Football Tactics: The Evolution Of Total Football.

It's a football philosophy which involves the inter-changing of positions among the players except the goalkeeper. This type of football became popular in the 1970s. Many teams around the globe tried to use this tactic but only a few succeeded.


Netherlands team in 1974 world cup. They practiced total football.
Although this system became popular in 1970s, this idea began as early as 1930s though it was bound to failing. Argentina's River Plate (La Maquina) in 1940s, England's Burnley in 1950s and Brazilian Santos in 1960 were among the first teams to use the idea and ripped fruits from it.

Netherlands' Ajax, was the most successful team to use this tactic. Ajax won all home matches in two seasons between 1971-1973. They won 46 games drew none and lost none. This resulted into winning 2 League titles, KNVB Cup, European Cup and the Intercontinental Cup.

Burnley Fc in early 1950s. Source:game of the people.


Also, the Netherlands National team used this system and benefitted from it. The most famous match was between West Germany and Netherlands World Cup semi-final. The Dutch side (Netherlands) scored a goal two minutes from the kick off without any West Germany player touching the ball. At the end West Germany broke the Dutch heats by making an astonishing comeback and won 2-1.

Netherlands National team in 1974 World Cup.


What you'll need to use total football technique.

1. Players who can play in almost all positions.
2. Easy adjustment of players to make the game flow smoothly.
3. Players who are composed and focused in the game.
4. Fast-paced players to recover the gaps left by another players.

Drawbacks of Total Football.
a) If you play against a team with high man marking then it is easy to lose because it won't work.
b) It wants players who have adapted to this style of play.
c) No player can play well in all positions. It leads to being punished if a striker acts as a defender because he lacks defending qualities.

Players who mastered this philosophy is Johan Cruyff (Ajax), Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimoć. Cruyff continued with this philosophy even after his footballing career ended. He managed Barcelona by then Pep Guardiola was playing for Barca.

Today, many teams have evolved this tactic like Pep Guardiola, added the possessive skill to make it 'tiki taka' or 'Juego de Posecion'. Nowdays, most teams do not want to be predictable in their tactics that's why they use multiple philosophies.

Ref: wikipedia, goal.com and imperial.ac.ke

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

World Class Footballers Who Supported Their Rival Clubs When They Were Kids

Image
Once Eric Cantona said, "You can change your wife, house and everything. But you cannot change your favorite football club!" Indeed it is true that football fans will be ready to suffer  heartbreaks but still support their clubs. Here are 8 World class footballers who support their rival teams: Vinicius Jr The Young Brazilian has been a Barca fan since he was a child. Vinicius even cried when Barcelona made a come back against PSG in the famous 'Remontada'. Since Neymar was playing for Barcelona by then, Vinicius just fell in love with the club. Real Madrid wanted to sign Neymar but it is Barcelona who won the Brazilian signature. Real Madrid's president Florentina Perez, swore to sign any Brazilian wonder kid and got Vinicius. Luka Modric The Croatian soccer magician was a Barcelona fan since he was a child. Even at his time at Tottenham Hotspurs, the Croatian playmaker was on the verge of joining FC Barcelona. Eventually, Real Madrid won his signature. Ivan Raki...
Read more

RAGS TO RICHES: TOP FOOTBALLERS WHO CAME FROM POOR FAMILIES.

Image
Success is not easily attained most of the times. Half of the successful people have gone through challenges that at one time, they almost gave up in life. This article will unfold the top footballers who grew up in poor families and made it in life through football.  It doesn't matter where you come from but what is in you, what you want to achieve and the lifestyle you want to live. There are many footballers who come from poor backgrounds but others were poorest. Here are the top footballers who rose from rags to riches: DIEGO MARADONA. Diego Maradona is considered to be one of the greatest players in the foootball sport. PHOTO:Britanica.  Diego Armando Maradona  was born on 30th October 1961 in Villa Fioriotio, Argentina. Becoming a footballer was his dream from a tender age despite growing up in  the slums of Villa Fioriotio, in the outskirts of Buenos Aires. Growing up in Villa Fioriotio wasn't easy at all. Maradona used to share a single room with 7 siblings ...
Read more

THE RISE OF CATENACCIO 'PARK THE BUS TACTIC' IN FOOTBALL.

Image
Catenaccio involves a defensive play, tight marking of opponents and aggressive fouling. Mostly, this tactic was used to defend goal margins. It is an Italian word meaning 'a door bolt ' or Lock down . The Catenaccio tactic was first invented in the 1930s-40s by an Austrian coach, Karl Rappan who was managing the Swiss side-Servette. Rappan used a defensive sweeper known as  Verroulieur  positioned just in front of the goalkeeper. The aim of this tactic was to have the numbers advantage during the defensive phase.  Catenaccio had 5 components and these are:   1. Libero/sweeper or Verroulieur. As I told you from the beginning, this is a defender who is positioned just in front of the goalkeeper. His main role is to win the loose balls and double-mark the opposition striker where possible. 2. Strict Marking of the opposition players. Being a defensive approach, strict man-marking was induced to the opposition from the midfielders to the st...
Read more