Friday, June 28, 2013

Misfired Italians defeated by Spain in penalties

Italy couldn't wait to show the world the 4-0 scoreline in Euro 2012 was never reflective of their ability against Spain. On a night without Balotelli, Prandelli showcased the best of Italian football but could only blame themselves for ruining the best opportunity to stage the revenge.

Spain celebrating after Navas' penalty
Italy appeared to have start with a defensive line of four. However, with Chiellini playing as a left fullback, this allowed Maggio to freely roam forward. The Napoli wingback formed an athletic partnership with Candreva on the right and completely outshone the sporting Jordi Alba.

Emanuele Giaccherini, who had been supporting Balotelli on the left wing in group stage, dropped and played more as a wing back this match. When Maggio went forward, Giaccherini went as deep as fullback to fill the void. The discipline in defence did not cause the small winger to vanish in counter-attack. He offered invaluable support to Gilardino and was the first Italian to test Casillas in the first half.

Italy was content to let Spanish have more of the ball. Unlike a year ago, rigidity in defence was effective in stopping La Roja's penetrating passes and runs, although Fernando Torres would argue it was himself missing Spain's best and only chance in the first half rather than being silenced by the Azzurri.

On the other hand, Italy only needed to net one out of their nine chances to grab a lead at half time. Only if Marchisio or Maggio being more composed, or De Rossi got more of the ball with his forehead, would have done the favour. 

Never afraid to change
Prandelli was not shy in taking the initiative in the tactical contest and was decisive to introduce Montolivo for defender Barzagli. De Rossi dropped to centreback position, a similar setting to Italy's group stage match against Spain in Euro 2012. De Rossi and Montolivo were both capable to share the workload of playmaker Andrea Pirlo, while not sacrificing too much of their defensive force. 

Vincente Del Bosque was confident with the backup plans in his pocket as well. Rather than the dominating football they have demonstrated in the past 7 years, they were mirroring the Italy in first half and relied more on the speedy Jesu Navas in counter attack.  Del Bosque might have little choice, with his side looking jaded after playing four matches in ten days under the humid condition.

Somehow, this exploited the weakness of Italy, as they were missing a clinical finisher when Balotelli was sidelined. Gilardino gave his everything to the nation but struggled to sustain his presence as time went by. It is no easy task to play as a lone striker against Spain. Even at the class of Balotelli failed to perform in Euro final last year.

With the bench looking shallow, Prandelli opted for Giovinco over El Shaarawy as his last chip in Extra Time. However, a fresher front three, with Javi Martinez surprisingly playing as central striker, coupled with the tiring Italian defence, Spain looked way more threatening beyond the 90 minutes mark. Pique's defender boots, Buffon's strong hand and a bit of help by the post brought Italy to the penalty stage.
Italian's future will be built around Balotelli
A masterclass in penalty left two of the best goalkeepers in the world helpless to get a touch of the ball. Bonucci was the odd one out who could not convert and Italy unfortunately was beaten by Spain once again. They outclassed Spain tactically in regular time, but Prandelli may need to step up his attacking force to have a better shot next year at Brazil.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Evaluating Big Phil's Brazil

For a country which partying is as famous as football, you would hardly expect the national football team to show up in friendly matches. A string of below-par performance has raised the question whether Luis Scolari is the man to lead Brazil. His glorious moments in World Cup 2002 have got him the job, but have also brought himself enormous pressure.

Silva is the man Big Phil can rely on
The Confederation Cup is the only competitive tournament, first in two, that Scolari can re-evaluate his squad selection with before the World Cup in home soil. It would be no surprise the majority of the 23 men selected for this World Cup rehearsal tournament will form the backbone of the Brazil squad next year. Not a very good news to Kaka, Ronaldinho, Robinho and Willian though.

4-2-3-1 has become a trend in modern football that Scolari can only resist in replicating the 3-4-2-1 formation which earned him the trophy in Asia. In truth, there are not enough Brazilian defenders in this generation that possess the sense of positioning to play a 3-men defensive line, not to mention the lack of sophisticated defensive midfielders comparable to Dunga, Sampaio, Emerson or Gilberto Silva to protect the backline.


