By Myles Palmer
Sven’s four football brains will have de-constructed the Brazil team in the same way I’m going to do here.
Tord Grip,Dave Sexton and Steve McClaren will have looked at tapes of Brazil and figured out why Big Phil has done what he has done.
Big Phil says that he plays three centrebacks because Cufu cannot defend.
He also says that his defence would be fine if the players remembered what he told them and did the things they practice in training games every day.
Here’s what Sven and his advisors will say :
OK, BRAZIL LOST EMERSON with a dislocated shoulder and Emerson was the captain and Big Phil’s big buddy.
There’s only one Emerson, just as there is only one Steven Gerrard, so Big Phil had a decision to make:do I change the system by putting two midfielders in to replace my superbly solid skipper?
He decided not to do that because the strength of his team is up front and on the flanks.
Big Phil plays three up and wingbacks.
CAFU and ROBERTO CARLOS have the ball a lot and they supply the front three with passes and crosses. Maybe two thirds of their supply comes from wide positions, not central midfield positions.
When Big Phil brings on a sub it’s usually Denilson to boost the left touchline.
SO WHAT BIG PHIL IS SAYING (BY HIS ACTIONS) is that we will play with passes from the flanks and crosses from the flanks.
We will focus on that and win games by doing that. And it’s worked so far, even when Turkey scored first.
Turkey are by far the best of the four teams Brazil have beaten.
BELGIUM were better than China or Costa Rica, but nothing special.
WHY HAS BIG PHIL DECIDED TO PLAY THIS WAY? Why has he decided to surrender central midfield?
Because Ronaldo and Rivaldo have slowed down so much.
There was a moment against China when RONALDO went into the box against a defender and switched to turbo – and turbo wasn’t there.
The extra gear was not there. He had no overdrive. Even though he had played the laziest game of goal-hanging I’ve ever seen him play.
RONALDO in 1997-98 used to burn off defenders with blistering power, play one-twos through the middle, score dozens of goals from one-on-ones against the keeper, often dribbling round the keeper.
His awesome pace has gone so he doesn’t do that any more.
His first international goal for three years came against Malaysia – from a right wing cross.
All of his five goals in this World Cup have come from crosses-and one of those was really an own-goal.
1. TURKEY : A volley from Rivaldo’s left wing cross, jumping forward with both feet to equalise the Hasan Sas goal two minutes earlier.
2.CHINA : The fourth after Cafu’s run and low cross.
3.COSTA RICA : The lunge for a left wing cross that went in off defender Marin as Ronaldo challenged.
4.COSTA RICA: Rivado’s ;left wiung corner hit his thigh and he turned and knicked it in.
5.BELGIUM: late goal for 2-0, beautifully stabbed in, left-footed from Klebersen’s right wing cross.
I REST MY CASE !
Basically, their four big names – Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo and Rivaldo- are only 65% as good as they were in 1998.
We see players taking the ball off Rivaldo who would not have got within two yards of him four years ago, or even two years ago.
But Rivaldo may still be the most gifted footballer in this World Cup.
He cannot dribble so elusively now, but he can pass, cross, shoot and head.
A lot of his best work is done standing still.
He is a killer, a genius, a freak who can score from one yard or thirty yards
Big Phil knows, and Sven knows, that Juninho-Gilberto is not a midfield.
The fans back in Brazil are screaming: We have no midfield!!! And they are right.
But it is deliberate. It’s Phil’s decision.
Coaching is a matter of emphasis, choosing your strengths and emphasising your strengths and hiding your weaknesses.
Playing this way (wingbacks and three up) hides the fact that Ronaldo no longer has murderous match-winning pace.
He is, however, two footed. He can pass and dribble and shoot with both feet, more so than Vieiri or Owen or Batistuta or Diouf.
Ronaldo is strong and quick-thinking and he is on Rivaldo’s wavelength.
BUT ENGLAND CAN CONTAIN THE TWO BIG MEN.
I’m surprised that nobody has pointed out that Ronaldo scores all his goals from crosses these days, but I’m sure England’s coaches are aware of that fact.
It will be a big part of their game-plan.
Overall, Sven will be looking for two or three red-hot performances.
Looking for two or three players to play out of their skin and win the game for England.
It’s possible.
Any decision by either coach could win or lose the game.
So it’s an intriguing one.
LET’S WAIT AND SEE.
20th June 2002.
PS Thursday 6pm :
Latest whispers are : Owen is NOT fit but will play the first 45.
And Juninho will be on the bench. Rain is forecast.