₦airaland Forum

Culture.

naptu2:
This post has been pending for years, mainly because I wanted to analyse each style in depth. Instead of doing that, I'm going to summarise them and get straight to the point.

Every country had its own unique style of football when I was a kid.

Brazil played Joga Bonito (play beautifully). This was characterised by incredible dribbling skills, fantastic passes and basically, eye catching football. (Joga bonito [play beautifully] should not be confused with Jogo Bonito, which means "The Beautiful Game). Brazilian players had great skills and it was said that Brazilian kids in academies were not allowed to play in big open fields, but were instead forced to play in small confined spaces (like indoor football) to improve their close control.

This is the kind of football that I grew up watching because the NTA showed Brazilian Football at 10pm every Sunday in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The Italian system was Catenaccio. This was characterised by very hard and stingy defences. It was said that, if you were a striker and you succeeded in Serie A, then you could succeed anywhere. Italian defenders were very hard and no-nonsense defenders.

I used to joke that people usually don't notice Italy before major tournaments. They often struggle to qualify, they don't seem impressive, they often grind out 1-0 victories and before anybody realises it, they are in the final.

This old joke was brought to life at USA '94 when Italy was in a crazy group. Every team in that group won a match by 1-0 and it became impossible to separate them. I think they had to toss a coin to separate them, I can't remember for sure.. Yet Italy got to the final of that World Cup.

Argentina played anti-football and that's why I passionately hated them in the 1980s and early 1990s. Their main aim was to deceive the referee. They fell down when nobody touched them, they tried to annoy and unsettle opponents, they played every trick in the book. Diego Maradona was one of the biggest culprits. Just look at his behaviour at Italia '90!

Cameroon had their own version of anti-football. In addition to falling down when nobody touched them and being extremely rough and physical, they also had their own trademark trick. Pray that Cameroon never scores first if you are playing against them. They will completely lose interest in playing normal football.

They play the ball among themselves in their own half and they don't bother to attack you or to try and score. If you threaten them or try to take the ball from them, then they'll simply pass the ball to their goalkeeper who would waste time by holding it.

They used this tactic at the World Cup in 1990 and Italian fans, who were not used to it, whistled and booed. I was used to it, so I was laughing my head off.

It was because of Cameroon's use of this tactic at Italia '90 that FIFA banned backpasses to the goalkeeper.


The Netherlands played Total Football. Every player can play anywhere on the pitch. The Dutch had a succession of excellent goalkeepers that were good with their feet and they were almost like defenders/sweepers. It was like mass attack and mass defence. Their defenders were great in attack and their attackers were great at defending and their passing game was superb. Teamwork was emphasised above individual ability.

In later years, Johan Cruyff took the Dutch total football to Spain and it became Tiki Taka. That relentless possession football and passing game grew at Barcelona and it became Spanish culture.


The Germans had their machine football , which meant that they could soak up any pressure and absorb whatever was thrown at them and kill teams with counter attacking football.


The Ghanaians were called the Brazilians of Africa and they had their own form of joga bonito.

North African teams played anti-football with a lot of gamesmanship and strong defensive football (do not let them score first).

People made fun of English football and called it "Kick and Follow", but they called it Route One football

Nigeria had its exciting attacking football, which was characterised by great wing play and fast paced, adrenaline producing attacks.

And so on and so forth.

The issue is that all these have died in the past few decades. Players from all over the world have migrated to Europe, where they are forced to play a European style of football. Even within Europe, the Bossman Ruling means that teams can be made up entirely of foreigners. European football is also broadcast around the world by satellite and European coaches are coaching national teams and clubsides around the world.

Back when Carlos Dunga was coaching Brazil, people complained that he was making the national team play in an ultra defensive European style, instead of playing Joga Bonito.

This is a very big issue in Nigeria and much of Africa.

Many European coaches believe that African style of football is not a successful style of football. I posted a video of Hugo Broos, the famous former Belgian player and coach, saying that no African country can win the World Cup by playing African style of football. Broos is the coach of South Africa and he made this statement after the recent Nations Cup.

You see, back in the late 1980s, I heard Europeans say that Africans play exciting football, but they are always so focused on attack that they forget to defend (defence, organisation and tactical discipline) and that's why Europeans always beat Africans.

A lot of European and American coaches who come to coach in Africa have this same feeling. This often leads to problems.


Phillipe Trousier, Thomas Dennerby, Jose Paseiro and now Randy Waldrum have come to coach in Nigeria, but they often had problems with the fans, despite achieving success. That's because the fans want to see fast and exciting attacking football, while those coaches focused on strengthening us defensively and grinding out wins. It seems like Nigerians don't mind if we lose, as long as we play attractive attacking football.

We've also had that problem with players like Mikel Obi, Ngozi Okobi and Asisat Oshoala. These players had flair, but they went to Europe and European coaches prioritised efficiency over flair and their style of play changed.

I kind of miss the days when each country had its own style of football.

We will be wearing the white jersey today for the first time in the competition

QueenJazz:
Exactly.

If they want war, we don't have to sit back and keep whinging. We can deliver the same energy back at them. At least we're all wise to their antics now. I seriously hope the Nigerian fans at the stadium will have this mentality.

Secondly, lasers didn't stop South Africa from whooping their asses in the last tourney. So let's not make mountains out of a molehill.

You make it seem like they will give Nigerian fans the best part of of the seats
They were allocated only a section of the north east wing lol
I heard they’re even selling double the price for Nigerians

Danielnino00:
We will be wearing the white jersey today for the first time in the competition

Hopefully, it brings good luck.

