What is a team?

It’s quite simple, the TV pundits keep telling us, you just have to play your best players in their best positions. This is usually stated with reference to Steven Gerrard being positioned on England’s left (when he should be situated more centrally.) Gerrard is one of England’s most exciting and skilful players and the notion of him marauding through the centre in support of the striker is certainly appealing.

But this perspective overlooks the fact that Gerrard’s form has been better under Fabio Capello then under any previous England coach. The current suggestion seems to be that Capello has neutralised Gerrard’s effectiveness by placing him on the left of midfield. But this more defined, but still flexible positioning has improved Gerrard’s performances at international level. Gerrard was consistently disappointing for England prior to Capello’s arrival and never replicated his impressive Liverpool form for England in central-midfield. Admittedly Gerrard was paired uncomfortably with Frank Lampard for many of his appearances, but even when situated in a more advanced central position (such as the knock-out phase of World Cup 2006) his performances were decidedly lacklustre. There wasn’t a huge amount of marauding through the centre in support of the striker!

Best players in their best positions

The populist model also suggests that Wayne Rooney should be fielded as a lone centre-forward, which is a role he performs well for Man Utd. This approach works within the familiarly of a high-functioning club side, but may not translate comfortably to international level. Although Rooney has showed glimpses of form in South Africa, his performances have not suggested that he is presently equipped to lead the line on his own against reinforced international defences. Utilising him with a strike-partner or target man enables him more freedom to roam in search of the narrow margins of space which might be available.

Therefore, it isn’t simply a case of playing your best players in their best positions. A team is perhaps more than that, and Capello has to take many factors into consideration when reconciling the available talent with a functioning team structure. To the left, WCC demonstrates how a line-up of England’s best players in their best positions might look for the Germany game.

New Zealand 0 Paraguay 0

Tournament outsiders New Zealand went into the final group game undefeated and with a chance of making it into the second round. However, Paraguay (who topped the group going into the game) would provide the All Whites with stiff opposition.

New Zealand were arranged under a defensive 3-4-3 formation and this stifled Paraguay throughout the first period. New Zealand showed little in attack with the three forwards, Shane Smeltz, Chris Killen and Rory Fallon provided the brief to form a robust barrier between the Paraguayan defence and midfield. In fact, New Zealand’s brightest attacking player in the first-half was right wing-back Leo Bertos. The nearest thing to a meaningful New Zealand attack was a Bertos cross which was easily collected by Villar with Fallon in close attendance. The three-man New Zealand defence, led by Ryan Nelsen, was solid and able to deal with the Paraguay forwards – Winston Reid and Tommy Smith could assist in wide areas, when the wing-backs had advanced, without the back-line being weakened. Ivan Vicelich and Simon Elliot were also accomplished in central-midfield and, apart from a couple of occasions, were comfortable in possession. Presented with such rigorous organization, Paraguay failed to contrive any penetrative manoeuvres and were limited to long-range efforts from Caniza, Cardoza and Valdez.

Early in the second period a chance fell to Elliot 18-yards from goal after a Tony Lochhead cross was half-cleared, but his shot was unconvincing and sailed wide. Otherwise the format continued in much the same manner as the first-half. After about an hour of the game, Paraguay did start to threaten the New Zealand goal a little more. Goalkeeper Mark Paston was called into action to save from substitute Benitez, and he also repelled a well-struck 30-yard free-kick from Santa Cruz. But a draw always seemed the likeliest result and attacking pressure from Paraguay was fleeting rather than sustained.

A draw was not enough to take New Zealand to the next round, but they have far exceeded expectations. They leave South Africa undefeated and finished ahead of World Cup 2006 champions Italy in Group F. Coach Ricki Herbert had the team well set up for this tournament and, as a result of their collective endeavour, they proved very hard to break down. If they had managed to nick a goal in this final game, then they would have made the knock-out phase.

Take each game as it comes…

Way back in February, WCC explored how individual effort is mediated by social forces. Research by Garcia & Tor has shown that people will try harder at a task when they perceive that they have less competition: in studies of test situations, students performed better when they either had, or believed they had, fewer rivals. People appear to work harder when they consider that they have greater chance of success. This is known as the N-Effect.

