Euro 2008
Fall back on full backs
France in 1998 proved you can win a tournament with no recognised strikers. Denmark in 1992 proved you can win one based around a great goalkeeper. But these days, no international team can have a hope of success without a top quality full back, or two.
Don’t believe me? Look at the history: Italy’s 2006 success included the outstanding full backs of the tournament - Zambrotta and the in-form Grosso.
A poor 2004 tournament saw the competition’s best right back - Seiteridis - lift the trophy (beating the second best right back in Portugal’s Miguel along the way); left back at the time was the solid Venetidis.
2002 - Brazil: Cafu and Roberto Carlos.
1998 and 2000 - Les Bleus: monsieurs Lizarazu and Thuram. No team in the last decade has lifted a major trophy without truly top-class, in-form full backs.
Why are the wide-men so important in today’s top-level football? In a game where possession counts for all - lose the ball to Brazil, Portugal, Spain or Argentina and you may never see it again - the more bodies you can safely involve in the play, and the more options you can give yourself, the better.
Consider the number of times David Beckham drifted inside from the wing to get involved in the play, to allow the full back to overlap. Now remember all of those times that attacks culminated in Gary Neville bombing forward - the veteran Man Utd man is a capable defender at club level but he’s hardly the most terrifying proposition for a world class defence.
This became even more apparent in the recent friendly between England and France, where the most common applicant of the final ball into the box was Wes Brown, an out of position centre back with an erratic-at-best crossing ratio. Until England find an established, comfortable right back, they will always struggle in major tournaments.
So who will win at Euro 2008? Italy still have Zambrotta and Grosso; Germany have the impressive Lahm with the somewhat erratic Pander and Jansen; Spain have Sergio Ramos, but little else out wide; France have stuggled to replace Thuram at right back now his aging legs have forced him inside, so Evra is alone in the field.
My money’s on Italy once more.
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I’d certainly agree with you about the importance of the full back in the modern game - particularly in the absence of an abundance of wide players who can beat a man. The ability to double up on opponents is key and a good understanding between the wide midfielder and the full back can be devastating.
However, I’m not sure I concur with your faith in Italy - based on the quality of full backs available to the Azurri. I’ve got to be honest and say that I haven’t seen that much of Italy over the last 1 months, but I am a regular Barcelona watcher and msut say that Zambrotta’s performances havebeen less than impressive. I certainly would be banking on Italian success if the Barcelona player is going to be integral to Italy this summer.
again, im struggling to come to terms with the article without knowing how old these players are!
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