MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Azkals will face the toughest opponents they have yet to take on so far on Saturday night.
The match, the first leg of the second round FIFA World Cup qualification tie, is seen as a crucible for the Azkals, as well as their German coach Michael Weiss.
It is an away match for the Filipinos, with Kuwait enjoying the psychological advantage of playing in front of their own countrymen and in a familiar pitch.
With his wards clearly the underdogs against the higher-ranked Kuwait, Weiss -- who had been using an old-school 4-4-2 -- did not hesitate to admit that the Azkals will focus on defense against their hosts.
Weiss has also been less than secretive about the formation that the Azkals will be deployed -- a smash-and-grab, counterattacking 4-5-1.
Midfield battle
The classic 4-5-1 formation uses 4 defenders, 5 midfielders, and a lone striker.
It is primarily used to pack the midfield and prevent the other team from executing their passing game well.
With 5 midfielders in the middle of the pitch, it will be difficult for opponents to pass through the middle, and it will force them to play wide.
Compared to the traditional 4-4-2, the 4-5-1 allows teams to have an extra man in the midfield, who can be asked to man-mark the opposing team's attacking midfielder, creative midfielder, playmaker, or the "in-the-hole" forward who links the midfield with the attack.
Do not expect Samba-type football from teams using the 4-5-1. It is a defensive formation relying on counterattacks and set pieces for the rare scoring opportunities.
Some may see boring, stop-and-go football from both teams as a result of the formation, but those using the 4-5-1 are pragmatists who value either a victory or draw more than entertaining fans.
Football fans who regularly watch the English Premier League are familiar with the formation, as it is often used by lower-ranked teams when they visit Old Trafford or the Kop.
However, even Manchester United and Liverpool are known to use the 4-5-1 (or one of its variations) when playing the UEFA Champions League in an away fixture.
Even "The Special One," Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho, was known for his "defend-first" 4-5-1 formation that quickly becomes a 4-3-3 while he was manager of Champions League-winning Porto and Chelsea.
The classical 4-5-1 has several variations, including the offensive 4-4-1-1 of Arsenal with one attacking midfielder who pushes forward in the hole to link up with the striker, or Manchester United's "continental" 4-2-3-1 with 2 defensive midfielders that allowed the Red Devils in previous season to be unbeaten in away matches in Europe.
Strengths
The main strength of the 4-5-1 is defense.
It allows the back 4 -- the 4 defenders -- to cover the width of the field well, with at least one holding or defensive midfielder providing extra cover.
Having at least one extra midfielder protecting the back 4 also allows the fullbacks (the defenders on the left and right sides of the pitch) to "bomb forward" and link up with wingers on overlapping runs during attacks.
Having at least one holding midfielder will also guard against either surprise counterattacks by the opposing team or having enough men to defend if if the opposing team suddenly pushes forward in numbers.
The 2 wide midfielders or wingers in a 4-5-1 formation also provide width when the team has the ball, allowing them to either "stretch" the opposing team's defense or even pull defenders out of position and create spaces for their teammates to attack.
With 5 midfielders, the formation allows a team to control possession through quick, short passes when they have possession and clog the passing lanes and press ball carriers in defense.
It is also a flexible formation, with a team being able to quickly switch from defense to an attacking 4-3-3 or 4-2-4 formation.
It allows a team to hit on the break.
Weaknesses
The formation's main weakness is it limits a team's attacking options, which translates to fewer goal-scoring chances.
The lone striker, which is often the primary outlet for long balls during counterattacks, may find himself isolated if the midfielders "sit too deep."
He will be prone to either losing or wasting possession if 2 or more defenders gang up on him or use an offside trap.
Having too many players on the middle of the pitch may also result in overcrowding, unless the players properly know how to move without the ball and run channels well.
Having 10 men behind the ball to defend may also result in giving the majority of ball possession to the opposing team.
As previously mentioned, the 4-5-1 is not an ambassador of a free-flowing "beautiful game." A Liverpool-Chelsea clash in the Champions League in 2007, with both teams using the formation, had former Real Madrid coach and World Cup winner Jorge Valdano comparing the match to a "s&#**t hanging from a stick."
Roles to play
If Weiss does use the 4-5-1, expect Phil Younghusband to play the role of lone striker in the formation. He can use his technique and touch to hold the ball up and bring others into play.
If he catches his marker asleep or a defender playing him onside, either a through ball or a long ball to Younghusband may result in a goal for the Azkals if he goes one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
However, he will be in trouble if Kuwait decides to play physical and try to bully him out of the match, as his physique is far from a traditional big, strong, and tall frontman. To prevent Younghusband from being isolated, midfielders must work hard to link up with him, provide themselves as outlets for passes, and create spaces for him to operate.
Chieffy Caligdong will occupy the left midfielder role while James Younghusband will be on the opposite side. On defense, they can be asked to track back and slot into either side of the holding midfielders or centerbacks.
When the Azkals have the ball, they can make forward runs, giving width to the Philippines' attack and stretching Kuwait's defense. They are also potent goalscoring threats -- as Caligdong has shown -- if they make inside runs. If they decide to hug the touchline, the Azkals scoring opportunities will come from crosses from the duo.
Angel Guirado, who normally played a right midfield role in Spain, may occupy the "in-the-hole" attacking midfielder position for the Azkals against Kuwait. He can be a "false forward" who will link up the midfield with Phil Younghusband to create scoring opportunities for his teammate, or switch positions with him to confuse their markers and pull them out of position. He is expected to go forward often and act as a goalscoring threat himself.
With Stephan Schroeck suspended, the roles of central midfield metronome and holding midfielder will most likely fall in the hands of the youngster Manuel Ott and Jason de Jong. Their primary role will be to protect the back 4 by defending against midfielders who push forward or a striker who drops deep. If one of the Azkals defenders is pulled out of position, either Ott or de Jong can fill the hole to retain the back 4's shape.
They will link the defense with the 3 other midfielders when the Azkals have the ball. If Kuwait scores a goal and pulls ahead, expect either Ott or de Jong to push forward and join Guirado in the attacking midfielder role.
The fullbacks -- may they be Ray Anthony Jónsson, Jason Sabio, or someone else -- have the responsibility to both defend and attack depending on how the match pans out. They may sit back to ensure Kuwait's wingers are shut down, or go forward if the Azkals fall behind.
With skipper Aly Borromeo suspended, Anton del Rosario and Rob Gier at centerback should take a more assertive role in ensuring that the defenders do their duty well by stopping the opposition strikers, wingers, and attacking midfielders. Proper communication with Neil Etheridge is also of paramount importance if they want to leave Kuwait with a draw, a clean sheet, or a win.
While odds are stacked against the Azkals carving out a major upset against Kuwait in their opponent's home turf, the best result that they can carry to the second leg at home will be a scoring draw, such as 1-1 or 2-2. At the Rizal Memorial Stadium, it will be anyone's game.
The likes of Japan, South Korea, and Australia will await the Philippines next, if the Azkals should hurdle the Gulf kings Kuwait.
No comments:
Post a Comment