Category: Tactical Developments

The Development of Tactical Philosophies: Gegenpressing

Posted On By Theo Gardnercomment

Arguably, the term gegenpressing has become overly mythicised in recent years. Klopp’s success with both Mainz and Dortmund utilising the pressing idea, before bringing it to the Premier League has created a certain overcomplicated aura around the term.

Klopp himself remarked on his surprise at the fascination that English fans had with the system, when he took the helm at Liverpool.

At its roots, the term translates to ‘counter-pressing’, which, put simply, is immediately pressing the ball the moment it is lost in attack, aiming to stifle the opposition and force a double-turnover.

The system involves walking a fine line between aggressive counter-pressing and knowing when to drop back into your defensive structure. If a side fully commits to counter-pressing and is unsuccessful, their opposition have an extremely open counter-attacking opportunity.

Despite the term gegenpressing being synonymous with Jurgen Klopp in the modern game, the roots of the idea go much further back.

Category: Historical Pieces

Central Europe’s Historic Competition: The Mitropa Cup

Posted On By Theo Gardnercomment

I recently wrote a piece on what I called the predecessor to the European Cup – The Latin Cup.

In this competition, the league champions from France, Italy, Spain and Portugal faced off against one another from 1949-1957.

The Latin Cup went a long way in showcasing the necessity for competition between Europe’s elite footballing sides. However, it was not the only international club-competition that came before its time.

There were other competitions that also predated the European Cup and pitted the best sides from various countries against one another – for instance, The Mitropa Cup.

Category: Iconic Teams

Brazil in the 1958 World Cup: Jogo Bonito and the International Debut of the 4-2-4

Posted On By Theo Gardnercomment

To many, Brazil is the best footballing nation of all time. Their five World Cup wins provides them a strong argument to lay claim to that title.

All this while playing an exciting and highly skilful brand of football – which has come to be known as ‘jogo bonito’.

Jogo bonito literally translates into ‘the beautiful game’.

It is a free, expressive brand of football which has often drawn a likeness to the samba dance – which is also synonymous with the South American nation.

In fact, jogo bonito is often seen to be a perfect fusion of dance and football, drawing likenesses to the Brazilian martial art – Capoeira.

Capoeira – like jogo bonito – finds its roots in the Brazil’s vibrant culture of dance.

In both cases, incredible sporting ability is mixed with the flare, confidence and excitement found in Brazilian samba.

This exciting blend of free-flowing expression with footballing brilliance is why many fans fall in love with the beautiful game. It is why if you ask so many fans from around the world their favourite player, names like Ronaldinho, Neymar and Kaka will so often crop up.

However, jogo bonito alone could not win championships. Football is about more than skill and expression, it also takes defensive ability, balance and tactical acumen.

Brazil had all of these in abundance at the 1958 World Cup, where in the final, they triumphed over hosts Sweden 5-2.

Category: Tactical Developments

The Pre-Cruyffian History of the False Nine

Posted On By Theo Gardnercomment

Many modern fans would immediately think of names such as Johan Cruyff (as a player and manager), Pep Guardiola (as a manager), and Lionel Messi (as a player) as synonymous with the false nine roles.

While of course all of the above were extremely successful with the tactic, it would be a mistake to consider them to be the innovators.

The history of the false nine goes much deeper – with its roots beginning as early as the 1890s.

Category: Historical Pieces

The Predecessor To The European Cup: The Latin Cup

Posted On By Theo Gardnercomment

Most football fans know about the European Cup that came before the Champions League.

But even this was not the birth of organised competition between Europe’s elite.

There was for instance, the Mitropa Cup, contested by the successor states of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

However, probably most prominently (due to the Mitropa Cup’s post-World War Two decline) was the Latin Cup – for many the true predecessor to UEFA’s European Cup.

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