It was a moment that typified the modern parlance of football – the yellow of Colombia searing down the length of the pitch. Three quick passes brought the ball from right to left as the Uruguayans struggled to get enough men back. From the left, a cross swung beyond far post to the runner breaking free from deep and as Juan Cuardado sent a majestic cushioned header into the six yard box, you already knew that this would be a goal. James Rodriguez, fast becoming the star of the World Cup, applied the finish to what is likely to be the benchmark team goal of the Brazil World Cup. In some ways though, this was also its signature.
In South Africa in 2010, football was all about possession. Spain, still on the upsurge of a wave that would see them become the most successful national side in football history, tiki-taka’d opposition to death, a collection of quick-moving, small, mobile midfielders playing minute passing triangles around the hulking opposition – it was the footballing equivalent of downing the school bully.
But like other things, football too evolves, and ever steadily Barcelona and Spain’s dominance dwindled. A revolution was coming, and one led by a volatile coach in hipster glasses and a baseball cap. “If Spain’s football is like the orchestra, ours is like heavy metal,” said Jurgen Klopp, after Borussia Dortmund’s manic-pressing, quick transition style wowed first the Bundesliga and then the rest of the world in an almost fairytale Champions League run. “There is no defence,” Klopp once said, “to something done fast and accurately.”
In Spain, another similarly heart-on-sleeve man took note.
Diego Simeone usually wore all black but in Atletico Madrid, he too was building a side that was replicating the Dortmund way – fast vertical passes, fast vertical sprints, furious closing down on space in the opponent half. No wonder then that in late 2012, when asked about who would win the Champions League, Simeone’s answer was a wry if left-field one. “Dortmund,” he said, much to the reporter’s surprise.
But it became quickly evident that both sides were onto something. During their Champions League run in 2012-13, Dortmund collectively sometimes covered an astonishing 10-12kms more in ground than their opposition. And in 2013-14, Simeone’s Atletico was doing much the same. But unlike the past, this hard running was not being done by the famously styled “water-carriers.” Instead, Klopp and Simeone’s teams included players like Ilkay Gundogan and Koke – smart, well-built, mobile, yet superbly technical midfielders who could attack and defend well in equal measure. The trick, as they both discovered, was to move fast, not just with ball but also with men.
Across the city, Carlo Ancelotti, ever the pragmatist, took note. He discarded with Real’s use of a playmaker in Mesut Ozil and converted previous winger Angel di Maria into a box-to-box midfielder. And then in tandem he fielded the frighteningly fast Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo. They were supplemented by Karim Benzema, a mobile French forward, who is as good at scoring as he is at passing and combination. The writing was on the wall – the specialist doesn’t exist anymore. Real, of course, won the Champions League. Atletico, the Spanish league.
The trend has continued into the World Cup and in general the teams who have succeeded are the ones who are accomplished at pulling off the quick transitions.
Step forward Colombia, but also the Dutch who showed how effective their fast break style could be against the bastions of possession football. Chile too, until their heartbreaking exit to Brazil, and even though Germany have been nowhere near as effective, their fast transitions too are the reason why they troubled Portugal to such an extent. More surprisingly, France too have dominated, with their midfielders like Paul Pogba and Blaise Matuidi experts at the quick control and release. Maybe their coach, the famous “water-carrier” Didier Deschamps is onto something.
In 2010, passmasters like Xavi and Andreas Iniesta ruled the roost. Four years on, the stars of the World Cup have been fast, skillful players like James Rodriguez and Arjen Robben. And of course, Neymar and Lionel Messi. But neither Brazil nor Argentina, the two favorites coming into the tournament, have displayed anything in keeping with the character of the teams that have been so far successful.
Both teams look quite disjointed. Brazil, seemingly under tremendous pressure, are generally happy to leisurely scruff it out among their center backs. Argentina goes even one step further – their center backs seem even afraid of the ball. But both teams possess a genius each and the tactics of both seem to focus on the mantra – “get the ball to Neymar/Messi, and let us hope he does something with it.” Purists may be rolling in their graves, but Bangladeshis love nothing more than a collective game being reduced to single acts of individualism. And as Messi and Neymar have shown so far, sometimes that is more than enough. Both leads the scoring chart and somehow are still in with a chance of meeting in a dream final.
But perhaps what you need is a team that combines both? A genius and a quick transition style? Colombia certainly fit the second bill, and with his goal on Sunday, James Rodriguez can certainly be the former. How amazing would it be that in a World Cup full of surprises, we have a brand new world champion?
Don’t count on it though.
