Buzzin Football

World Cup 2010

The Castrol Performance analysis suggests that we are in for a fantastic World Cup quater final game between Brazil and Holland, with the South Americans posing most threat from their attacking defenders and the Europeans relying on pacey counter attacking football.

So far in the World Cup 2010 finals, Brazil’s defenders have been attacking more than those of any other side, with full-back Maicon making more touches in the opposition half than any other defender.

Indeed, the Internazionale defender has made an impressive 59% of his touches in the opponent’s half. Joining Maicon in the top five in this ranking is team-mate and fellow full-back Michel Bastos while Spain’s Gerard Pique (69) is the only centre-half in the tournament to make more touches in the opposition half than Brazil’s captain Lucio (65).

Maicon has also created nine goal-scoring chances so far, a tournament-high for a defender and with he and fellow centre-half Juan both scoring in the tournament already,  the Dutch midfielders and indeed forwards will need to do their fair share of tracking back if they are to make it to the last four.

On the other hand Holland have been the most dangerous counter-attacking side in the 2010 FIFA World Cup so far, netting a joint-high two goals from fast breaks while also firing in a tournament-high seven shots following fast breaks.

While it is a far cry from the total football demonstrated by the Dutch in the seventies this ability to turn defence into attack led to goals against Cameroon, courtesy of substitute Klaas Jan Huntelaar’s second-half strike and Arjen Robben’s superb strike against Slovakia.

Robben’s goal came after a Slovakia attack was nullified by the Dutch defence before playmaker Wesley Sneijder played a superb long ball to the Bayern winger who cut inside before firing home past Ján Mucha in the Slovakian goal.

With the likes of Maicon, Lucio and Bastos all enjoying regular excursions forward, counter-attacking play may well be the Netherlands’ best hope of success against the South American giants.

The table below compares the two playmakers in midfield, Kaka and Sneijder showing their contribution to their relative teams so far in the competition.

Data supplied by Castrol Performance.

Kaka v Sneijder

Roy Hodgson joins Liverpool

Roy Hodgson has taken over as manager of Liverpool, the former Fulham boss emerged as favourite for the position soon after Rafael Benitez left the hot seat by mutual consent at the beginning of June.

It is reported that Liverpool felt that they needed to act quickly to secure the services of Hodgson following the failure of the England team in the World Cup, believing that the FA would consider him as a replacement for Fabio Capello for the national team.

Hodgson’s pedigree is nothing if not impressive, including two spells with Italian giants Inter Milan, either side of a spell with Blackburn Rovers at club level as well as working with clubs across Europe.

He has of course experienced coaching at national level Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and Finland, but it is his most recent time with Fulham that is freshest in the mind, leading the club to the Europa League final last season following a best ever seventh place finish in the Premier League in his first season in charge.

Not one for the mind games of some top EPL managers, Hodgson’s choice of words on announcing his appontment will certainly rile some clubs and their supporters ahead of the new season;

“This is the biggest job in club football and I’m honoured to be taking on Britain’s most successful football club.”

While wishing Hodgson the best of luck, Fulham will be very disappointed at losing the man who has turned Fulham into a competitive hard working unit, playing attractive football and of course achieving the impossible by bringing out the best in Bobby Zamora, who this season was on the brink of representing England in South Africa.

Can he do the same with the Liverpool underachievers this season?

David Silva to join Man City

It was inevitable that La Liga crisis club would have to cash in on on their two star players sooner or later, personally I expected David Villa and David Silva to move on after the success of  Spain in the European Championship.

But somehow the club managed to hang onto them despite the debt problems reported at Valencia. Things changed at the end of this season and Villa promptly signed for Barcelona (where else), but Silva has been linked with several top clubs including City and Chelsea during recent weeks and admitted a few weeks ago that he fancied the challenge of the Premier League.

I have long been an admirer of the little midfielder and while not an Arsenal supporter always thought he would make an excellent signing for the North London club.

