BRAZIL 1970
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On June 21st 1970 at the Azteca Stadium, Mexico City Brazil defeated Italy 4-1 to win the World Cup for the third time in a display so widely lauded that they have been called the greatest team of all time. For many years I've tried to recreate something close to that team in CM/FM and never quite cracked it. This is the closest I've managed and is finally worthy of release.
BASIC PHILOSOPHY - To play quick, short passing football designed to move the ball speedily from defence to attack. Possession is important but the team should be allowed to take risks in order to take advantage of attacking opportunities.
FORMATION - It's a little tricky to actually nail down what formation the 1970 team played. It could be argued that the manager Mario Zagallo simply picked the best players available to him and put them on the pitch. Nominally it was a 4-3-3 but in reality it was more 4-2-4 as Rivellino spent most of his time pushing forward from midfield, so that's what we'll choose for this exercise.
Because of the uniqueness of this team, I am going to try and recreate the style of play of each player, rather than positional roles. Of course, this won't turn your striker into Pele but I've tried to make the player roles reflect the way each individual player played in the latter stages of the tournament. I've used the team that played in the final.
FELIX - One of the most fearless goalkeepers of all time, Felix Milalli Venerando originally started playing in goal because he was the only one of his friends who didn't mind diving on the tarmac during games of street football. Rail thin and slight, he was the eldest member of the team in 1970. Perhaps his finest moments came against England.
Role - Sweeper Keeper - Defend
CARLOS ALBERTO - The Captain. It's widely considered that alongside Pele and Gerson that Carlos Alberto was really the coach of the 1970 side and that he dictated how the team should play. A marauding wing back who dominated the right side of the field, his moment of glory came with one of the most famous goals in World Cup history, thundering in a shot from the edge of the area after a sweeping move to make it 4-1. He was an uncompromising defender and brilliant attacker capable of exploiting the gaps left by Jairzinho.
Role - Complete Wing Back - Attack
BRITO - The vocal and physical heart of the Brazilian defence, Brito was as liable to pull off desperate last ditch tackles as he was to make calamitous mistakes. He was stretched to the limit more than once in the tournament, especially against England and despite lacking calmness needed by a defender and with his notoriously short temper holding fast, he held out brilliantly.
Role - Central Defender - Cover
PIAZZA - Originally a midfielder (and he played in midfield against Romania), Piazza was moved to defence to accommodate Clodoaldo in the team. Lacking in height, he could be easily exposed in defence and his refusal to engage in the 'dark arts' of a defender (he famously said 'I kick the ball, not people') didn't restrict his ability as a ball winner. He was nicknamed 'The Ball Thief'
Role - Central Defender - Cover
EVERALDO - Outside of the Brazilian team, Everaldo was as much an attacking wing back as Carlos Alberto. For Brazil, he didn't have to be - he had Rivelino in front of him. As such, he would mostly become part of a back three when Carlos Alberto charged forward. He died in a car crash in 1974 and the gold star on club side Gremio's badge was added in his memory.
Role - Wing Back - Support
CLODOALDO - The team's fetcher and enforcer who found himself in that role almost by accident. A slight figure and chain smoker, by the end of the tournament he was finding the altitude and heat of Mexico physically draining which curbed his natural attacking instincts. He agreed that Gerson should, instead, do most of the attacking from midfield while he would sit back and cover. He sacrificed his natural game for the good of the team. A glimpse of what he could do was seen with his sublime dribble past 4 Italian defenders to start the move that ended with Carlos Alberto's goal.
Role - Half Back - Defend
GERSON - Lightning quick and possessing a ferocious shot, Gerson was the archetypal Brazilian regista. His ability to fire lazer like passes from deep in his own half could turn defence into attack in an instant. He was widely considered to be the 'brains' behind the 1970 team and scored in the final.
Role - Regista - Support
RIVELINO - One of the greatest dribblers of all time, Rivelino reveled in humiliating defenders with the ball at his feet. Nominally playing on the left of midfield, he spent so long attacking that he virtually played as a fourth forward. His trademark 'flip-flap' dribble was matched by his equally famous thunderbolt shot, pile-driver free kicks and luxuriant moustache.
Role - Inside Forward - Support
JAIRZINHO - Combining strength with blistering pace, Jairzinho scored in the 70th minute of the final to cap a performance that saw him score in every match of the 1970 tournament. A striker/inside forward/winger, Jairzinho's position was hard to nail down. He simply played wherever he needed to be at exactly the right time. One might qualify his position as a wide trequartista.
Role - Raumdeuter - Attack
TOSTAO - Like Clodoaldo and Piazza was forced to adapt his game to fit the tactical plan. He curbed his natural attacking instincts to act as a technically adept target man, organizing the game up front. He spent most of the tournament with his back to goal laying off subtle passes to Rivelino, Gerson, Pele and Jairzinho. He worked himself into the ground for the team as shown by his winning of the ball deep in his own half to begin the move for the Carlos Alberto goal in the final.
Role - Deep Lying Forward - Support
PELE - Pele is Pele. If you need to learn anything about Pele, go to Steam, right click on FM15 and click 'delete local content'
Role - Shadow Striker - Attack
TEAM INSTRUCTIONS -
Mentality - Attacking. We can't really have a Brazil 1970 tactic without it being Attacking, can we? If you want to, reign this back to Control and you should concede fewer goals. But I'm staying with Attack.
Team Shape - Fluid. Players need to contribute all over the park. The ones who don't have been firmly nailed in place.
Look For Overlap - To compel the midfielders to utilise the onrushing CWBs
Exploit The Flanks - No point having the CWBs set to Play Wider and then not use that space.
Play Narrower - But only the CWBS! Everyone else has to stay central.
Higher Tempo - It's Brazil. That ball has move through the transition phase as quickly as possible.
Shorter Passing - But it's not England. Lumping the ball forward is not acceptable.
Everything else is pretty self explanatory
Use whatever training takes your fancy (I use attacking movement). No opposition instructions are used.
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