Comin' home

[Workingman]

England's '66 'wingless wonders' game was sussed out by the rest and we did not qualify in '74. We have been playing catch-up ever since, having discovered that playing the continental way was never going to work for us.

Spain's tiki-taka has also been found out, though it took a bit longer.

The new kids on the block, formation wise, are 3-5-2 and 5-3-2, depending on who is being asked. They are close cousins and are very adaptable. 3-5-2 can be played with a W or M formation in midfield, whether attacking or defending, and 5-3-2 allows the wing backs to overlap to make a five in midfield in order to attack.

England will probably come up with 3-1-4-1-1 or some such nonsense.

[Workingman]

I have just watched Italy 0-1 Costa Rica.

Italy played 4-3-3 a good old formation.

Costa Rica played 5-3-2 and Italy could not break it down.

The midfields cancelled each other out, but Italy's front two had no chance against Costa Rica's five. However, the front two of Costa Rica did enough to keep Italy's back four honest and prevent one, or both, of Italy's backs from breaking forward, as is normally the case.

The result now means that England are definitely out.

[Workingman]

I have now seen enough to think that the mainly S. American 3-5 or 5-3 defence/midfield is the new way to go. Even the USA used it against Germany. It does make for an open game as one of the best ways to beat it is a quick break.

Interesting that as well as England going out at group stage they have been joined by Italy, Portugal and Spain. A betting man would have got great odds on that as a combo before the WC started.

[Diflower]

At least none of ours is a vampire

[Workingman]