EURO 2012

[Alidar Jarok]

One thing I dislike about Football matches is there really seems to be an advantage to stacking everybody near the net if you have a lead and playing fairly boring football. In other sports, playing defensive like this is essentially suicide. There's a phrase in American football that playing prevent defense only prevents winning. But you see teams like Spain who are perfectly content to control the ball and do little else and win games.

Now maybe it was the team they were playing. France looked shaky all game and maybe a better team could have thought of a way to penetrate their defense, but it's still disappointing when I know that matches can be far, far more entertaining.

 

[Shazam!]

I miss the 90's when more teams played 2 up front and teams went for it more

The reason why England won their group is because they played 4-4-2 and everyone has forgotten how to defend against it.

 

[Angel4576]

This feels appropriate.....

4-4-2

 

[Roger Wilco]

Never heard of that movie, is it worth watching?

 

[Angel4576]

^^ If you get the chance, absolutely. It's a satirical comedy about the England Manager job.

It takes a pop at the FA, the British media, the traditional view of an England Manager, etc.

It's hilarious.

 

[Roger Wilco]

I'm sure I can, um... find it.

Thanks.

 

[Angel4576]

I'm sure I can, um... find it.

Thanks.

YouTube is ace.

 

[Ayelbourne]

One thing I dislike about Football matches is there really seems to be an advantage to stacking everybody near the net if you have a lead and playing fairly boring football. In other sports, playing defensive like this is essentially suicide. There's a phrase in American football that playing prevent defense only prevents winning.

If you score a goal by launching a counter out of defensive position, then it is a viable strategy. Just look at Greece's first goal against Germany. That was a textbook counter.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Yeah, counters are quite good, but that encourages teams to be even more risk averse.

 

[Count Zero]

One thing I dislike about Football matches is there really seems to be an advantage to stacking everybody near the net if you have a lead and playing fairly boring football. In other sports, playing defensive like this is essentially suicide. There's a phrase in American football that playing prevent defense only prevents winning. But you see teams like Spain who are perfectly content to control the ball and do little else and win games.

It is a risky strategy in football, too, because most teams aren't as good at it as Spain or Italy (traditionally). So, you do end up with an equaliser in many cases. That's why the idea is to score a second goal with a well executed counterattack. The team that's behind is supposed to go more on the offense in that scenario which is entertaining.
In short, those games can be boring but they can also be very exciting. It's not the strategy itself that's the cause of boredom but the abilities, style and the will of the teams involved.

 

[{ Emilia }]

One thing I dislike about Football matches is there really seems to be an advantage to stacking everybody near the net if you have a lead and playing fairly boring football.

"Stacking everybody near the net" isn't nearly explaining the complexity of a successful football defense. You need to watch more football and actually pay attention to tactics. How the defensive lines move and how spaces are controlled. Movement without the ball is very important and also what you do when you win it back and where you are actually trying to win it back.

In any case it's a very risky strategy and most team don't fully apply it because they know they lack the skills. The top European football leagues all have a "goals per game" average of 2.5 (Italy) to 2.9 (Germany) so those 1-0 results are a lot less common than you apparently think.

There are teams that play terrible defensive football just trying to destroy the opponent's play. But they are far and between.

 

[Iasius]

I have to say, I loved this:

I don't blame Greece for trying this, but seeing it visualized, it was pretty funny.

 

[{ Emilia }]

Haha, yeah. Saw that on zonalmarking earlier. Lovely.

 

[Roger Wilco]

I don't think it's wrong to say that football can be very boring, especially when you don't really care one way or another for at least one of the two teams (if you love one and hate the other, almost no game is boring), but it's not a lack of goals that makes it so, but a lack of passion and attacking spirit imo.

 

[Iasius]

I don't think it's wrong to say that football can be very boring, especially when you don't really care one way or another for at least one of the two teams (if you love one and hate the other, almost no game is boring), but it's not a lack of goals that makes it so, but a lack of passion and attacking spirit imo.

Yeah. That's the main reason I don't like Spain as a team. I feel like they sorta try to score a goal, then they go 1-0 and stop trying. If Spain goes 1-0, they just close out the game, no matter how much time is left.

 

[{ Emilia }]

I don't think it's wrong to say that football can be very boring, especially when you don't really care one way or another for at least one of the two teams (if you love one and hate the other, almost no game is boring), but it's not a lack of goals that makes it so, but a lack of passion and attacking spirit imo.

Agreed.

Spain is boring as hell to me but it's not because they're "stacking everybody near the net". Football is usually boring when a team lacks passion. Like France did last night.

 

[Count Zero]

I still found Ribéry's attempts quite captivating. I don't understand what France was really playing - why was he basically on his own in his efforts? (Well, ok, he and Benzema)

 

[{ Emilia }]

I still found Ribéry's attempts quite captivating. I don't understand what France was really playing - why was he basically on his own in his efforts? (Well, ok, he and Benzema)

Ribery is the only French player who didn't look useless.

For the rest: Spain 2-0 France: Blanc’s double right-back plan fails and Alonso deservedly scores both goals

 

[Count Zero]

To round it all off, Nasri insulted a journalist from AFP after the game, telling him to fuck himself, among other things. I suppose it's a step up from Anelka saying something similar to the coach in 2010.

 

[HappyDayRiot]

^ Nasri proves on a weekly basis he is a total ass.

There is a big difference between Spain playing like this and Barca's style. Barca will go all out to hammer anyone in sight. Spain score one and sit on it, because they know it works for them. What can we say? It is boring, but they're good at it! It's only now they've been so dull to watch though. In 2008 and 2010 they were more exciting to watch.

Of course, unlike the Spanish national team, Barca have Messi. And actual, in-form strikers.

Also, how on earth can any team who gets to the quarter finals of this tournament lack passion or motivation? How? As said, other than Ribery, France looked like they couldn't be bothered. Madness.