The wide variety of playing styles employed by the 32 teams at the World Cup, plus the so-called Guardiola effect, has helped make the tournament in Russia memorable, according to FIFA’s technical study group.
Former Scotland manager Andy Roxburgh, one of a number of prominent ex-coaches who make up the group, said that individual countries still managed to keep their own distinctive playing styles even though most players are based with European clubs.
“In the Champions League last year, it was basically three schools of football among the top teams, three philosophies,” Roxburgh told reporters.
“Here you get this incredible variety of styles, of schools of thought and schools of football and that makes things incredibly exciting.”
Flexibility
Roxburgh also praised teams for their flexibility, singling out Belgium’s approach against Brazil when it courageously threw down the gauntlet with an ultra-attacking lineup and won 2-1.
“What impressed me most (was) tactical flexibility. In the past you might have rigid structures,” he said, adding that there was “flexibility from game to game and within the games.”
“Just think of the way Belgium played against Brazil — the way they approached that game and the way (manager) Roberto Martinez set them up was fantastic.”