It is rare to see two centrebacks constantly switching positions during a match – with David Luiz’s undying urge to surge forward and reappearing wherever he wants. Thiago Silva’s class is one of the answers that the constant switching works, so far, and the other reason is the lack of genuine threats. With Brazil bagging two wins from two uneventful matches, Italy await the Samba boys and more precisely, Balotelli will be a useful assessment of David Luiz’s true ability to succeed Lucio as a commanding, reliable and aggressive centreback he has self-portrayed as.

More than often, it is the Brazilian attack that creates a buzz. Their ability to score freely has historically made the susceptible defence less of a problem, but the quality and talents of the current attackers are still in doubt.

Will Kaka (left), Robinho (middle) and Ronaldinho have a second chance? 
Neymar is surely an exception. Already being captured by Barcelona this offseason, the 21-year-old has scored two spectacular volleys with both feet and has been orchestrating the team’s attacks. If Ronaldinho wonders why he is unlikely to represent his nation again, Neymar is the answer. With Brazil trying to build the team around Neymar, Ronaldinho never looks comfortable playing as a secondary playmaker.

Neymar is shining, so is Fred. Nevertheless, his incredible goalscoring form only earns more hesitation and questioning over his suitability in the young Brazilian side. Never the most mobile striker, Fred offers physicality and clinical finishing, but strangely there is limited appreciation over a striker who can score.

If one doubts Fred's age, Leandro Damiao and Jo are the alternatives, though yet to be proven on the big stage. Whoever is getting that spot will likely to be a shadow striker providing shielding to the more creative bunch behind him.

This is the area where Scolari is desperate to get it right, especially when he is not short of options. Lucas Moura is clearly a fan favourite. Although having spent more time on the bench, he still shows up as an impact substitution playing on the right.

Hulk (left) or Oscar on the right?
With Hulk cementing a starting position on the right wing, Oscar is pushed to the central playmaker role, a position which he is competent in but not yet adapted to, having been employed at the flanks in Chelsea all season long. With Paulinho more used to playing a more attacking role, Oscar is drawn into more defensive action then he would like to. After such a long season, the youngster still shows glimpses of brilliance, but Brazil would need him to be much sharper than this. 

This brings up another question. Why Hulk? His left foot can be exceptional and he was stellar back in the time with Porto, but his performance in the yellow shirt is just as horrendous as his season in Zenit. Lack of vision and poor decision-making of Hulk has destroyed Brazil's counter attacks numerous times. His ability to finish is equally poor.

If set piece is the reason he is in the starting line-up, sadly he hasn't yet delivered too. Those were the days when Scolari had free-kick options among Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho and Kaka. Now, maybe there is only Neymar.

With the midfield looking short in stability and solidity, Brazil will benefit without Hulk. Sandro, if fit, is anticipated to be the primary defensive midfielder, unless Luis Gustavo's raw talents will quickly be matured. Paulinho, Fernandinho, Hernanes, Ramires, Andersen and, don't forget Ganso, are all candidates for the central midfield role.

Being blessed with an excellent mix of midfield talents, Brazil can easily line up three midfielders, with both Paulinho and Fernandinho capable to play a more advanced role, and send Oscar or Lucas Moura to the right, while maintaining the gunfire in attack.

Options are there, but need to get the combination right

The key to triumph in a tournament is consistency, something Scolari's side has been failing to demonstrate. When anything less than a Confederation Cup final appearance equals failure, slacking against Italy is something Scolari could not afford. His talented squad has to learn to be a champion in order to secure Big Phil's place on the bench in 2014.  

Sunday, June 16, 2013

How will Chelsea evolve under Mourinho once again?

Brutal football is not that popular in Spain. Realistically, the title was back at the Bernabeu. Never a favourite at Madrid, Jose Mourinho could still class his three years leading the Los Bloncos a success, adding La Liga title, Super Cup and Copa Del Rey to his already more-than-impressive CV.

