Guys, I stumbled across this today: http://www.marca.com/2010/06/16/multimedia/graficos/1276709736.html It is basically a flash graphic of all the supposed WC winning formations from '30-'10. I've noticed that some seem to be very accurate (Brasil '02) and some don't seem to be very accurate (France '98). I'm not sure on a few others, like Italy '82. Can someone verify how these look? It's a nice site. I'm just not sure how accurate it really is.
I'd agree on France '98 (Zidane wasn't playing as a left winger was he?) and also Brazil '02 (arguably Kleberson, like Juninho earlier in the tournament, might be more accurately shown to the right of Gilberto Silva but the formation is definately correct and Kleberson and Gilberto would be the central midfielders). With Brazil '94 I think they have Dunga and Mazinho mixed-up position-wise. I know Kempes was playing quite deep ie not an out-and-out striker, but I didn't think lining him up at the same level of the team as Ardiles was accurate (seems like at least a second striker wheras Ardiles was a centre mid). Not sure about Gerson's position in '70 either, though showing that Brazil side in a set formation perhaps isn't easy. Did Burrachaga and Valdano have the roles shown in '86? Maybe, cos I was young and have only seen highlights of Argentina in '86 since, but I thought Burrachaga was more of a right-winger and Valdano a centre-forward with Maradona, as shown, as an attacking mid/second striker.
I forgot about the Dunga and Mazinho being mixed on the 94 graphic. Definitely seems to be wrong. I think Zidane did play to the left in '98, but I don't think karembau could be classified as a right midfielder, not Djourkaeff as part of a forward paring.
I think Marca did a BAD job as most of them were either mixed up postion or not so correct formation. Let's just go back a few WC's as fresh memory: - WC94: 4 4 2 with Dunga and Mauro being the 2 DM in middle and Rai/Zinho + Leonardo/Branco on the flanks. ............. Romario ................................. bebeto ......... .Rai/Branco ..............................Leonardo/Zinho ................ Mauro ........ Dunga.................... - WC98: France started 4 4 2 in group, and then were famous with their 4 5 1 in later stages (turning into 4 2 3 1 in attack) with Zidane and Djorkaef swapping from CAM to LFW ........................... Guivarch ........................ ....... Zidane <==> Djorkaef ...... Karembeu ...... ................... Petit ............Deschamps........... * WC02: 3 5 2 ( am surprised that Marca totally screwed up here) ................................ Ronaldo ............... .......... Rivaldo ...................................... ....................... Ronaldinho..................... Carlos ...... Kleberson .....Gilberto .......Cafu ....... R.Junior ..... Edmilson ..... Lucio * WC06: 4 4 1 1 .......................... Toni ................. ..............Totti ............................. Perrota ............................Camonaresi ..............Gatusso ..... Pirlo ................ Grosso ...............................Zambrotta ............Materazi .... Canavaro
Leonardo was also a left-back in that tournament. Branco only came in to replace Leonardo after he was sent off against the USA.
Karembeu didn't play such an advanced position. France played 4-2-3-1 (or 4-3-3) in first round and in 1/8 vs Paraguay with Henry playing... on the right flank. They also used such a system vs Croatia in 1/2 during a large part of the game. ..........................Petit (Boghossian)...............Deschamps (Vieira)....................... .............Henry (Pires).................Zidane (Djorkaeff).........Djorkaeff (Diomede)...... .......................................Guivarch/Dugarry/Trezeguet............................................... France played 4-3-1-2 vs Italy in 1/4, vs Croatia in 1/2 until the end of the first half and vs Brazil in final. France played with 3 defensive midfielders... No surprise that this team looked like Fort Knocks. Djorkaeff played as a second striker in a more advanced position than Zidane. .............Karembeu............Deschamps..............Petit.................. ..........................................Zidane........................................... ........................Djorkaeff.......................................................... ..............................................Guivarch (Trezeguet, Dugarry).........
My impresions about olders formations: Uruguay 30 ---> Nasazzi played similar as sweeper, because Uruguayan used to play one fullback behind the other, just like Swiss verrou. Also, forward line wasn't like WM offensive, but Scarone playing deeper role. Italy 34---> Insiders playing deeper (similar WM offensive), just like WC38. Uruguay 50 ---> Matias Gonzalez as sweeper, Tejera as CB, Obdulio as CH/DM, and Schiaffino playing deeper role among forwards. W.Germany 54---> The side backs playing deeper, along with CB, and maybe Karl Mai more deep than Eckel. England 66---> The system was more like 4-4-2 with a diamond Italy 82---> Would be Antognoni instead "Dorado" Argentina 86---> Hector Enrique was RWB and Giusti playing alongside Batista, also Maradona more forward than Burruchaga. The others were comment above. Nice web!!!
Nice summary. Just to help out I'm thinking Marca just used the starting lineups from the actual Final not the first choice or best XI's and Antognoni missed the Final in '82 (think he was injured). Having watched a TV programme with the full 120 minutes of the '66 Final I'd say you're definately right that England played effectively a 4-4-2 diamond.
