THE TRENDS 9th UEFA Conference for European National Coaches 20-22 September 2010 Madrid TOP-LEVEL FOOTBALL 2010 Presentation by Andy Roxburgh, UEFA Technical Director WORLD CUP WINNERS UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WINNERS "This is the greatest satisfaction any coach or footballer can feel." Marcello Lippi 2006 (1st coach to win the FIFA World Cup and The UEFA Champions League) This is an unforgettable moment. THE TRENDS BENCHMARK EVENTS Vicente del Bosque (on winning the World Cup) 2010 1
A BENCHMARK FIFA FINAL FOUR A standard by which something can be measured or judged FIFA WORLD CUP 2006 FINAL FOUR EURO 2008 FINAL FOUR UCL 2009/2010 FINAL FOUR ANALYSIS WHY? TRENDS DETAILS IDEAS DEVELOPMENT INSPIRATION 2
TOP COACHES ALWAYS: THINKING LEARNING ASSESSING IMAGINING QUESTIONING KEY QUESTION 1 KEY QUESTION 2 WHAT WERE THE TECHNICAL / TACTICAL TRENDS LAST SEASON? WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE? THOUGHTS THOUGHTS 8. Winning Ways 1. Shape Selection 8. Winning Ways 1. Shape Selection 7. Player Profiles 2. Passing Power 7. Player Profiles 2. Passing Power 6. Solo Solutions 3. Building Blocks 6. Solo Solutions 3. Building Blocks 5. Great Goals 4. Classic Counters 5. Great Goals 4. Classic Counters 3
SHAPE SELECTION Depended on COACHING PHILOSPHIES PLAYER QUALITIES SPECIFIC SITUATIONS THE OPPONENTS PREVIOUS RESULTS SHAPE SELECTION Changed because of INJURY PROBLEMS TACTICAL NEEDS COACHING INITIATIVES REFEREE DECISIONS THE SCORELINE SHAPE 1. A Structure for Defensive Order (DISCIPLINE) 2. A Framework for attacking themes + Freedom (FLUIDITY) 1. STARTING POSITIONS 2. PLAYING POSITIONS 3. APPROACH 4. DEFENSIVE DUTIES 5. FORWARD FLOW SHAPE DIFFERENT ASPECTS Drawing Spain 4 / 2 / 3 / 1 X 12 TOP 3 4
WORLD CUP Germany was impressive by countering their culture they did more than just follow their tradition. Pep Guardiola 5
UCL FINAL 2010 INTER BAYERN MUNICH UCL FINAL 2010 UCL 4/3/3 x6 4/2/3/1 x8 4/4/2 x2 4/3/3 x6 4/4/2 x10 6
40 % Top 4 No Libero Flat Line WORLD CUP 2002 Three Defenders 3 AT THE BACK 3 AT THE BACK 7
THOUGHT 1 Once again the top teams proved that shape mattered. A disciplined defensive structure + a framework for attacking fluidity / creativity was important. 8. Winning Ways 7. Player Profiles 6. Solo Solutions 5. Great Goals THOUGHTS 1. Shape Selection 2. Passing Power 3. Building Blocks 4. Classic Counters XAVI SPAIN Top Number of Passes Top Successful Passes Top Forward Passes Top Medium Passes I m a football romantic. I think it is good to win by taking the initiative. We like football that is attractive, attacking and easy on the eye. Top Shots on Target SPANISH STYLE If you are smaller, then you need to be smarter, to be quicker and to play between the opposition line. Gérard Houllier The art of good team progression to play forward without losing possession. Arsène Wenger 8
Short/Quick Passing Long Diagonals Building from the Back Ball Circulation Culture Coach's Philosophy Player Quality Match Situation Competition Demands STYLE Based on A PARADOX UCL 2009 Barcelona FC Av. 62% 600 700 passes Xavi: av. 100+ UCL 2010 FC Internazionale Av. 45% Final 32% (52% away to Chelsea) Sneijder: av 46+ THOUGHT 2 At the top level, the focus was on a short passing, possession game, but domination of the ball did not guarantee success 8. Winning Ways 7. Player Profiles 6. Solo Solutions 5. Great Goals THOUGHTS 1. Shape Selection 2. Passing Power 3. Building Blocks 4. Classic Counters Top Teams Compact block Positional + Tactical Discipline Pressing the ball Patient + Alert Squeezing the Space Channelling Opponents Advanced Pressing 9
CONTRASTING APPROACHES Loss of possession WORLD CUP a) Press high and win the ball back quickly b) Immediate transition into a defensive block Spain, even with many players up front, didn t suffer too many counters. C. Ancelotti CONTAIN + COUNTER ¼ Finals: Paraguay 2 goals AG Champions: Spain 2 goals AG Our team (Inter) was comfortable without the ball. Luis Figo UCL 2009/2010 I think Inter s success was down to team shape, tactical discipline and the speed of transition into a defensive block. Roy Hodgson, Liverpool FC THE TWIN SCREEN The twin screen is very effective, a good base for counters. It is not defensive, but rather a rational and effective use of players. Jesualdo Ferreira 10
THOUGHT 3 No matter the approach, defending efficiency was a prerequisite for success Controlling the match without controlling the ball and reducing the intensity of the game 8. Winning Ways 7. Player Profiles 6. Solo Solutions 5. Great Goals THOUGHTS 1. Shape Selection 2. Passing Power 3. Building Blocks 4. Classic Counters COUNTER ATTACKING Explosive counters are often decisive elements in matches between evenly-matched teams. Gerard Houllier Image name & copyright "The quick transition is the most important aspect quickly restructuring to defend, or exploiting the opponent with speed when the ball is regained." José Mourinho 9th UEFA 8th Conference UEFA Conference for European for European National Coaches, National Coaches, 20-22.09.2010, 09.08, Location, 21/09/2010 Madrid Vienna TOP TEAMS TOP COUNTERS WORLD CUP Germany Brazil Spain Netherlands Argentina Uruguay Ghana UCL Arsenal Inter Barcelona Bayern Real Madrid 11