Revisiting this idea sheds some light on England’s performances over the group stage of this World Cup. The final group game yielded a much stronger performance from England than was witnessed in their first two matches. This Slovenia fixture was, essentially, a must-win game for England and this led to more focused effort. As England needed to win, this meant that awareness of future competitors was suppressed: effort could thus be channelled into the fixture, without the subconscious distraction of, as yet, unknown future rivals. England’s poorest game was against the lowest ranked team in the group Algeria, and this fixture almost presented England with a no-win situation. They would be expected to beat Algeria comfortably, so the potential acclaim/vilification trade-off was negatively skewed. And following the Algeria match, England would then be faced with further competition - Slovenia. As they were presented with these circumstances against Algeria, it should perhaps be no surprise that England put in a very stilted display.

A nation competing in the World Cup is presented with the task of winning the tournament, but this task is broken down into separate stages, i.e. seven games for a team making the final. Players are therefore psychologically presented with two interrelated tasks: winning the tournament, and winning discrete games. Certain conditions will enable a player to focus on a particular game, free from considerations of the additional efforts that will be required to win the tournament. This is why England managed to put in a spirited showing against Slovenia, when exclusive focus on the match in hand was required. Previous tournaments also contain many examples of England failing to perform to the expected standard in group stage games, but then improving in more crucial fixtures. England’s best performance in a group game over the last decade was against Argentina in 2002. Faced with a principal rival, the players were able to focus on succeeding in the immediate contest, unencumbered with thoughts of future obstacles to overall success.

It’s not simply about wanting it the most, as wanting it too much can constrict performance levels. The ideal situation is to create a context within which performances are shaped by directed effort that is free from excessive pressure. When England are presented with a crucial fixture against a key rival, then the social pressures induced by the broader competition are diminished. Extraneous pressures are actually greater when facing lesser rivals in less crucial games. In these circumstances, pervading anxieties about winning the World Cup impinge upon the more immediate concerns of winning a particular game – and a fixture against Algeria therefore ends up being perceived as an impediment to overall success, rather than a discrete must-win fixture.

This is why second place in Group C may be the best outcome for England. Ghana in the round of 16 would have appeared too beatable: England players would be subconsciously aware of future trials in the later knock-out rounds, and their performances could accordingly become constricted by this extraneous pressure. But with Germany as their rivals in the next round, England will be able to direct their mental effort solely on this game – and be psychologically free from considerations of the tournament’s additional competitors.

England 1 Slovenia 0

England looked determined to put the memory of the Algeria fixture behind them, but their early efforts looked slightly nervous – a couple of rash challenges were made and a few errors were apparent. Fabio Capello set the team up under 4-4-2 again but with Jermain Defoe replacing Emile Heskey in attack. Steven Gerrard started on the left and, whilst he had the freedom to roam, he retained a more defined position on the flank than against Algeria.

After 15 minutes England started to obtain a hold on the game. Glen Johnson cut inside from the right and his tricky shot was saved by Handanovic. Slovenia did fashion a chance on the break but John Terry blocked Ljubijankic’s effort. However, it was England that made the breakthrough: James Milner put in an excellent cross from the right which was fired home from six yards by Jermain Defoe. A number of chances were created over the remainder of the half, but England could not extend their lead. Milner continued to threaten with his crosses – on one occasion the keeper was forced to push the ball clear, but Lampard could not set himself for the rebound and he shot high and wide. Defoe also had another good strike from outside the box – Handanovic’s parry fell to Gerrard who linked well with Rooney, but Gerrard’s placed effort was thwarted by Handanovic’s diving save.

The lead could have been extended with two minutes of the restart, but Defoe just failed to flick the ball into the net following Lampard’s header into the box. Defoe did find the net after some good link-up play between Ashley Cole, Lampard and Rooney but the goal was rightly disallowed for offside.  Rooney’s scuffed shot was also tipped onto the post, following a ball out of defence from John Terry. England continued to control the half, but did not create any further clear chances. And although they dominated there were a few scares. Barry lost the ball in an advanced position, which allowed Slovenia to move up-field: in a fraught exchange Slovenia had three chances but Terry and Johnson made good blocks before the final effort went wide. There was also a nervous moment as full-time approached, but Upson made a great challenge to thwart Dedic. England held on to attain a place in the round of 16.

