It is liked a brand recognization. For example, the US is known to produce quality keepers. Or if he is a striker from England, he must be good in the air. It is almost liked stereotyping. Italy: keepers, center defenders, attack midfielders. Argentina: playmakers. Brazil: attack midfielders who can score freekicks and dribble evry well, striker, wingbacks who are better in offensive than defense. England: strikers who are good in the air, right wingers, keepers(in the good old days). Norway: Strikers who are good in the air and likely to be big. Germany: defensive midfielder, strong & physical players in all position. Uruguay: defenders who are willing to do anything to stop you.
Holland: I guess you could say wingers, goalkeepers who are great at actually playing football and not just stopping shots and classy forwards.
There are guys like Stojkovic, yes, but I think that the Yugoslav mentality as a whole affected teh NT's success. When ever Yugoslavia had a lead of any sort, voctory was never a sure thibng untill the final whistle. They would always manage to throw away leads and concede stupid goals. Check out the WC '98, for example. Another remarkable thing about THE Yugoslav/Serbian national teams is that they played their best football when they were behind and had to play attacking football rather than holding on to a lead. Some more recent examples are S&M's second game against Spain, their game against Slovenia in the EURO 2000, as well as the U-19's team's game agaisnt Germany at the recent U-19 European Championships.
Spain: Technically gifted CMs who can control the pace of a game. ie deeplying playmakers. England: Big Centerbacks Nigeria: speed on the field in almost every position.
It’s interesting that you would think that the image of an English prototypical striker is one who is good in the air. You not being from England and offering your view on this is the interesting part as it is a percieved notion not really backed up by who sits atop of the all-time scoring charts for England or the usual players who have been stellar in an England shirt and played at CF – I’m not saying you’re wrong, far from it, there are enough players who fit the catergory – Lofthouse, Shearer, Sheringham, Keegan and Owen even. But there’s an equal number of arguably greater players who do not: Greaves, Charlton, Lineker, Beardsley, Rooney 3 of which sit atop the all-time scoring charts for England and all of whom were loathe to head a ball. Consider: Greaves a notorious ground playing type who liked to pass the ball into the net and was not fond of heading the ball. Lineker – teased to this day about his refusal to head balls and his ineptitude in the air. Charlton – whose forte was 20-40 yard rockets into the net, he rarely headed the ball. Beardsley – a sublime playmaker type who rarely headed the ball. Same goes for Rooney. Oh well, just thought I’d mention that, it may change your perception, I suppose you’ve never really thought about it like that? (I hadn’t until you mentioned air-type English CF’s ) I’ll give my take on other nations mass production strength: Germany: Sweepers, DM’s, CM’s robust strikers who are excellent at cross conversion. But I will always associate them with CM’s who over time play DM and then Sweeper or vice versa. No other nation has players that have done that so regularly through the ages. Argentina: I’ve never really associated them with playmakers – how many have they had who were the premier playmaker in the world? – I generally associate them with tough CB’s who will do anything to stop the man they are marking and very high levels of cunning and passing ‘zip’ amongst their attacking players. Holland Wing forwards obviously as they are the only nation in the world who ave maintained a system for such a long period of time that uses WF’s. Also very, very good passers and intelligent offensive players. Brazil strikers. The premier strikers in the world with the highest levels of technical groundplay. Also wingbacks who attack like wingers. ItalyStoppers, and support strikers. England Tireless players with huge amounts of stamina.
They don't need to be able to do everything, just the basic things: -position yourself well -be able to pass the ball with both feet and be able to quickly exchange passes with just one touch -be able to find solutions to problems, nothing extreme, but things like "if my marker has a good right foot but an awfull left foot, I should play the ball past his left foot.
Jugovic certainly was mentally tough. definitely goalies and defenders for italy. from Zoff, zenga, peruzzi and Buffon, i think italy has had one of the worlds top 3 goalies for the last 30+ years.
Canada: Doesn't ****ing matter because whenever a good one comes through they get lured to play for another country But seriously... African teams tend to have great athletes with good technique but little positional or tactical awareness England- as DS mentioned, players with great stamina, as well as work ethic and determination, but lacking in individual flair France- this is a hard one, I can't really think of any specific position and or qualities that define most French players
why not? i agree with him. until recently, when european coaches have been there, theyve been incredibly disorganized.
Ok, obviously not "little", but that has been their downfall in international tournaments. Would you disagree with that? They do have good technique, and fitness isn't a problem, why haven't they been more successful in WC's until recently, when the tactical side of their game has improved? I honestly don't know why you reacted so extremely.