COUNTER / FAST BREAK GOALS (From Open Play) EURO 2008 46% UCL 2009/2010 27% World Cup 2010 25% COUNTER TYPES 1. CLASSIC 2. COLLECTIVE 3. ADVANCED 4. SOLO COUNTERING WORLD CUP 9th UEFA Conference 2010 for European National Coaches, 20-22.09.2010, Location, 21/09/2010 Madrid We don t have especially fast players, but we are able to play fast counters. José Mourinho THOUGHT 4 The collective counter is still very important. Sir Alex Ferguson The top teams are top class at counters 12
8. Winning Ways THOUGHTS 1. Shape Selection GOALSCORING 145 (64 MATCHES) 7. Player Profiles 6. Solo Solutions 5. Great Goals 2. Passing Power 3. Building Blocks 4. Classic Counters 23% SET PLAYS UCL 2010 320 (125 MATCHES) 26% SET PLAYS SET PLAYS Direct Frees: Japan x2 / Uruguay / Nigeria / Korea Corners: Netherlands / Spain Throw-ins: Slovakia Indirect Frees: Uruguay Korea Republic x4 / Uruguay x3 13
GOALSCORING Crosses: URU/GER Thro/Combos: BRA/GER/SP/NED Long-range: Top 4 (NED x5) (38% increase in UCL 2010) Variety: Top 4 BRA/ARG THOUGHT 5 With defending becoming more sophisticated, technical quality on set plays and long-range shooting were vital antidotes to the block. 14
8. Winning Ways 7. Player Profiles THOUGHTS 1. Shape Selection 2. Passing Power COLLECTIVE GAME SOLO SOLUTIONS 23% of all goals (i.e. direct frees / long-range / dribbling) 6. Solo Solutions 5. Great Goals 3. Building Blocks 4. Classic Counters UCL 26% of all goals from solo play THE DIAGONAL PASS SOLO SOLUTIONS Quickly switching the play with precise diagonal passes was used to create 1v1 situations. PENETRATION RUNS INCISIVE PLAYERS Examples Messi (ARG) Iniesta (ESP) Robben (NED) Oezil (GER) Suarez (URU) Kaka (BRA) Ronaldo (POR) Boateng (Ghana) THOUGHT 6 While collective attributes were indispensable, moments of individual brilliance frequently made the difference. 15
8. Winning Ways 7. Player Profiles 6. Solo Solutions 5. Great Goals THOUGHTS 1. Shape Selection 2. Passing Power 3. Building Blocks 4. Classic Counters PLAYING POSITIONS THE TRENDS Lone Striker Screening Midfielder Middle-to-front Schemer Box-to-box Full Back THE LONE STRIKER (32 TEAMS) More than 50% of the teams operated with a lone striker E.g. Klose (GER) Van Persie (NED) Torres (ESP) THE LONE STRIKER UCL 2010 (16 TEAMS) More than 85% of the teams operated with a lone striker E.g. Milito (Inter) Drogba (Chelsea) Fabiano (Sevilla) Ibrahimovic (Barcelona) SCREENING MIDFIELDER Approximately 65% x2 UCL 2010 (16 TEAMS) Approximately 65% x2 SCREENING BALANCE SPAIN BUSQUETS AND ALONSO INTER CAMBIASSO AND ZANETTI 16
MIDDLE-TO-FRONT SCHEMERS Sneijder (NED) Xavi (ESP) Oezil (GER) Messi (ARG) Kaka (BRA) BOX-TO-BOX FULL BACKS THOUGHT 7 Maicon (BRA) S. Ramos (ESP) Lahm (GER) Van Bronkhorst (NED) D. Alves (BRA) The evolution of the game s tactics has altered the profile of certain playing positions. 8. Winning Ways 7. Player Profiles 6. Solo Solutions 5. Great Goals THOUGHTS 1. Shape Selection 2. Passing Power 3. Building Blocks 4. Classic Counters WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE? CHANCE (Draw/Pens/Refs/Inj.) HARMONY FITNESS (Intensity) 17
PLAYER POWER With player power increasing, the manager is vitally important he must have control. Sir Alex Ferguson WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE? HANDLING EXPECTATIONS A REBOUND MENTALITY LEADERSHIP WORLD CUP EXPECTATIONS WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE? The expectations were too high for some teams. Sir Alex Ferguson A CLEAR PHILOSOPHY AN EFFECTIVE STRUCTURE A PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION We need to know what players are good at and not good at. José Mourinho 18
WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE? TRANSITION SPEED TEAM EFFICIENCY INDIVIDUAL BRILLIANCE WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE? SET PLAY SUCCESS DEPTH OF SQUAD SPECIALIST QUALITIES (Some Versatility) WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE? A MISTAKE INTENSE CONCENTRATION A WINNING MENTALIY THOUGHT 8 Good players are not enough you need team efficiency, mental and physical strength, leadership, harmony, some flair, and a little luck. 8. Winning Ways 7. Player Profiles 6. Solo Solutions 5. Great Goals THOUGHTS 1. Shape Selection 2. Passing Power 3. Building Blocks 4. Classic Counters 19
FIFA FINAL FOUR THE TRENDS BENCHMARK EVENTS WORLD CUP WINNERS UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WINNERS THE WINNERS THE TRENDS TOP-LEVEL FOOTBALL 2010 Presentation by Andy Roxburgh, UEFA Technical Director 20
9th UEFA Conference for European National Coaches 20-22 September 2010 Madrid 21