Opinion – Tostão: There are many strikers, in many ways

Recently, several world-renowned strikers have changed clubs. Norwegian Haaland left Borussia Dortmund for Manchester City. There are doubts if he will adapt well, because the English team has a peculiar way of playing, with a lot of short exchange of passes and pressure in the opposing field. Haaland likes to go fast to get the ball in front of him. On Sunday, in the 3-1 defeat to Liverpool, he was very fixed, between the defenders, and little took the ball.

Lewandowski went from Bayern to Barcelona, ​​where he also struggled. The German team pressured throughout the game, and the ball often arrived in the opponent’s area from crosses by the wingers. Barcelona also like to exchange passes through the middle, and players on the sides often dribble to finish.

Mané, who is not a striker, left Liverpool for Bayern. Will he play in Lewandowski’s position, play as an open winger or advance as a striker from left to centre, as he did at Liverpool? The English team lost Mané, an important player, but kept their main striker, Salah.

Lukaku, who played for Chelsea, returned to Inter Milan, where he shone alongside Argentine Lautaro Martínez. In the English team, Lukaku was irregular, coming in and out of the team, because coach Tuchel likes light strikers, mobility, who change positions.

Brazil has several good strikers, scorers, like Hulk, Cano, Calleri, Pedro Raul and Pedro. Gabigol, when playing alongside Bruno Henrique, took more of the center forward’s place, to finish. Now, with Pedro, he is more of a spearhead who plays for the right midfielder. Hulk is a mix of center forward and second striker (spearhead). Has he not scored in the last few matches, because of a passing bad moment or is it due to an individual and/or collective fall?

Strikers are many, in many ways. There are the more fixed, centralized ones, which stand out only for their finishing and pivot work. Others move more, have more skill and participate a lot in the exchange of passes and the construction of plays. All are important.

I think that striker strikers are often overrated because they have a good goal average, sometimes in just a few games, even when they don’t have other qualities. For some, it is enough to score a goal or two to be exalted. On the other hand, other excellent players from other positions could be more praised, such as the defensive midfielders and midfielders, who start the construction of the plays. The midfield is the soul and brain of a team.

In the Brazilian team, Neymar will probably play the Cup more advanced, in the center, a little ahead of Paquetá, with two open wingers, who attack and score, and two more in midfield. In this position, Neymar does not need to return to score and is closer to the area, to dribble, pass and finish. Gabriel Jesus and Richarlison should also be in the Cup, as wingers or centre-forwards. As 26 will be called up, Tite should also have a more fixed striker. The most quoted is Matheus Cunha.

The best strikers in history are those who, in addition to scoring many goals, have an exuberant technique, both individually and collectively. They are top scorers.

The authentic center forwards, of the root type, dream every day with the goal. They are hungry and think that only they are scorers.