This was a spirited showing from England with all of the players putting in respectable performances. Milner was particularly eye-catching on the right and he showed that a poised and pragmatic wide player can have more impact than a coiled spring running down blind alleys. Defoe bagged the winner for England but his involvement was otherwise slight and he spent a period of the first-half chasing balls bouncing over his head. The centre-forward spot will receive ongoing scrutiny as England approach the knock-out stage.

8 James Milner: Some excellent crosses, good defensive work and an overall performance underpinned by élan and pragmatism.

7 Matthew Upson: Sure-footed, and made a crucial tackle as the game approached full-time.
7 John Terry: A solid performance with some excellent tackles and blocks.
7 Steven Gerrard: An energetic showing on the left, linking up well with Ashley Cole and Rooney.
7 David James: Dealt with some tricky situations convincingly.
7 Ashley Cole: Sound defensively, and visible in attack in the second-half.

6 Gareth Barry: His overall performance was secure enough, but he made a couple of notable errors. With two games under his belt now, he should improve.
6 Frank Lampard: Not quite up to the level of his form over the qualifiers, but he used the ball well enough.
6 Glen Johnson: Settled after a slightly unsure start, he was pretty assured in defence and attack.
6 Wayne Rooney: Looked brighter than against Algeria, but this was expressed through tidy flourishes rather than sustained attacking threat.
6 Jermain Defoe: Fulfilled his striker’s role in scoring the winner, and also fired another good shot away. But otherwise he was fairly marginal. 

Tomorrow’s World Cup

The Futurology department at World Cup College is coordinating a multidisciplinary exercise to cultivate a vision of how the World Cup will be organized towards the end of this century.

It is only in relatively recent years that human beings have realised that they are situated on a small branch of the evolutionary tree and that they share a common ancestor with all other animals.  There is significant genetic overlap between types of animal with humans sharing a large amount of DNA with other Earth-dwelling creatures, particularly primates. Humans do not therefore inhabit a niche of existence that transcends animal existence; it is illegitimate to conceive of humans as inhabiting a milieu which is separable from the natural world.

As this idea becomes more entrenched throughout the 21st century, and the biological overlap between types of species gains further acceptance, it will no longer be possible to exclude other animals from events which had previously been exclusively human. Therefore WCC predicts that future World Cups will have to allow for the participation of animals. This will raise a number of practical and ethical issues. For example, it may be discriminatory to rule out the participation of water-based species such as dolphins. Pitches will therefore have to be covered in sufficient water to enable water-based animals to swim, but which still allows land-based creatures to run. Accommodating animals on the same pitch that traditionally hold some antipathy towards each other may also prove difficult, e.g cats and dogs.

Further to the acceptance of other animals on the field of play, developments in technology may also mean that the breadth of participation needs to be widened. Advances in artificial intelligence and robotics will eventually lead us to redefine the parameters of what constitutes global citizenship. Intelligent machines may therefore need to be accorded additional rights as they acquire mental abilities which are commensurable with those of mammalian species. Participants in future World Cups may therefore include sophisticated machinery such as kitchen white goods which can talk. Ethical issues will again require scrutiny: the possibility of the machines rising up in rebellion against their former masters and destroying/enslaving humanity must be reviewed. However, the inclusion of toasters and squirrels on the field in future World Cups is likely to be a positive development as the game continues to broaden its sphere of influence though the 2000s.

Spain 82

Magazine FourFourTwo has run a nice regular supplement this year which has reviewed each World Cup finals since 1982. The question they pose is ‘Which is your World Cup?’
 
