There is no art without technique; and it’s not just in football – 03/11/2023 – Tostão

In the past, skill, improvisation, fantasy and shots with special effects predominated over technique, especially in Brazil. Brazilian players, all over the world, were known as ball artists.

The Italian filmmaker and poet Pasolini said, after the 4-1 defeat of Italy in the 1970 Cup final, that poetry had won over prose. In fact, Brazil was an organized and inventive team. Prose and poetry.

Today, more and more, individual and collective technique are as or more important than skill and inventiveness. The great stars, of all times, unite the two characteristics in variable proportions and according to the positions on the field.

Currently, there are many more goals from balls crossed into the area than in the past. In addition to improving technique, there are more crossings.

Palmeiras is a master at scoring goals this way, especially with Raphael Veiga and Rony. On the other hand, there are fewer goals from free-kicks close to the area. Goalkeepers have improved technique, they are taller and more agile. Goalkeepers have also evolved in dealing with the ball with their feet and in covering balls thrown at the defenders’ backs.

Today there is more pressure to recover the ball, across the pitch. Players, when they lose it, instead of running backwards to close the spaces, as it was before, they run forwards to put pressure on whoever has the ball, often close to the opposing area. Athletes, especially midfielders, disarm, touch the ball and move forward to receive it further ahead. The game became more intense and exciting.

In the middle of the week, Bayern Munich eliminated PSG for the Champions League for being a team with more physical and mental strength and for having more set. Messi and Mbappé were cancelled.

Brazilian coaches and midfielders should pay attention to midfielder Kimmich, due to his exuberant technique. He disarms, advances with precise, quick passes, with one or two touches, and an enormous lucidity in the choices.

The tactical changes that occur between one game and another or even during the game are important in collective technique.

Atlético-MG, in the tie with Milionários, from Colombia, for Libertadores, changed the tactical scheme by playing with two defensive midfielders (Allan and Otávio), good at tackling and passing, one midfielder on each side and two forwards, in the traditional and endless 4-4-2, instead of playing with a defensive midfielder, three midfielders and two strikers. It was Atlético’s best match under coach Coudet. Midfielder Edenilson, on the right, makes better use of his speed to defend and attack. He doesn’t have the ability to be a centralized and advanced midfielder.

Fluminense, in the victory over Flamengo by 2 x 1, showed their excellent collective technique, with a lot of exchange of passes. That’s how Cano’s beautiful goal came out. In the second half, Felipe Diniz strengthened the midfield even more, to have more of the ball, by changing the striker on the side, Keno, for another midfielder, Pirani, who scored the second goal. While many coaches weaken the midfield by choosing too many attackers, Diniz groups more players in the middle to involve the opponent.

There is no art, well-played football and efficiency, in any activity, without great technique, well executed. I have the impression that, in most of Brazilian society, there is little habit, little enthusiasm for learning the technique and doing the best in small and large jobs.

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