Seems Abiodun comes in for Echegini.
Abiodun wey dey collect card, dey break people leg on the steady.
Would have preferred an attack minded player like Payne instead.

ekehopp2:
Seems Abiodun comes in for Echegini.
Abiodun wey dey collect card, dey break people leg on the steady.
Would have preferred an attack minded player like Payne instead.

She might get a booking as early as a first half...I just hope it isn't a red...


I will be shocked if we don't get a red or have a penalty awarded against us tonight... The Moroccans will do everything to win

ekehopp2:
Seems Abiodun comes in for Echegini.
Abiodun wey dey collect card, dey break people leg on the steady.
Would have preferred an attack minded player like Payne instead.

Abiodun ke?

Hmmm. Omo. Let's be watching sha.

Abiodun should be careful in this match. I see what Madugu wants to do in terms of of her work rate. All fingers crossed it works out.

Danielnino00:
She might get a booking as early as a first half...I just hope it isn't a red...


I will be shocked if we don't get a red or have a penalty awarded against us tonight... The Moroccans will do everything to win

Perhaps Echegini hasn't fully recovered. I expect a double pivot with Rashida as the CAM.

AndSunGorilla:
Perhaps Echegini hasn't fully recovered. I expect a double pivot with Rashida as the CAM.

She's listed on the bench though...

I was expecting Payne to start in her place.. Madugu definitely wants to go physical with Morocco which could be risky, considering that they are expected to have the officiating on their side...
The girls need to be careful with their tackles...


On a brighter note, Fatima Tagnot, one of Morocco's star player isn't starting...not sure if she's on the bench...injury I guess

Danielnino00:
She's listed on the bench though...

I was expecting Payne to start in her place.. Madugu definitely wants to go physical with Morocco which could be risky, considering that they are expected to have the officiating on their side...
The girls need to be careful with their tackles...


On a brighter note, Fatima Tagnot, one of Morocco's star player isn't starting...not sure if she's on the bench...injury I guess

Tagnot has not been impressive in this particular tournament though.

Any word on who the referee is yet?

ekehopp2:
Seems Abiodun comes in for Echegini.
Abiodun wey dey collect card, dey break people leg on the steady.
Would have preferred an attack minded player like Payne instead.

Which kind of talk is this na? That injury was a freak accident. That wasn't Deborah's fault or should she have not gone for a shot?

As far as the cards, u are just overreacting. How many cards has she picked up in her career as a whole?

That being said Deborah is a player that always rises at the biggest occasions. I expect her to have a great game today.

QueenJazz:
Any word on who the referee is yet?

A Namibian. I can't remember her doing any of out matches.

I think they are showing the match
https://www.youtube.com/live/iCsF16zHci0?si=xLSZr5xfDo48Wkhy

naptu2:
I wrote about this last year (and the coach of Bafana Bafana also said something similar). People often say that African teams play beautiful free flowing attacking football, but they forget to defend. European coaches that come to Africa often try to emphasise defending properly, keeping the shape of the team intact, etc. but this often annoys African fans.

Hugo Broos (the Dutch coach of Bafana Bafana) said that no African team can win the World Cup with that system.

Nigerians have often criticised coaches like Philippe Troussier, Thomas Dennerby and Randy Waldrum for tightening up our defences and sacrificing our attacking flair.

I think that's what she was referring to.

The generalizing doesn't even include teams approach of Morocco, Ghana, SA, even Zambia.

These 3 out of 4 sabi pass ball well than us, keeping possession. Yet they mix everything and still balance it out. Na we dey budeh ball pass out of the 4 semifinalists so far. We barely hold possession or string better passes. If na the African football she dey refer, omo!!!

We sabi press sha. But the issue is balancing out instead of all these "this one better pass that"

Especially when you have personnel for such fluid format of play.

BascoVanVeli:
I think they are showing the match
https://www.youtube.com/live/iCsF16zHci0?si=xLSZr5xfDo48Wkhy

In addition, you can watch at fawanews.sc

All the best to Mission X

2-0 in regular time abeg. Im not pleased with Debbie starting. This is Toni Payne kinda game. But let's see.

Victory is sure💯

https://www.youtube.com/live/va8eHzHhp14?si=2_MOzz50pRlcSKmh

Match Link From YouTube;

https://www.youtube.com/live/-YlKHrl2fMY?si=MJy3X9lpNc_-tPoP

Lord give us this day🙏

BascoVanVeli:
A Namibian. I can't remember her doing any of out matches.

I’d have preferred that Botswanian with Afro
She’s very good

Our coach is a Chelsea fan lol
Thick & physical midfield, he wants to win
He doesn’t care about possession
I thought he’d play Toni Payne

That was too easy

Lol Ayinde!!

Smh... Who passes a ball to the opponent on the edge of their 18 yard box?

Why start Abiodun??

Who was that clown that gave them assists for heaven's sake bayii?

This coach is too defensive minded

ThePresenceWtf:
Lol Ayinde!!

Smh... Who passes a ball to the opponent on the edge of their 18 yard box?

That was a rookie mistake from such an experienced player, you don’t lose the ball that close to the edge of your box. She just gave her opponent the assist

The Moroccan coach is actively reading the game and adjusting his approach. He seem to have communicated that we aren't utilizing the ball so they should keep using the wings.

Why not unleash Jennifer in that midfield?

ThePresenceWtf:
Lol Ayinde!!

Smh... Who passes a ball to the opponent on the edge of their 18 yard box?

Not sure what she was thinking. She literally gifted her the ball.

Well, it's going to be a long night if that's how we're getting started.