The World Cup that I have most affinity with is Spain 82, as I was just old enough to have an appreciation of what was going on. But interestingly, the principal elements of fascination have endured into adulthood. As a youngster it seemed a distant and exciting affair, full of mysterious countries and players – and this still feels the case today. The World Cup is a vibrant tournament of colour and anticipation. The early stages of the tournament are perhaps the most exciting when all of the nations are still involved and the possibilities are at their broadest.  Magazines and sticker albums show a multiplicity of countries with a kaleidoscopic array of different flags and strips.  It’s not possible to take in all of the detail, but one absorbs the overall sensation.
 
In 1982, literature on the tournament intimated an arcane and fascinating world of both history and predictions. For example, the publication pictured included a photo of a mysterious great Pele (pronounced Peel to a young child), and bizarre headlines such as ‘England must Czech the French before they strike oil’, which probably confused half of the adult readership as well. I also had a book in which the mascot Naranjito thwarts some baddies who are trying to blow up the finals.
 
Amongst the sensations recalled from 1982 is the 10-1 administered to El Salvador by Hungary. This was clearly a phenomenal score-line, and I mused as I filled in my wallchart that Hungary must be the best team in the world ever – they failed to make it beyond the first group stage! I also remember the England v Spain game was (according to parental guidance) on too late for me to watch; my Dad agreed to write down the score and leave it next to my bed, so I could see it first thing in the morning. England needed to win 2-0 to progress to the semi-finals and I was convinced that they would make it through. The note the next day read ‘0-0′, but this served as an excellent grounding for all further disappointments.
 
My interest far exceeded the tribulations of England however. Even at a young age it was possible to discern that the Brazil v Italy game represented what sport should be about. The thrilling Brazilian side in their yellow shirts were defeated 3-2 by the underdogs Italy in the brilliant Spanish sunshine. 
 
I also missed the France v Germany semi-final, but heard all about the horror of the Schumacher/Battiston challenge the next day and struggled to comprehend how such an injustice had occurred. This did provide a perfect narrative for the final though. It wasn’t just two nations playing: it was good v bad, somewhat akin to The Rebel Alliance v The Dark Side. I was allowed to stay up with my brother to watch the final and we vociferously supported Italy. Although I probably didn’t have much idea what was going on, the final gripped me. Italy were victorious and this provided temporary reassurance that the world was governed by just principles!

Chile 1 Switzerland 0

Chile set up under an assertive 3-4-3 for this fixture against a more conservative Switzerland. The South Americans played with plenty of attacking intent early in the game, but it was frenetic and hasty rather than measured and incisive. Early chances were limited to long-range efforts from Beausejour and Carmona.

The nature of the game changed on the half-hour when Swiss midfielder Behrami was sent off for pushing his arm into Vidal’s face. Despite their numerical advantage, Chile didn’t look like breaking down a highly organized Switzerland in the remainder of the half. Beausejour did put in a couple of good crosses from the left – one was met by an unconvincing Suazo header, and the other resulted in a tame shot from Sanchez which was easily saved by Benaglio.

Coach Marcelo Biesla attempted to invigorate this same formational approach in the second-half with a change in personnel. Gonzalez replaced Vidal and was positioned at left-forward with Beausejour withdrawing to the left wing-back slot. Paredes was introduced as centre-forward on the hour, with Valdivia (who had replaced Suarez at half-time) taking over playmaking duties from Fernandez. Chile continued to find it hard to navigate a way through a packed Swiss defence in the second period. There was a glimpse of a breakthrough early in the half after Sanchez charged down Grichting, but the Chilean forward could not set himself for the one-to-one against Benaglio.

Just as it seemed as though a resolute Swiss side would force a stalemate, on 75 minutes, Valdivia played Paredes into the box – Paredes crossed for Gonzalez whose downward header bounced off the turf and into the roof of the net.  Paredes had further opportunities to double the lead, but he blazed wide after he was played in by Gonzalez, and shot wide on another occasion after he had neatly stepped inside Von Bergen. Gonzalez also shot tamely after meeting a Sanchez cross on the edge of the 18-yard box. With the game approaching full-time Switzerland almost punished Chile’s inability to finish the game, but Derdiyok shot wide from an excellent position after some tidy build-up play.

