Tostão: Flamengo got worse with Vítor Pereira – 02/11/2023 – Tostão

Whatever the performance and result this Saturday (11), in the dispute for third place in the Club World Cup, Vítor Pereira has to solve the dilemma if he climbs Flamengo the way he would like, with a player on each side who scores and attack, or the top four at the front (Gabigol, Pedro, Arrascaeta and everton Ribeiro) remain, but with changes in positioning and roles.

With Dorival Júnior, the team played with a more centralized and defensive midfielder, with a midfielder on each side and with Arrascaeta at the apex of the diamond, close to the two attackers, Gabigol and Pedro. Vítor Pereira, who had already changed the way he played against Palmeiras and in other games, chose Arrascaeta on the left and Everton Ribeiro on the right. The team didn’t improve defensively and got worse in the attack, as the two were very separated and far from the two attackers.

Placing the change of technicians or the absence of the great João Gomes, as if he were a world star, as the causes of the elimination against Al Hilal is oversimplifying. Flamengo has an excellent team. Along with Palmeiras, it is the best in Brazil, but both are very good for the football played in the country and in South America.

Life and football repeat themselves. In the 1994 World Cup, Parreira used two players on the sides to score with the two defensive midfielders. Zinho, on the left, did it very well. Raí, used to playing in the center and close to the area, as Arrascaeta does at Flamengo, was very bad and replaced by midfielder Mazinho, who moved to the right.

Brazil, for playing the English way, with two lines of four, with two forwards and without a midfielder, number 10, won, but was criticized for not playing brilliant football, which is unfair. The team was champion because it had an exceptional defensive system, excellent players in all positions and the brilliant striker Romário.

In the 2006 World Cup, 12 years later, Parreira repeated the scheme, by climbing Ronaldinho Gaúcho on the left and Kaká on the right, both with functions of marking. Ronaldinho and Kaká were masters at their clubs, playing in a very different way. Ronaldinho played on the left, but well ahead, without going back to score and entering diagonally through the middle. Kaká became the best in the world playing as an attacking midfielder, in the center, close to the area.

I prefer more mobile tactical schemes, with players changing positions on the field, than very simple schemes, like the one in Brazil in the 2022 World Cup, with the two wide wingers (Vinicius Junior and Raphinha) and the fixed center forward (Richarlison) . This formation is easier to score.

Regardless of Saturday’s performance and result, Real Madrid will also play with two players on the wings and a striker, but in a different way. Benzema comes back to receive the ball as a connecting midfielder, opening spaces for the two players on the sides to enter diagonally and score goals, especially Vinicius Junior. This strategy is one of the reasons for Vinicius’ growth at Real Madrid and in world football.

Manchester City, at the best of times, is the most fascinating team in the world for the way they play. The athletes move so much that it is difficult for the commentator or the fan to draw the tactics on the drawing board. It looks more like the 2-3-5 of the beginning of football in the world, almost 150 years ago. Life and football repeat themselves.

PRESENT LINK: Did you like this text? Subscriber can release five free hits of any link per day. Just click the blue F below.