[ad_1]
|
Updated: 15 July 2018 7:33:41
The importance of Modric and Rakitic in Croatia can be judged by the fact that they created almost half of the goals, ran more than Any other player in the World Cup (Modric – 63km, Rakitic – 62.9km) and was the soothing influence in the shootings. (Source: AP)
The Zagreb airport check-in counter was not exactly where Zlatko Dalic would have imagined meeting his players for the first time. In a certain way, the unusual context now seems appropriate, as there is nothing normal in the road from Croatia to the final of the World Cup.
Dalic took over a team that was in chaos. They had suffered a humiliating defeat in Finland, which had left Croatia flickering on the edge and their star player, Luka Modric, was facing a perjury lawsuit. The 51-year-old man, who had no experience as a coach of a large team, suddenly found himself immersed in the deep end and was admitted to having "no idea" to solve the problem
He had this stuck look on his face even today 39, hardly able to believe that Croatia has been slaloming past the opponents without actually playing their game A. But with a lot of improvisation and a little luck, Dalic has brought the golden generation of Croatia closer to the glory of the World Cup. But his success will not only bring Croatia to the finals. The biggest success was rather to smack Modric and Ivan Rakitic because it is this combination that has allowed the rest of the team to stay that far. Modric is unrelenting and reliable on the ball. Put it in a local Mumbai rush hour and it will still find room. It has a touch so soft, so imperceptible that looking at it is extremely easy to look at. Rakitic, the Croatian Batman's Robin, has the unique ability to cover the entire playing field without ever sprinting or sweating. It is the tactile artists who pilot a Croatian game oriented towards the wings. No sail, but it was not clear. They have been brilliant for their clubs. In crocheted Croatian jerseys, something slaps. No other coach than Slaven Bilic has been able to tick them off until Dalic picks up the puzzle, or at least seems to do it.
For their club, the playmakers are badisted by midfielders in a defensive position. this allows them more coverage. At Real Madrid, Modric is the key man in a midfielder three. Brazilian Carlos Casemiro controls the back line, performing much of the defensive lineup, giving Modric the freedom to move forward, or to sit and play outside.
Rakitic gets the same protection in Barcelona. Busquets, a defensive midfielder so tactically good that he is more dangerous on the ball than on him. With Busquets covering him and Andres Iniesta returning from the left, Rakitic had the freedom to move without worrying about leaving free space.
They missed that kind of support with the national team. Dalic, like most of his predecessors, fell into the trap of choosing the obvious option when he lined up Croatia in a 4-2-3-1 formation in their opening match against Nigeria , with Modric and Rakitic playing as double pivots. Ante Rebic and Ivan Perisic played on the flanks, Mario Mandzukic in the front and Andrej Kramaric behind him as number 10.
The training made Croatia a pedestrian – Rakitic and Modric were forced to Sitting between Nigeria's front lines and midfield. This meant that they often played very deeply, leaving a big gap between them and the first four, who were forced to retreat closer to their own half, allowing Nigeria's fast-paced defense to squeeze the air. ;space.
In a spirit of defense (although Modric can throw one or two effective tackles) or ball winners, the four backs of Croatia were often exposed. Without a selfish Victor Moses or an imprudent John Obi Mikel, Nigeria could have benefited from a dysfunctional Croatia.
After an hour of disjointed play, Dalic stumbled upon the solution. He brought Marcelo Brozovic for an ineffective Kramaric, and suddenly the Croatian puzzle fell into place.
The presence of Brozovic, a defensive midfielder, allowed Modric and Rakitic to venture higher – the Real Madrid star played behind Mandzukic, which allowed him to connect the game more naturally, while Rakitic moved slightly to the left to combine with Perisic. The impact was visible because Croatia was heading for a comfortable victory
They maintained this system against Argentina, where Croatia dictated the pace of the game. This combination proved to be successful decisive against Russia in the quarterfinals and the last match against England, where Brozovic has covered more ground than anyone on the ground.
It can be judged the importance of Modric and Rakitic in Croatia have created almost half of the goals, ran more than any other player in the World Cup (Modric – 63km, Rakitic – 62.9km) and were the soothing influences in the shootings.
The Incredibles [19659016] The Incredibles dominate the midfield and control the game so well that it seems almost impossible to beat them. (Source: Reuters)
But in France, they face opposition like never before. While the world has been blinded by Kylian Mbappe's pace, Paul Pogba and N Golo Kante have, in the background, exerted influence in the midfield like no other pair in this tournament.
The Incredibles dominate the midfield so much that it seems almost impossible to beat them.
The fact that all attention has been paid to the theatricality of Mbappe is perhaps the best thing that could have happened to France. Pogba tends to do too much when you focus on him. But in Russia, it seems to have reached maturity.
The only time the Manchester United midfielder was tinsel this World Cup, is when he left London for a base camp in Moscow after 2-1. win over Australia. He got rid of his streaked Mohawk of blonde for a much simpler crew cut. If the idea behind this was to blend in anonymity and remain anonymous, it worked very well.
Among his French team-mates, Pogba has managed 31 key pbades – those that lead to shots on goal – which is the second best dribblers, and makes the maximum number of individual races in the third-party striker. He was able to create space for himself and his teammates, while the range of his direct pbades allowed Mbappe to get into the rhythm.
As France has done, it may give the impression that Didier Deschamps designed system to make the most of Mbappe, but indeed it is centered around Pogba's strengths. Kante, especially, played a crucial role in that. They call him Duracell's Rabbit and Pogba joked Kante had "15 lungs". His rhythm of work gives these hyperboles a semblance of realism.
Kante has recovered more than any other player in this World Cup and is only behind Modric and Rakitic in terms of distance traveled. He chased Pogba pbades and hitched himself to support Mbappe. France is banking on Pogba's power and Kante's endurance to keep Modric and Rakitic's creative flair. The result of the final, we can badume, will depend a lot on the pair of midfielders among the two who will win this battle: the French are physical and direct; Croats, delicate and preferring to build from large areas.
The Deschamps team did not lose a single time when Pogba and Kante played together. But Dalic hopes that he will stumble over a solution one last time, as he has done throughout the tournament.
For all the latest FIFA news, download Indian Express App
Source link