Despite Chile’s attacking line-up they perhaps lack key creative individuals to dismantle defences: without more influential players the attack-minded approach is workmanlike rather than dazzling. Switzerland are a well-organized team, boasting a miserly defence, but as they were down to 10 men for the majority of the game, Chile should have perhaps demonstrated more cutting edge in attack. Valdivia appeared more influential than Fernandez in behind the centre-forward, whilst wide players Sanchez, Gonzalez and Beausejour made reasonable inroads down the flanks. The defensive trio was sound, although fairly untested, whilst Carmona was solid at the base of midfield. It could perhaps be queried why Biesla retained three central-defenders when faced with a Switzerland team playing 4-4-1. Perhaps an assertive 4-3-3 would have been more fruitful with just two central-defenders marshalling the lone Swiss forward.

Chile’s attacking approach does not undermine their defensive security. But against sides that can defend and attack, they may become excessively stretched. Despite accruing six points from two games, Chile could still be edged out of a place in the Round of 16, but it would be good to see the South Americans in the knock-out stages.

England team v Slovenia

England v Slovenia: Plan A

After one poor performance, England are in crisis. The only option following one sub-standard showing is root and branch change. That’s why Fabio Capello should be radical and stick with Plan A against Slovenia!

The approach which is perplexing fans and pundits is the very same approach which enabled England to qualify emphatically. In the first tournament game against USA the format differed slightly from Capello’s first choice arrangement, as Gareth Barry was unavailable. Barry returned for the Algeria fixture and England did, admittedly, put in a distinctly laboured showing. Such is the nature of the international tournament crapshoot; one dismal performance can equal total failure. But to date, Capello’s record for England in competitive games is Won 9, Drawn 2, Lost 1, yielding a points-per-game average of 2.42.

Although England would have expected to beat most of their lower ranked competitors, a club side like Chelsea (backed by Roman Abramovich’s millions) would also expect to beat most of their rivals. However, in the English Premier League last season, Chelsea were champions with a points-per-game average of 2.26. Of course, a short run of indifferent results for a top club side often initiates knee-jerk suggestions that their season is in terminal decline. However, the team have the opportunity over 38 league games to respond to dips in form. In international football the tendency to impute deep underlying problems to isolated examples of poor performance is more acute, due to the knock-out basis of competitions and accompanying national sentiments of entitlement. England have made the final of a major tournament once, and that was with home advantage 44 years ago. England would certainly be expected to advance beyond the group stage of this tournament, but their failure to do so would not be solely attributable to a coaching/formational system that, until Friday evening, had been highly successful.

Against Slovenia, Capello should therefore utilise Emile Heskey in attack with Wayne Rooney again. Steven Gerrard should start on the left, but with Valter Birsa on the right of Slovenia’s midfield, Gerrard may need to retain more of a left-sided focus than he did against Algeria. The team was topologically unbalanced against Algeria: the formation resembled a  lopsided 4-1-3-2 with Gerrard and Frank Lampard in front of Barry in central-midfield, with Ashley Cole the sole left-sided player. A similar approach worked against Egypt in the friendly in March, with Gerrard relinquishing his post on the left to bolster central areas. But ingrained asymmetry ceases to be flexibility and will undermine the functioning of the team. With regard to personnel, Capello must choose whether Matthew Upson or Michael Dawson partner John Terry in central defence. Aaron Lennon should also make way for Shaun Wright-Phillips on the right of midfield, as Lennon has failed to convince in the two games so far. Joe Cole is another option for right-midfield, and it is a surprise that Cole hasn’t seen any action yet at World Cup 2010, particularly after his bright performance in the pre-tournament friendly against Japan.

England v Slovenia: Plan X

Of course, if Plan A yields the same level of performance as that witnessed against Algeria, Capello will have to take recourse to a back-up plan for the second-half against Slovenia. If Rooney’s performance level remains painfully low then he will have to be replaced. And without Rooney, Heskey’s lack of goal-threat would become an intolerable hindrance. England should then, therefore, switch to 4-2-3-1 with Peter Crouch leading the line and Joe Cole joining the midfield.