Tactical Football Development

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:justify; line-height:200%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style>

Tactics have, of course, also had their part to play in the global upsurge in football. New playing systems

have come into being: 4-4-2, 3-5-2, 4-5-1, 3-4-3. These systems and the way they are applied are even frequently

changed while a match is in progress (3-5-2 in an attacking phase changes to 4-4-2 in a defensive

phase), depending on the score and situations in a given match. But the most noteworthy change has been

the advent of “total football”, involving an increased playing tempo.

The notion of total football, which was born a quarter of a century ago and successfully promoted by, among

others, the Romanian Stefan Kovacs, former coach of the French national team and of AFC Ajax, involves

constant pressing.

Greater importance is also now given to changing the tempo of play. Winning teams are able to control the

tempo of the game by speeding up play or playing more slowly or more securely, thereby allowing them to

take their opponents by surprise. This alternation in tempo often provides the opening that makes the difference

and can create a priceless breach of a defence that has been extremely tight thus far.

The tactical elements of the modern game have increased the importance and the technical quality of attacking

players. As a result, they have enriched their technical and athletic skills and their contribution to

the game considerably. To be effi cient, these players have to be explosive and skilful in front of goal, as well

as being fast and able to head the ball extremely well. The great attackers in today’s game that fall into this

category are the Brazilian Ronaldo, the Englishman Owen, the Frenchman Henry and the Spaniard Raúl.

 

It goes without saying, though, that the high number of creative players has not been affected by this new order

in international football. The Platinis, Gascoignes, Laudrups, Rivaldos and those who model themselves

on these greats will always have a decisive influence.