the symbiotic fits — couldn't ask for a better sweeper than Baresi in this format considering his command in '90, Maldini is the perfect cover defender for him, and Gentile the man-marking rock who produced some of the most gritty performances in a historic context - All-Azzurri royalty. In wider areas, Cafú is the best at rampaging up and down the pitch - which contrasts beautifully with Zagallo's acumen and attention to detail on the left. The central areas as patrolled by Coluna and Tigana: two of the most complete performers in a World Cup context — qualitatively phenomenal, athletically completely, industrious and adding a degree of pizzazz in possession - ideal for a seemingly all-encompassing double pivot setup. Stábile is a bona fide World Cup hero for his remarkable finishing in the inaugural World Cup, and providing chutzpah in attacking and creative roles with their precise dribbling, incisive passing and finishing thread are Rivaldo and Meazza — World Cup greats, and among the most devastating players in the tournament's history:
I also saw Pelé playing. He did not achieve Meazza's elegant style of playing. — Luigi Veronelli
Manuel Neuer
World Cup - 2014
Team Accomplishment - Winners
Individual Accomplishment - Golden Glove and Team of the Tournament
Summary - Neuer's sweeper-keeper playing style distinguished him from other starting goalkeepers in the tournament - aside from his great skill set as a shot stopper. After keeping clean sheets in group matches against Portugal and the united States, Neuer recorded his third clean sheet of the World Cup in the 1–0 QF defeat of France. This was his 22nd clean sheet overall in his 50th appearance for
die Nationalmannschaft. In the SF, Neuer conceded a late goal as his team routed hosts Brazil 7-1. In the Final against Argentina, Neuer was not heavily tested but he nonetheless commanded his penalty area well. Germany ultimately defeated Argentina 1–0 thanks to a Mario Götze goal in extra time. Neuer won the Golden Glove award for the tournament's best goalkeeper.
Tactical Role - Sweeper keeper. He is by no means the first one to play it as there are the likes of Yashin and Grosics that played a similar role in World Cups, but he really took the role on another level- setting a new standard for the position in 2014.
Franco Baresi
World Cup - 1990
Team Accomplishment - Bronze
Individual Accomplishment - Team of the Tournament
Summary - Franco Baresi was at the peak of his powers in the tournament as regards his defensive attributes and ability to read the game - leading what is considered by many the greatest defense of all time, and also contributed massively in possession where he was crucial in timely transitions from defense to attack via his great passing range, vision and intelligent decision making. All in all, they kept five consecutive clean sheets, only conceding two goals, and going unbeaten for a World Cup record of 518 minutes, until they were beaten by an Argentinian equalizer in the semi-final. A travesty that he didn't win the tournament because his dominant individual performance, and in fact the performance of that entire defense merited that, but unfortunately for him that was a period where the Azzurri lacked quality in other areas, specially in midfield - so his heroics were in vain.
Tactical Role - Playing in a sweeper role, Baresi has the freedom to bomb up with Maldini in a covering role and Gentile in a man-marking/covering role - in addition to Neuer as a sweeper keeper - who can build possession even when Baresi advances. Here, can be very methodical and judicious, and won't need to take as many risks as he did in '90 as a compensatory feature, considering the quality around him and players that are able to transition the play from more offensive positions - including the likes of Zagallo, Cafu, Coluna, Tigana in more advanced positions.
Claudio Gentile
World Cup - 1982
Team Accomplishment - Winners
Individual Accomplishment - Team of the Tournament
Summary - The
Master of the Dark Arts is arguably the greatest marker in World Cup history and well as one of the hardest players of the tournament. He gained notoriety for his relentless man-marking of Diego Maradona in a second-round match against Argentina at the 1982 World Cup: where he fouled the Argentine star 11 times in the first half and famously quipped, "Football is not for ballerinas!" Italy ended up defeating the defending champions Argentina, and scored 10 goals in their final four games in the 1982 World Cup — dispatching the favourites, the holders and the reigning European champions. Gentile’s ability to stifle and dominate the opposition had allowed the rest of the Italian team to grow in confidence and play with a freedom rarely seen by the
Azzurri.
Tactical Role - Man-marking Roberto Baggio. In this specific tournament Gentile gained legendary status after halting the talents of Diego Maradona, as well as Zico with his aggressive and uncompromising man marking approach so it would be foolish not to use that to my advantage, especially considering Gentile is perfectly suited to a lithe, low center of gravity forward like Baggio — and the team is built in a way that can easily overcome all the tactical inconveniences of a proper man marking job.
