In recent decades, football has evolved a lot. The matches are more intense, the players run more, the teams are more compact, there are more rehearsed plays, strategies and many other technical, tactical and physical details. In the emotional part, which is very important, there is a lot to improve.
In midweek, Palmeiras and Fluminense played a great game, each in their own way. Palmeiras prioritizes quick transitions from defense to attack, long balls and crosses. Fluminense brings players closer together and exchanges more passes to involve the opponent. It was a balanced game, with several clear scoring chances for both teams.
Football is not just strategy, planning and sports science.
Flamengo lost to Lanús for numerous reasons. One of them is the efficiency of Argentine teams against Brazilian teams, even when they are inferior. Other reasons are technical, unexpected and unpredictable details. Football has many more reasons than our pretentious wisdom imagines.
Football has evolved a lot, which does not mean that in the past players were on the field and that teams did not have collective strategies and concerns. As in the present, there were great and bad teams and players. The athletes had more space to play, but, on the other hand, they had more space to show their deficiencies. Today the game is more competitive and depends more on physical conditions.
Football, like life, is full of legends, myths and distorted stories and facts.
People tend to remember what they want more than reality. Contrary to what is currently said, the 1970 Brazilian team was not just a bold, offensive team with great players. It was very planned, trained and collective. Zagallo, as soon as he took charge of the team, replaced a fast, dribbling winger (Edu) with a midfielder (Rivellino), forming a trio in midfield to improve marking and creating plays.
Another legend is that the 1970 team had five players who were number 10 at their clubs. Only Pelé and I played for clubs in that position, although I played with the number 8 shirt at Cruzeiro. Rivellino and Gerson played for their teams in the number 8 positions, further back and closer to the midfielder. Jairzinho, at Botafogo, acted as a second striker or right-winger, entering diagonally towards the center, as he played in the 1970 World Cup. Only Rivellino and I changed positions. I took a step forward to be a center forward and Rivellino took a step to the left, to be a midfielder on the side.
Football and life didn’t start with the internet. We cannot be nostalgic or quixotic dreamers or be dazzled by some technological idiocy.
Right place
Neymar, with two beautiful and precise shots, scored both goals for Santos in the 2-1 victory over Vasco. Finally, he returned to playing in attack, closer to the goal and the center forward, instead of playing deep, receiving the ball in his own midfield, as he did in recent years. Against Vasco, he took the ball less and attempted fewer dribbles, but he was decisive. There is your place.
LINK PRESENT: Did you like this text? Subscribers can access seven free accesses from any link per day. Just click the blue F below.
