FWC-FFT-Uruguay
Food for thought: Uruguay’s tactical options:-
Coach Óscar Tabárez’s 8 consecutive years coaching Uruguay is a pretty long period of time in today’s managerial merry-go-round-world of football; but, it is by no means a small feat considering the fact that he has been able to properly mold the team together; displaying consistently positive performances on the big stage (4th place at the 2007 Copa America & the 2010 WC, 2011 South American Champions & 4th place at the 2013 Confederations cup).
The main issue that coach Tabárez has to address prior to Uruguay playing their first match would be the team’s formation and tactical set-up. His choices are limited to be honest and he hasn’t really gone beyond switching between a 4-4-2 lay-out and a 4-3-3 one.
Both could be combined together during the actual course of games by shunting one of their 2 strikers out wide and pushing one of their offensive midfielders, or perhaps center forward, further up-front on the other side of the pitch. However, such flexibility of play and the ability to quickly adapt requires extremely technical players who have immense tactical awareness. Therefore, given the current Uruguay squad, it would be rather counter-productive to go down that road and coach Tabárez’s best bet is, then, to firmly fixate his mind on EITHER one of those formations.
In the case of a 4-4-2 variation, Uruguay would have higher dimensions in terms of fully utilizing their strikers’ potentials and causing opposition defenders major headaches by forcing them to have to mark those 2 strikers; which would, consequently, leave extra space for their ongoing attacking midfielders. However, the drawback would be that their play would be more vertical and direct in terms of creating chances and/or looking to deliver aerial balls.
A 4-3-3 set-up would, in Uruguay’s case, widen play on the flanks and allow their main striker much more freedom in between the opposition’s defensive lines. Also, it would provide their midfielders an increased sense of freedom in the middle of the park in the build-up to their attacks; as they could then take their time when trying to figure out to whom to pass the ball. The disadvantage here, obviously, would be that at least one of their strikers-turned-wingers would have to be shifted to the side and run the channel from there; limiting his options in attack and depriving him of a clearer path forwards.
Coach Tabárez’s final decision before each game will probably depend on the form and fitness of his favorite attacking trio of Luis Suárez, Edison Cavani and Diego Forlán (yes he is still alive :P); but the degree to which they will all be effective together also relies heavily on the chemistry and understanding between them (the recurring theme within Uruguay’s squad!).
Coach Óscar Tabárez’s 8 consecutive years coaching Uruguay is a pretty long period of time in today’s managerial merry-go-round-world of football; but, it is by no means a small feat considering the fact that he has been able to properly mold the team together; displaying consistently positive performances on the big stage (4th place at the 2007 Copa America & the 2010 WC, 2011 South American Champions & 4th place at the 2013 Confederations cup).
The main issue that coach Tabárez has to address prior to Uruguay playing their first match would be the team’s formation and tactical set-up. His choices are limited to be honest and he hasn’t really gone beyond switching between a 4-4-2 lay-out and a 4-3-3 one.
Both could be combined together during the actual course of games by shunting one of their 2 strikers out wide and pushing one of their offensive midfielders, or perhaps center forward, further up-front on the other side of the pitch. However, such flexibility of play and the ability to quickly adapt requires extremely technical players who have immense tactical awareness. Therefore, given the current Uruguay squad, it would be rather counter-productive to go down that road and coach Tabárez’s best bet is, then, to firmly fixate his mind on EITHER one of those formations.
In the case of a 4-4-2 variation, Uruguay would have higher dimensions in terms of fully utilizing their strikers’ potentials and causing opposition defenders major headaches by forcing them to have to mark those 2 strikers; which would, consequently, leave extra space for their ongoing attacking midfielders. However, the drawback would be that their play would be more vertical and direct in terms of creating chances and/or looking to deliver aerial balls.
A 4-3-3 set-up would, in Uruguay’s case, widen play on the flanks and allow their main striker much more freedom in between the opposition’s defensive lines. Also, it would provide their midfielders an increased sense of freedom in the middle of the park in the build-up to their attacks; as they could then take their time when trying to figure out to whom to pass the ball. The disadvantage here, obviously, would be that at least one of their strikers-turned-wingers would have to be shifted to the side and run the channel from there; limiting his options in attack and depriving him of a clearer path forwards.
Coach Tabárez’s final decision before each game will probably depend on the form and fitness of his favorite attacking trio of Luis Suárez, Edison Cavani and Diego Forlán (yes he is still alive :P); but the degree to which they will all be effective together also relies heavily on the chemistry and understanding between them (the recurring theme within Uruguay’s squad!).
Ahmad Al-Omar - 10. Jun, 09:17