Paolo Maldini
World Cup - 1994
Team Accomplishment - Silver
Individual Accomplishment - Team of the Tournament
Summary - Maldini played in all seven of Italy's matches, and deputised for the injured Franco Baresi in the matches against Mexico, Nigeria, Spain and Bulgaria, keeping a clean sheet in the group match against Norway. Maldini led the Italian defence to the final, playing both as a centre-back and as a full-back, due to the absences of his Milan and Italy defensive teammates Baresi, due to injury, Mauro Tassotti, due to suspension after the quarter-finals, and Alessandro Costacurta, who was suspended for the final. Maldini helped Italy keep a clean sheet in the final against favourites Brazil as the team eventually lost on penalties.
Tactical Role - While this is Baresi's defense and he is the best defender in there - which by the way, says a lot considering Paolo immaculate World Cup credentials - Maldini is the player that makes this defense truly special in tandem with Baresi and Gentile. Perfect fit for Zagallo in that you'd have no one else to cover the space over Maldini, and perfect partner for Baresi for obvious reasons, perfect fit for a back 3 as they originally form. And if Zagallo goes up or for some reason cannot recover in time, the rest can form a back 4 with Maldini as leftback. If Baresi ventures up or Gentile gets drawn out of position they can form a back 4 with him at centerback and even if the team gets caught on the counter which is pretty much impossible task considering the staff you cant hardly pick a better fit to defend the open pitch on the counter.
Cafú
World Cup - 1998
Team Accomplishment - Silver
Summary - For some reason my first thought when I think about the World Cup is Cafú — played in 4 (3 times in the final!) different ones and this one was his best even though they didn't manage to win it. Pretty much came when he was at his peak where he had everything combined: attacking powers from his young years and defensive game from his veteran years.
Tactical Role - The same role he had on that tournament and in his time at Roma. For most time would have the freedom to bomb up and down as he wants but on the rare occasion he will have to drop back to form a back 4 - is tactically astute and intelligent enough to pull it of without to much effort.
Mário Zagallo
World Cup - 1962
Team Accomplishment - Winners
Individual Accomplishment - Team of the Tournament
Summary - Zagallo was in some ways the glue that held Brazil together in terms of balance. Provided 5 assists and scored 1 goal in the tournament, 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.
Tactical Role - Tactical wingback and assistant manager for coaching the greatest World Cup team of all time in '70.
Anyway, if you watch his performances during the 1962 World Cup, you will pretty much see a classic modern wingback performance. Usually a hardworking and tactically sound winger, he had to sacrifice his game a little bit and almost play as a fullback at times but even though he took the bullet for the team his end product didn't take the hit and he was productive as he had a free role in the team.
Mário Coluna
World Cup - 1966
Team Accomplishment - Bronze
Individual Accomplishment - Team of the Tournament
Summary - Coluna captained his side at the world finals. His poise and precision in midfield would help the Black Panther finish the tournament as the leading goalscorer and take the team to third place, which remains Portugal’s best-ever FIFA World Cup finals performance.
Tactical Role - Complete midfielder at the heart of the pitch. Though
O Monstro Sagrado was not a particularly tall man, he exuded an aura of effortless command, combining formidable physical authority with an elegant style and delightfully subtle skills which seemed somehow unexpected in one so powerful - perfect for a double pivot style with the like-minded Tigana to limit Bozsik. Also, renowned as the football general who loaded the bullets for Eusébio - Coluna is ideally placed to create pandemonium in unison with Meazza and Rivaldo further up the pitch.
Jean Tigana
World Cup - 1986
Team Accomplishment - Bronze
Individual Accomplishment - Team of the Tournament
Summary - A perfect amalgam of technique and stamina, Tigana was in sumptuous form in the 1986 World Cup - by now fully established as the engine of the French national team with his heroics in 1984, and rated as one of the best performers of the tournament as a heavy duty and tactically advanced central midfielder:
Tactical Role - Definition of a box-to-box midfielder. Immense in defensive terms and very good on the ball, he should be in his elements with Coluna alongside him. Can easily run the game for you if you allow him to or if you need it - but had the heart of a lion and could run all day in trademark 3-Lungs style. Funnily enough his only international goal came at this tournament - and what a goal it was! So this is probably the only draft where you can count on him as a viable goal threat.
