Post by Golden_Boy™ on Jun 7, 2010 12:07:00 GMT -1
World Cup Preview - Uruguay
7th June 2010
Oscar Tabarez took control of ‘La Celestes’ for a second time in 2006, immediately installing 4-3-3 as the default formation at every age level in the national team. The 63-year-old former AC Milan boss believed this was the correct way to play the game, placing a strong emphasis on attacking football, and insisted every young Uruguayan was educated in how the system be applied.
However, Tabarez quickly discarded this ideology upon the realization that he didn’t have the players available to execute it to its full potential, finally deciding on a 3-5-2 formation that appears to get the best from the resources at his disposal. At the World Cup this week, Tabarez is expected to stick to the basics of that formation, but perhaps there will be a slight variation to accommodate one of South America’s brightest young talents: Nicolas Lodeiro. The 21-year-old, if selected, will ‘play in the hole’ in a 3-4-1-2 set-up where he’ll be ordered to supply the ammunition for deadly strike duo Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan.
The tiny number 14 is the archetypal trequartista, combining a high-level of technical ability with the skill and intelligence to dictate the rhythm and flow of a game. There is a finesse and subtlety to Lodeiro’s style, blessed with the vision to spot a pass before receiving the ball, he doesn’t need the extra touch that so many players require. Tabarez, and anyone who watched Lodeiro play in the Copa Libertadores last year - when he helped Nacional of Montevideo to the semi finals - knows the young playmaker has the stardust that could take Uruguay from potentially qualifying in second place, to actually dreaming of winning Group A.
In a spectacular show of faith, Tabarez handed Lodeiro his international debut in the crucial World Cup playoff game against Costa Rica in November and he played a key role as Uruguay secured their ticket to South Africa after a rocky qualifying campaign. The main benefit of selecting Lodeiro is that he acts as the link between midfield and attack instead of Diego Forlan; the Atletico Madrid hitman sometimes sacrifices a natural element of his game when - due to frustration - drops overly deep in search of the ball. When Lodeiro plays, Forlan and Suarez both play together higher up the pitch, enhancing this exhilarating partnership, forcing the opposition to defend much deeper.
Despite not playing much football since arriving at Ajax in January, Lodeiro started a friendly away to Switzerland in March and once again demonstrated his importance to the Forlan-Suarez partnership; combining well with both players, he helped the South Americans to an impressive 3-1 victory. Furthermore, last week Uruguay beat Israel 4-1 and the left-footed Lodeiro once again proved that a lack of playing time won’t be a hindrance at the World Cup. He came on as a second half sub and linked up fantastically with Edison Cavani throughout, before crowning his performance with an assist for Sebastian Abreu.
Last year a confident Lodeiro said: “I almost always do what the coach tells me but sometimes I like to spring a surprise, like taking on my man when I shouldn´t or nutmegging someone. That´s how I play and I´ve no intention of changing.”
Following those comments, Tabarez could be forgiven for being cautious when naming his team on Friday night, but Uruguay have enough hard working players in midfield to accommodate a luxury like Lodeiro. On the right and left wings there’s Álvaro and Maxi Pereira respectively, both blessed with magnificent lung power. In the centre, the partnership of Diego Perez and Walter Gargano provides a solid spine and excellent cover for their shaky defence. In reserve there is the mental, but equally industrious Sebastian Eguren. With Cristian Rodriguez, Uruguay’s key playmaker, dropped for the World Cup after picking up a two game suspension against Costa Rica, the advantages offered to Uruguay by selecting Lodeiro massively outweigh the gamble.
Potential line-up: Muslera, Lugano, Godin, Scotti; Alvaro Pereira, Diego Perez, Walter Gargano, Maxi Pereira; Lodeiro; Forlan, Suarez.
Brian Maxwell, SouthAmericanFootball.co.uk
7th June 2010
Oscar Tabarez took control of ‘La Celestes’ for a second time in 2006, immediately installing 4-3-3 as the default formation at every age level in the national team. The 63-year-old former AC Milan boss believed this was the correct way to play the game, placing a strong emphasis on attacking football, and insisted every young Uruguayan was educated in how the system be applied.
However, Tabarez quickly discarded this ideology upon the realization that he didn’t have the players available to execute it to its full potential, finally deciding on a 3-5-2 formation that appears to get the best from the resources at his disposal. At the World Cup this week, Tabarez is expected to stick to the basics of that formation, but perhaps there will be a slight variation to accommodate one of South America’s brightest young talents: Nicolas Lodeiro. The 21-year-old, if selected, will ‘play in the hole’ in a 3-4-1-2 set-up where he’ll be ordered to supply the ammunition for deadly strike duo Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan.
The tiny number 14 is the archetypal trequartista, combining a high-level of technical ability with the skill and intelligence to dictate the rhythm and flow of a game. There is a finesse and subtlety to Lodeiro’s style, blessed with the vision to spot a pass before receiving the ball, he doesn’t need the extra touch that so many players require. Tabarez, and anyone who watched Lodeiro play in the Copa Libertadores last year - when he helped Nacional of Montevideo to the semi finals - knows the young playmaker has the stardust that could take Uruguay from potentially qualifying in second place, to actually dreaming of winning Group A.
In a spectacular show of faith, Tabarez handed Lodeiro his international debut in the crucial World Cup playoff game against Costa Rica in November and he played a key role as Uruguay secured their ticket to South Africa after a rocky qualifying campaign. The main benefit of selecting Lodeiro is that he acts as the link between midfield and attack instead of Diego Forlan; the Atletico Madrid hitman sometimes sacrifices a natural element of his game when - due to frustration - drops overly deep in search of the ball. When Lodeiro plays, Forlan and Suarez both play together higher up the pitch, enhancing this exhilarating partnership, forcing the opposition to defend much deeper.
Despite not playing much football since arriving at Ajax in January, Lodeiro started a friendly away to Switzerland in March and once again demonstrated his importance to the Forlan-Suarez partnership; combining well with both players, he helped the South Americans to an impressive 3-1 victory. Furthermore, last week Uruguay beat Israel 4-1 and the left-footed Lodeiro once again proved that a lack of playing time won’t be a hindrance at the World Cup. He came on as a second half sub and linked up fantastically with Edison Cavani throughout, before crowning his performance with an assist for Sebastian Abreu.
Last year a confident Lodeiro said: “I almost always do what the coach tells me but sometimes I like to spring a surprise, like taking on my man when I shouldn´t or nutmegging someone. That´s how I play and I´ve no intention of changing.”
Following those comments, Tabarez could be forgiven for being cautious when naming his team on Friday night, but Uruguay have enough hard working players in midfield to accommodate a luxury like Lodeiro. On the right and left wings there’s Álvaro and Maxi Pereira respectively, both blessed with magnificent lung power. In the centre, the partnership of Diego Perez and Walter Gargano provides a solid spine and excellent cover for their shaky defence. In reserve there is the mental, but equally industrious Sebastian Eguren. With Cristian Rodriguez, Uruguay’s key playmaker, dropped for the World Cup after picking up a two game suspension against Costa Rica, the advantages offered to Uruguay by selecting Lodeiro massively outweigh the gamble.
Potential line-up: Muslera, Lugano, Godin, Scotti; Alvaro Pereira, Diego Perez, Walter Gargano, Maxi Pereira; Lodeiro; Forlan, Suarez.
Brian Maxwell, SouthAmericanFootball.co.uk
www.thefootballramble.com/blog-full.asp?id=99