Continuous fallout with reporters, players and even the club president implies it was only a matter of time for Mourinho to return to the UK. Disastrous season at Bernabeu and the managerial chaos at Chelsea certainly paved the way for Mourinho's long-awaited reunion with Roman Abramovich. On 3rd of June, the Special One is finally back at Stamford Bridge.


Things have changed since he last departed. His most respected rival has retired, but competition has only become more intense. The chequebook at Etihad Stadium is ever growing, so is the ambition of Tottenham and Everton. Liverpool is eager to rejoin the race, which has always featured Arsenal and Manchester United.  Nonetheless, there are more pressing internal issues awaiting Jose Mourinho.

(a) Entertaining or practical?
The 1-0 football brought solidity and the title to Stamford Bridge, but could not please Abramovich. The attacking talents of Hazard, Oscar and Juan Mata are undoubtedly comparable to Drogba, Robben and Duff, the front three of Mourinho's first English title campaign. Also, with Schurrle arriving and the growing rumours around Rooney, Cavani and Sneijder, Abramovich seems yet to concede the entertaining football he is always in favour of.

Although being more well-known of his tactical excellence in defence, Mourinho has already proven he can inspire world-class attackers at Madrid. The more open-flowing football of La Liga definitely plays a part in Real Madrid scoring performance, while Premier League would present a big contrast in style. Having been away from England for quite a while, his first task will be to get the balance and mentality of the squad right.

(b) Who stays? Who goes?
Torres (left) and Ba might both be on the way out
A strong believer of his own philosophy of football, only players of excellent discipline are welcomed in Jose Mourinho's team. Almost certainly, the adventurous David Luiz will not feature in Mourinho's plan.

Powerhouse strikers like Drobga, Ibrahimovic and Eto’o have always excelled under Mourinho. While Fernando Torres and Demba Ba can both play as a lone striker, they may not be the most ideal type of forwards Mourinho is looking for. On the other hand, Romelu Lukaku, who had a fantastic season on loan at West Brom, may finally play for Chelsea two years after being acquired from Anderlecht.

Victor Moses may not be that lucky. His debut season being the Blues was far from eye-catching. Meanwhile, Mikel and Romeu may still have a part to play. Mikel shone in the holding midfield role under Mourinho back in 2006 and may well be retained despite the gossips about link with Galatasaray. Romeu is the only traditional defensive midfielder in the squad. His presence, so as Mikel's, would be of some value with Lampard aging.

(c) The fate of the veterans
The one-year extension could indicate this will be the last season for Frank Lampard. Still playing at a very high level, 30 games a season might already be asking too much from Super Frank. Meanwhile, John Terry could still have a role to play under Mourinho. His legs are gone, but with Mourinho's preference to play a deeper line and a cordoning defensive midfielder, it would provide more cover for Terry, who always possesses spiritual leadership.


Mourinho wants to build an empire in Chelsea this time. Although Terry, Lampard and Ashley Cole are still capable to start for Chelsea, young players will benefit a lot playing alongside them, who also require understudies to keep them fresh. Their future, though, will be a huge doubt after the next season.

(d) Expectation vs Pressure
Mourinho did not leave Rafa Benitez an easy job at Inter. Benitez repays the favour this time at Chelsea. Ending the Blues' season on a high, fans will be looking for even more after Mourinho's high-profile return.
The new coach attempted to dilute the expectation by stating titles could only come the earliest his second season. It is an unusually humble comment from the manager but definitely a fair one, having been away from Premier League for six years. Still, Mourinho equals success. Chelsea's title hope will not be written off with him on board, so as the anticipation of the fans, and of course the owner.

History suggested he responded to change of environment very well, but no indication on how he copes with a second stint. Expectation could be a motivation. On the flip side, it could be a pressure. This comeback may represent a test to Mourinho's EQ.
Abramovich (left) is set for another title chase 
Chelsea is not alone in switching managers. It is uncertain how other teams respond to their managerial change. This could be in the favour of Chelsea, whose change has in fact restored familiarity and authority. Alex Ferguson's retirement makes Premier League less colourful, but Jose Mourinho will undoubtedly fill the title race with more gunpowder.