Giuseppe Meazza
World Cup - 1934
Team Accomplishment - Winners
Individual Accomplishment - Golden Ball and Team of the Tournament
Summary - Meazza appeared in every game for the Azzurri and he started that run with scoring the final goal in their World Cup opener. Towards the business end of the competition, he faced the Wunderteam with Josef Bican of Rapid Vienna and Mathias Sindelar of FK Austria, two of the world's finest players. Austria was widely considered the strongest continental side and had already beaten the Italians 4–2 in Turin only four months earlier. But in treacherous conditions, and combating fatigue, Meazza was an inspiration: out-played an Austrian forward, dribbled past him, then collided into the grounded Austrian goalkeeper, Peter Platzer, who had pounced on the ball to quell the attack. The ball came loose, hit the post and bounced to Guaita, to score the only goal of the match. In the final Italy suffered badly after Meazza was injured in a tackle. He soldiered on though. After ninety minutes the two teams were 1–1. Italy, though, was in far more trouble as the game went into extra time, until Meazza became the inspirer again - left alone on the wing to drift in and out of the match, he recovered sufficiently enough to send a slicing pass to Guaita that unlocked the Czech defense, and then went about setting a series of blocks to free up his strikers for the winner five minutes into the extra period. Talismanic!
Tactical Role - Free role inside right - approximating his role in '34. Meazza was a superb dribbler who despite his speed, never had a single brylcreemed hair out of place, and although he was not tall, was remarkably good in the air. Throughout the tournament, he created many chances for his teammates, and, his bending goals "a foglia morta", the "dead leaf technique", in particular from free-kicks, were also feared by goalkeepers. As a playmaker, he was a brilliant passer, two-footed, had remarkable field vision, and was noted for his balance and agility on the ball, as well as his control, turns and spins. The complete package for the position in this format.
Rivaldo
World Cup - 2002
Team Accomplishment - Winners
Individual Accomplishment - Team of the Tournament
Summary - The zenith of his national team career where Rivaldo was able to erase the disappointment of the previous World Cup Final defeat, helping his country to win their fifth World Cup. Featuring in an attacking trio with Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, dubbed "the three Rs, Rivaldo scored in the first five games while Ronaldo scored in four matches. Rivaldo's goal against Belgium in the second round prompted Belgian coach to name him as the deciding factor. Ronaldinho assisted Rivaldo to score the equaliser against England in the QF before Ronaldinho scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory. Brazil met Germany in the final, and went on to win the tournament with a 2–0 victory, courtesy of two goals by Ronaldo with Rivaldo involved in both goals. The first came after Rivaldo's shot was saved by German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn with Ronaldo scoring the rebound, and the second saw Rivaldo fool the German defence with a dummy as the ball ran on to Ronaldo who finished. So crucial was he to their fortunes, that Rivaldo was named by coach Scolari as the best player of the tournament.
Tactical Role - Same role as he had in the tournament which pretty much means his best role or natural how ever you prefer. Has freedom to move wherever he wants in a fluid offensive line. Will probably leave the main playmaking role to Meazza just the way he left one to Ronaldinho in WC '02 so his movement will heavily be dependent of the movement of Giuseppe Meazza. Works hard, geat all-round game, big goal threat as he was second best goalscorer of the tournament alongside Klose and behind Ronaldo. Capable of magic and more importantly, produces in big games and in key moments.
Guillermo Stábile
World Cup - 1930
Team Accomplishment - Silver
Individual Accomplishment - Golden Boot, Silver Ball and Team of the Tournament,
Summary - Made his debut for the national team at the age of 25, in his team's second match in the first ever World Cup held in Uruguay - game finished 6–3 to Argentina, with Stábile scoring a hat-trick on his debut. The final game of the group stages saw Argentina facing South American rivals Chile. They won the game 3–1 with Stábile scoring twice, meaning that Argentina had qualified for the SF. The South Americans breezed through, with a 6–1 victory; Stábile added two more goals to his account and securing Argentina a place in the finals. On 30 July 1930, the first ever World Cup final took place, between Argentina and Uruguay. At half time Argentina led 2–1, Stábile having scored the second goal. However, they went on to lose 4–2. Despite that, Stábile etched his name as one of the deadliest strikers in World Cup history - finishing the tournament with 8 goals in 4 games for a GPG of 2.0!
Tactical Role - Center forward and assistant to the assistant manager considering he by far holds the record most South American championship winners as a coach.
As a player, he was fondly known as the ‘Infiltrator’ for his goal-scoring ability and gives his frightening form through the tournament for La Albiceleste, he's ideally suited to a finisher role - ahead of Meazza and Rivaldo. The first ever Golden Boot winner should get plenty of chances to threaten the opposition defense with the creativity behind him.
