4-5-Pussy

I'm really dissappointed by the tactics I've seen at this year's world cup. It's almost completely 4-5-1 and very cautious. This would make sense if you had a team (Portugal) that has a slew of great midfielders and no logical 2nd striker--and a striker who's used to playing all alone up front (Pauleta). But when you look at a team like France, who are playing 4-5-1 and have Trezeguet sitting on the bench... I don't know. Nevermind Brazil--of course Ronaldinho is pretty much playing forward but still more of a deep second striker. But Brazil with one forward? I don't get it.

More than that I think it's hurting these teams that are playing it. The midfielders who are supposed to be coming up the wings or coming late for crosses just aren't coming. I think given that you have to play the second real striker up front since the midfielders are just not working hard offensively, perhaps because of the pressure of the World Cup and not wanting to be the guy who didn't get back to protect his goal, perhaps that's what they've been instructed.