The Higgs Boson

In 1967 Steven Weinberg and Abdus Salam independently constructed a theory that unified electromagnetic and weak nuclear forces: the Weinberg-Salam model of the electroweak force. This theory requires that the Higgs boson exists; but its existence is yet to be verified. Physical systems which are symmetrical are unstable, so a mechanism of spontaneous symmetry breaking can happen between particles in nature. The Higgs boson would be the outcome of this symmetry breaking. If it exists it is a large particle, with about 120 times the mass of the proton. It is hoped that particle accelerators such as the Large Hadron Collider near Geneva will be able to establish the existence of the Higgs.

This situation has significant similarities with the search in football for the defensive midfielder (DM). Tournaments like the World Cup are the equivalent of the particle accelerator as we test our theories and models against the empirical data provided by on-field activity. The hunt for the DM has actually followed a similar timeline to the search for the Higgs. In 1966 England’s use of Nobby Stiles led to pundits constructing a theory that unified defence and midfield: the model of the defensive midfielder. It is believed that the DM’s role is to protect the back four whilst kickstarting attacks from deep: this usually requires a combination of niggly fouls and short sideways passes.

Symmetry breaking

Whilst there is significant conjecture and oral testimony, the existence of the DM is yet to be verified. If it exists, it is likely to be a player with greater mass than the attacking midfielder. Chelsea’s recent use of Michael Essien in a ‘defensive midfield’ position, playing behind Deco lends credence to this view. There are also some key differences between the two hypothetical entities: whilst the Higgs is a consequence of symmetry breaking in nature, the DM is the cause of symmetry breaking. The latters breaks up symmetry when they disrupt the flow of opposition attacks.

Physicists have also considered that the Higgs boson may have a partner particle: one way to limit the freedom of a particle is to tie its behaviour to another particle whose behaviour is constrained. In supersymmetric theory there could be a fermion that partners with the Higgs, called the Higgsino. This model has direct parallels in football. Over recent years managers have often deployed two DMs (sometimes in a 4-2-3-1 formation). The aim is to tie the behaviour of one player to another player whose behaviour is also constrained: this enables extra coverage of the area in front of the back four. Many international teams now endeavour to pair constrained midfielders, including France who have recently used Lassana Diarra and Alou Diarra together.

This position remains problematic though and its amorphous existence is captured with media responses to performances in this position. As this position is hard to pin down, assessment is usually tethered to the performance of the team overall. For example, when England perform poorly, newspapers ascribe to Gareth Barry (England’s deepest midfielder) a rating of 5 and describe his performance as ‘anonymous’. In other fixtures when England play well, the same papers will assign to him a rating of 7 and describe his performance as ‘selfless’. This suggests that no one really has any idea as to how to analyse his individual contribution.

But hopefully the discovery of the DM at World Cup 2010 will finally establish what those anonymous/selfless chaps wandering around in the centre circle really do.