Sunday, June 2, 2013

A busy and important offseason for Tottenham

A record-breaking 72 points finish to the league in his first full season is quite an achievement, but when success is measured by Champions League football, Andre Villas-Boas' effort that kept Spurs in the race until the very last matchday might not be widely appreciated. The quality of the squad is beyond doubt and they have further proved their ability to match the top four this season. However, inconsistency and the lack of squad depth have overshadowed Gareth Bale's incredible form. Tottenham is again only second best in North London.

Retaining Bale and hunting for strikers is the obvious top priority this. To keep pace with the other European football contenders, there are more problems AVB has to address to keep sharpening the squad.
Keeping Gareth Bale in London is the single biggest task
(a) Polishing the Back
They have found a long-term first-choice goalkeeper and restored Michael Dawson in the centre of defence. Now they require better contribution from the fullbacks. Kyle Walker's season can be rated as solid, but the youngster might have suffered from the "sophomore's blue". Unlike his rookie season which he challenged Corluka's starting position, Kyle Walker looked less sharp offensively and made immature passing decisions. Aaron Lennon's poor fitness did not help the two to form a strong partnership, but Tottenham would have expected a steeper development curve from the right back alone.

Tottenham will be shopping for a left back to replace the passionless Assou-Ekotto. They might need to search for one on the right to challenge Walker and stimulate his growth. This will also depend on their plans on Jan Vertonghen's position and Kyle Naughton's development.

Both may have their Tottenham's career done
(b) Mixing the Midfield
There are no short of talents in midfield and AVB will need to search for the right mix. Scott Parker, Moussa Dembele, Sandro, Tom Huddlestone, and Jake Livermore all featured for Spurs in central midfield. Tom Huddlestone had some delightful performance since returning from injury but has expressed his desire to leave for more playing time. Scott Parker is already 32 but could still be influential to the team. Sandro and Dembele look to be the frontrunners, although more creativity could be arriving at White Hart Lane, even though AVB's favourite Joao Moutinho has already joined Monaco.

Sigurdsson scored some big goals coming off the bench. In truth, Tottenham was quite short of options when they sought for changes in the match. Andres Townsend's return from Loftus Road could be a boost to the bench. Understudies for wingers are still needed, regardless of Bale's decision to stay or not. More importantly, AVB has to work out the best midfield combination to get the most out of his selection of strikers.

Will Townsend (left) rejoin Defoe next season?
(c) Searching for Leadership
William Gallas was AVB's early season choice of captain. The aging legs and fitness problem sidelined the Frenchman and Michael Dawson returned. Still, there is a lack of outspoken characters in the team. Even the inspirational Scott Parker believes in action rather than words. Arsenal proves this is not a compulsory character to be top four. For Tottenham, who sometimes shows a lack of concentration and motivation, they might need a man who can roar at them back to their best in match –

(d) Inspiring Self-belief
They can overcome Manchester United and City, but stalemates against lower teams often frustrate Tottenham. It is the ability to grind out results late in the season that differentiated Arsenal and Tottenham. Already showing better resilience since AVB's emphasis on Europa League involvement, Spurs does not have a player who have been enjoying regular success before. Without a winner’s mentality, the team failed to persevere as the season entered the latter stage; the team looked less motivated. AVB will have to discover a way to bring self-belief to this group of talented players in order to get the maximum out of them.

Damiao is Levy's top target this summer
Daniel Levy and AVB have a lot to do this summer to avoid disappointment again next season. With Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool ready to mount a challenge for European football again, also with Everton determined to regroup following David Moyes' departure, Tottenham will anticipate an even tougher contest in 2013/14 campaign. Nevertheless, with nearly half of the teams facing managerial changes, the Yids shall be delighted that AVB is steering them in the right direction. With AVB solidifying his stature at White Hart Lane following a slightly turbulent season, it is time for him to lead Tottenham to bigger success.