European vs South American play

[czarleon09]

I've only been watching soccer for a short while now (since Zinedine Zidane delivered that headbutt in the '06 World Cup) but I was wondering is there any difference to how they play in South America vs how the play in Europe?

[Batu7]

Do you mean national teams, or the leagues?

[czarleon09]

Either one really. I'm mostly wondering if there is any difference in style of play, like how in the NBA there's traditionally more dunking whereas the European leagues typically have better mid-range shooters. Although I'd be interested to know if there are any major rule differences as well.

[Smoove]

That isn't enough to watch Football and judge the game, you need to watch Football at least 10 years, that means every week in and out, every transfer, every practice. You get the point?


And to answer your question, it's not really much different. I think South Americans tend to pass a lot more on the ground then they do crosses since they don't have no footballers that are tall. But in Europe like league they have a different style of play like for an example Italian league is more aggressive then any league in Europe for my opinion. The English league and the German league is in my opinion one of the fastest leagues in Europe and the Spanish league do a lot more tricks. And also the German league is very tactical also, so our other leagues but I think the German league is the most tactical.

So yeah, I would tell you more about Football, but I just woke up and I have no clue where I'm at

[Slava]

European football formation is a much more set in terms of the defensive four and midfield whereas South American teams generally play with 2 fullbacks, 3 halfbacks, 2 wingers in advanced positions and 3 forwards.

European formations:

4-4-2

--------------------FW-------------FW--------------

winger-------CM------------CM----------winger

----LB----------CB-------------CB----------RB

----------------------GK--------------------

South Americans:

Pyramid formation:


------winger---------LF----------CF--------RF----------winger---------

----------------------halfback--------halfback-------halfback--------

---------------------------fullback------------fullback----------------

------------------------------GK-----------------------------

[Batu7]

Great post j-far, I was going to post a similar thing but I'm too lazy.

[Smoove]

European football formation is a much more set in terms of the defensive four and midfield whereas South American teams generally play with 2 fullbacks, 3 halfbacks, 2 wingers in advanced positions and 3 forwards.

European formations:

4-4-2

--------------------FW-------------FW--------------

winger-------CM------------CM----------winger

----LB----------CB-------------CB----------RB

----------------------GK--------------------

South Americans:

Pyramid formation:


------winger---------LF----------CF--------RF----------winger---------

----------------------halfback--------halfback-------halfback--------

---------------------------fullback------------fullback----------------

------------------------------GK-----------------------------

On the money, I also was going to post that but it was stuck somewhere in the back of my mind and I could think straight haha.

[Andris]

Telemundo will replay Russia vs. Argentina "friendly" on Sunday Aug. 16. Noon pacific time.

[kromoszoma]

I don't really watch South American football, but I don't know about that pyramid formation... It looks like something from the fifties. And I don't even know what a halfback is.

[Nuzzo]

------winger---------LF----------CF--------RF----------winger---------

----------------------halfback--------halfback-------halfback--------

---------------------------fullback------------fullback----------------

------------------------------GK-----------------------------

Noone plays 2-3-5 since the introducing of the offside(and when Arsenal intruduced WM that demolished the teams playing 2-3-5), duh.
4-4-2 is played by 40% of the teams, 3-5-2(with libero and man markers or without) - 40 % and the other 20% - 3-4-3 or 4-3-3. Usually there is one big and strong forward in every single formation(unless they bunker up and use quick player to counterattack)

The main diferences are: slower play in South America(thanks to the warm weather, training philosophy and the unwillingness to juice), most of the passes are on the ground and thanks to the fact that the players dont run box-to-box the 1-on-1 play is still very important.

Right now I watch Gremio - Flamengo - match from Brazil, what I see:
The field is olympic size.
Gremio plays 4-4-2, Flamengo 3-5-2(without libero); both teams attack with passes on the ground(unless we talk about counterattacks) and if they are pressed they pass off to the sides(in Europe is the other way around); both teams have a big guy in the attacking duo - Jonas for Gremio and Adriano(ex Inter Milano) player. If there are crosses they are mid height or lower; from the free kicks and corners the crosses are high; great individual skills are shown by some of the players; when around the penalty box both team try short passes ala Arsenal London or pass it back for a long shot; most of the players have great confidence and are not shy to play 1-on-1. Also most of the players are great athletes - eighter tall and lean, tall and stocked(the CDs) or short and agile, but they lack the relentlessness of their euro counterparts.

[czarleon09]

Do teams change formation mid match for strategy purposes or is it pretty much a set formation? For example going from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2.

[BlackMamba]

what i hate of south american play is that thanks to them everybody takes a dive and simulates fouls!

[treiz]

Do teams change formation mid match for strategy purposes or is it pretty much a set formation? For example going from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2.

Of course, when they are down like 1-0 and they need to win or draw and time's running. Teams sometimes change to 4-3-3 or even 3-3-4. Same for defensive purposes, they'll add more defenders in order to protect the lead.

[sorokii]

The pace of the game is way slower in South America than in Europe.