World Cup Heralds New Era of Football

World Cup Heralds New Era of Football

World Cup Heralds New Era of Football

📅08 July 2014, 11:00

Right from the outset this World Cup has been one of the best competitions in recent times. The reason for this may be that some fundamental changes seem to have occurred in the more successful teams.

There is certainly evidence that the older coaches and their teams have struggled in this competition. England with Roy Hodgson, Russia with Fabio Capello and Spain with Vicente del Bosque all bombed early in the competition.

However, it is less to do with age and much more to do with mind-set. The idea, which has been prominent over the last few years, that coaches do not have enough time to work with the players on tactics has been completely dispelled by the likes of Chile’s Jorge Sampaoli, Mexico’s Miguel Herrera, USA’s Jurgen Klinsmann and Germany’s Joachim Low. In each of these cases it is clear that the coaches have worked with the players and developed tactical plans.

Another area of the game to change is counter-attacking. This World Cup teams have been more aggressive than ever before in their counter attacks. The evidence is in the way the opposition has been hunted, closing them down, cutting off space and defending high up the pitch to condense play.

One thing that this World Cup has really shown is that the quality of football is rising right across the world. There have been numerous surprises which have reinforced the cliché that is no such thing as an easy game. Not long ago the idea of Algeria finishing ahead of Russia and taking Germany into extra-time would’ve been unthinkable. As would the idea of Australia giving Chile and Holland a good run for their money. Nonetheless, however surprising the results, it certainly suggests that fans are in for a truly exciting new era of football.