Opinion – PVC: The dilemma between attack and defense at the World Cup

Flamengo 2019 was the only team in South America to persistently attack its European rival in a Club World Cup final since the creation of the official FIFA tournament. Against Liverpool, the confidence of six months under the command of Jorge Jesus gave a concrete chance to win, taking the match to extra time and the opportunity to draw with Lincoln, after conceding a goal from Firmino.

There is no debating the merit of the champions of Brazil, the only country to beat the Europeans in the current format. Corinthians against Chelsea, São Paulo against Liverpool, Internacional against Barcelona won through competence and strategy.

Defending well was key.

In the past of the Club World Cup, at the time of the Intercontinental Cup, the South Americans attacked and the Europeans used the tactic to paralyze them. It gradually changed, after the Bosman sentence, in practice the end of the limit of foreigners for teams in Europe.

Take Italy as a parameter, a football mecca in the last two decades of the 20th century. There was only one foreigner allowed between 1980 and 1982, two between 1982 and 1988, three from 1988 to 1996, when the Bosman case equated players with citizens of other countries. professions, free to work in any country with an Economic Community passport.

Until that day, there were 20 South American and 13 European titles. Since then, 22 from Europe and 6 from South America.

Economic power interferes with tactical choices. Vítor Pereira will make Flamengo attack Al Hilal, opponent apparently less dangerous than the owner of the house, Wydad Casablanca, eliminated in the quarter-finals. The Saudis of Al Hilal, led by Ramón Díaz, vice-champion of the world as coach of River Plate, in 1996, also like the insinuating game, because they have offensive players like Marega, ex-Porto, Ighalo, ex-Mancheter United, Michael and Cuellar, ex-Flamengo.

Red-black is better and will attack. If he wins the semifinal, Vítor Pereira will have to choose between an offensive strategy, which pleases his fans, or shrinking, as Flamengo does not usually do. Real Madrid is not brilliant, but it is structured.

The Portuguese coach arrived in Morocco admitting that the next training sessions need to improve the defensive condition. This does not mean filling his lineup with scorers and giving up a style maintained by Flamengo for four seasons. If he trades De Arrascaeta for a defensive midfielder, if he removes Pedro to score harder, he will be criticized as a coward – unless he wins.

The difficulty in attacking Real Madrid, as Jorge Jesus did against Liverpool, is not having a team assembled as long ago as its 2019 predecessor had. President Rodolfo Landim was extremely conscientious when talking about this topic, before his trip to Africa.

Carlo Ancelotti declared that his most important game of the week is the Spanish Championship and chose a mixed team against Mallorca. He used six possible starters in the hypothetical confrontation with Flamengo: Nacho, Rudiger, Camavinga, Tchouaméni, Asensio and Vinicius Junior.

We usually say that Real doesn’t care about the World Cup, but it’s the biggest winner – three intercontinentals, four FIFA officials.

If I looked down on the tournament, I wouldn’t win as many times.

Red card

As much as Abel is responsible for those he captivates, no matter how much someone is inspired by an idol, it is always necessary to remember that abuse on the edge of the field is punished with a red card and Abel Ferreira has already received six since his arrival in Brazil. You may find the penalty ridiculous. But Abel’s abuses do not go unpunished.

Weak

São Paulo continues its tough attempt at evolution, now with the reinforcements requested by Rogério. Left-back Caio Paulista, sprinter David and Erison’s debut. The striker, it’s good to say, was passed over by Luís Castro in Botafogo. It could be Calleri’s reserve. Nothing indicates that it will be more than this.