But it appears that he has decided to join City, leaving his agent to negotiate the deal while the player is in South Africa hoping to help Spain lift the World Cup.

A fantastic naturally gifted player who pushes forward at pace, Silva is an exceptional signing for the Manchester club and if they can keep him fit he will surely prove to be one of the club’s most significant signings.

As the 2010 South Africa World Cup continues, even though I enjoy watching the best teams and the best players in the world, there’s a part of me that has lost interest since Germany thrashed England on Sunday.

This morning in stark contrast to the 1990 World Cup squad, the England team arrived at Heathrow and were taken away in blacked out taxis.  There was no fanfare, no flag waving, no vuvuzelas, and absolutely no cheering fans to welcome back our so-called ‘golden generation’.

England’s impeccable results in qualifying for the 2010 South Africa World Cup finals was impressive and heightened any expectations of how well England would fare.  And it wasn’t only madmen and their dogs that were blowing vuvuzela-style trumpets suggesting England could actually win the 2010 World Cup.  Respectable members of the media were serious in their support that England had a very good chance to show the world how to play football.

Not only did England fail to win the World Cup again, they were absolutely appalling in the process.  Four games, two goals and one player out of 23 that can honestly say he didn’t play shit!

Put it this way, if I had been asked as a Premier League football team scout to report on the England players I would have said only Ashley Cole was worth signing.  The others have absolutely no chance of making a dent in Blackpool’s squad.

So, what went wrong?  Whether it comes out that Fabio Capello’s strict regime that worked so well in the qualifying games and appeared to bring the superstars back down to earth, was not appropriate for a group of players on tour with egos as big and as soft as ostrich eggs; or the players are just not good enough will I’m sure be aired over the next few weeks.

What is clear is that when the pressure is on in a tournament situation, especially when England play teams with equal or better football ability they result to panicking, squabbling, selfish play and dysfunctional hoofing of the ball.

When Fabio Capello became England manager he inherited a squad of players that were picked on their names and reputations rather than their current form and ability.  Capello said no players were guaranteed a place in his England squad; and only fit players that were playing regularly and in form would be chosen to play for England.  Fabio Capello also put an end to sloppy dressing and bad manners.  Flip flops were banned, as were games consoles and leaving the dinner table before everyone had finished.

This, we all agreed was exactly what these overpaid prima donnas needed; and moreover it appeared to be working.  So why, just weeks before the 2010 South Africa World Cup did Fabio Capello coax Jamie Carragher out of international retirement after a poor season with Liverpool, and allegedly guarantee a place in the final 23 man squad to a virtual cripple, only for him to get injured after 30 minutes!?

Furthermore, why did he include three players in the initial 30 man squad that had an excellent Premier League season – Adam Johnson, Scott Parker and Michael Dawson – only to leave them out of the final squad, without even playing two of them?

I’m fully aware that England strikers praise Emille Heskey but hew-haw hee-haw hee always plays like a donkey; and Capello picked him even though Martin O’Neill doesn’t feel he’s good enough to be a first-team regular for Aston Villa.

The FA have said they will take two weeks to consider whether Fabio Capello should remain England manager or they should cut their losses and admit this was another expensive disaster.

So, if the FA sacked Fabio Capello who is there that is able to take England further than Capello and Sven Goran Erikkson before him? (Let’s just completely forget about the wally with a brolly!)

The usual suspects are going to line-up when the media backs the cry for an Englishman.  Harry Redknapp will allow the team to pick itself again and does anyone honestly want Sam Allardyce’s  toe-punting hit and run style of football?  I don’t think so.  So if not Capello, who is there?

Personally I would like Fabio Capello to continue at the helm unless the FA can lure the only man I think that could win the World Cup as England manager – Guus Hiddink.   If Hiddink doesn’t want the job then tell Capello to go for youth rather than celebrity status millionaires; and have a clause added to his contract – no invalids, no old has-beens, no playing players out of position, and no flare players without flare – all for one and one for all!

What a change a few days makes; a change in the attitude, the personnel, Fabio Capello’s mentality and the result. Four more performances like this and England could well end up winning the 2010 South Africa World Cup.

There wasn’t one specific reason for the change in attitude, but it was a culmination of many reasons. James Milner was included at the expense of the ineffective Aaron Lennon which showed that just having pace isn’t enough to succeed at this level.

Milner provided an outstanding assist for Jermain Defoe’s goal which was followed by another sumptuous cross which was inches away from going in. Milner persevered by giving 100% through tracking back and producing a series of outstanding long passes to provide Defoe and co the opportunities to attack. Despite Milner not being the most technically gifted in our squad, he is vital to our chance of winning.

Jermain Defoe’s inclusion over Emille Heskey was the correct decision without a doubt. He provided a different outlet for Wayne Rooney and most significantly injected some needed pace. It was well noted throughout the BBC’s commentary that Defoe didn’t have any touches of the ball before the goal.

However as proven with Heskey, it’s not about how many touches you have, it’s what you do with it which matters. Sadly for Heskey, he hasn’t brought the best out of Rooney in this World Cup and Defoe has justified a starting place for the 2nd round tie. The 2nd round match wouldn’t be possible if it wouldn’t have been for the lion hearts who graced our defence.

David James wasn’t required to make any outstanding but kept his concentration with an album of routine saves which Robert Green may have let through. James has shown that it doesn’t matter how old you are, it’s the ability and the capabilities which you should be picked on and not their age. He should and will remain our number one for the continuation of our reign in this competition.

John Terry proved that even though you have indiscretions in your personal life, you can still perform to your top potential. He did this through placing his body, quite literally, on the line when needed.

Despite his controversial press conference on Sunday, he marshalled the defence brilliantly. He said what he said, Capello criticised him for it and you know what, he played like he does for Chelsea whilst posing a potent threat from set pieces. This was the theme throughout the game.

Every single player who is usually outstanding for their club, were outstanding for England. Players like John Terry, Ashley Cole, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, James Milner and Jermain Defoe all lived up to their potential.

The argument may rage on about John Terry being unfairly stripped of the captaincy but he is still our captain on the pitch, the difference is he isn’t wearing an armband.

The replacement for the suspended Jamie Carragher was a topic which wasn’t really discussed in much detail. Fabio Capello chose Matthew Upson over Michael Dawson which was a bold decision as Upson has no pace and is prone to a regular mistake. This was proven when he gave away a few sloppy passes in the first half. On the other hand, he justified his inclusion with a match saving tackle in the penalty area when Slovenia barricaded our penalty area with consecutive shots.

The midfield seemed to have a better balance to it thanks to the selection of the industrious and outstanding crosser of the ball, James Milner. This helped Wayne Rooney despite him still not being at his best.

There were glimpses of the Rooney that we have become used to with him running at defences but he still seemed reluctant to shoot from distance.

This should be put down to him not being match fit and not being outlandishly confident. Ironically this was his best performance and Capello took him off when he remained with him in the two previous dire showings.

The difference today was we were winning and he could take a risk. This showed Capello’s courage in taking one of our marquee players, the best is yet to come from him.

Capello silenced his critics and showed something more than passion on the sidelines. He showed his undeniable love for football and passion for our cause. His tactics were spot on in every department. He picked the correct players and let them express themselves. This is why the FA pay him £6million a year, to guide us through difficult stages of tournaments and to put some of the egos in the side in their place. I was wrong about what I said about him not being up to it. Four more gritty performances presided over by Capello would see him become a national treasure.

We’re through to the 2nd round, that’s good. We need to build on this now. Who cares whether we play Germany or not. We don’t fear them, we don’t fear anyone. We only beat them a year ago which shows our confidence against them. This is a different England.

We’ve struggled through the group stage, but the best teams usually start slowly. Under the passive Sven Goran Erikkson we always cruised through the group stages but that got us nowhere. Under Capello we’re different and we’ll grind out results if we have to.