If you don’t play yourself, you are not likely to get it. It’s about football esthetics. Have you ever wondered what you like football for?
Argentinean (Brazilian, Uruguayan) football stands out for: (1) having strong traditions; (2) being a part of a unique, highly spirited and personable cultural environment; (3) being an art-like form of expression. The most important technical difference can be described in few plain words: the Americans dedicate much more time to handling the ball.
Latin school is very impressive and very special. From a very early age boys play in the leagues that replicate main adult leagues, thus gaining experience that other nations don’t have. By their 16-17 they are perfect from technical and tactical points of view, as well as have courage for playing creative football which they have always been stimulated to by their coaches.
When I watch Argentinean (Brazilian, Uruguayan) leagues I’m afraid to blink, because at every playing moment all 22 players are doing everything right. Clever positioning, clever offering, clever passing, clever ball handling (two-touch play tendency over one-touch), clever crossing (always to the farther post), clever marking (standing on the feet). It’s not like they are doing it in a robot-like mechanical manner. Vice versa. At every moment they see a gorgeous variety of options to choose from, and are choosing the best (the most interesting). While Europeans see different (less interesting) options to choose from, and choose mainly those that make me fall asleep.
Want a simple example? Count the passes that have forward and backward vectors in South America and in Europe. And compare the results.
Showing posts with label Latin Ameica vs. Europe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Latin Ameica vs. Europe. Show all posts
Friday, August 17, 2007
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Is It Good That Latin Players Move to Europe?
The first thought, of course, is no, it’s bad. The second thought is yes, it has some positive aspects. At least, every leaving player is freeing space for the next three ones. If we look at the situation closely, it’s quite ambiguous.
The players that go to Europe can be divided into four types. Type number one. Geniuses. Players, that go on playing their fantastic football as if they never traded continents. Often they singlehandedly raise some modest European club to the status of a superclub. This was what Maradona did to Napoli, Bebeto – to Deportivo, Erwin Sanchez – to Boavista, Riquelme – to Villareal. Romario and Tevez are clearly from this same category, although they moved to big clubs. There are, obviously, more players of that type. Maybe Ronaldinho, clearly Saviola, maybe Aimar.
Type number two. Die-Hard Latins and Non-Conformers. Equally talented, after having taken the first look at what‘s going on in European football, they refuse to play the local style which they understandably don’t understand, immediately get sick with nostalgia and turn the lasting contract into a nightmare for their employers. Typical representatives of that category would be Ortega and Cavenaghi. Brazilian Alex might be too. Of course, Martin Palermo. Usually upon returning back home they explode with joy and enthusiasm and produce great football (for example, this was the way Ortega made Newell’s a champion).
Type number three. Workers. These players do understand the gap between Latin American and European football, but agree that they arrived to earn money. In their first seasons, they usually stun people with what they were taught at home, but quite quickly the local football swallows them and makes them conform. After three to four years spent in Europe they are not anymore Latins by heart nor by style. Upon their return to homeland they feel awkward and it takes them quite many efforts to recall what the genuine football is about. The brightest example is Claudio Lopez. Also that would be players like Silvinho, Mancini, Belletti, Sorin, Roque Santa Cruz. Not saying about Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Cafu. Sergio Aguero is already showing the signs of conformism. Looks like he, sadly, understood, how easy it is to score in Europe, and how few European fans are able to value something other than goals. I bet, Messi in two years will turn into a typical Spaniard. He won't be Argentinean anymore. Kaka seems to be going along the same road too. He has started to run too much and too rapidly.
Type number four. Pure Conformers and Europeans by Heart. You may call them also Wrongly Born. There is a certain category of players who are considered mediocre or completely unknown at home, but turn into superstars in Europe. Kily Gonzalez, Deco, Matuzalem, Heinze, Emerson. They rarely know playing classic Latin style and find European football very comfortable. Veron is that type too, although he had been considered a star by many in Argentina. His style is too European.
So, what do I feel when Latin Americans go to Europe? If it’s type number four, I don’t care. If it’s a talented player, I feel pity. I would like them to play at home till they are at least 23. Otherwise, in most cases we witness broken careers and sold souls.
Poor Maxi Morales!...
The players that go to Europe can be divided into four types. Type number one. Geniuses. Players, that go on playing their fantastic football as if they never traded continents. Often they singlehandedly raise some modest European club to the status of a superclub. This was what Maradona did to Napoli, Bebeto – to Deportivo, Erwin Sanchez – to Boavista, Riquelme – to Villareal. Romario and Tevez are clearly from this same category, although they moved to big clubs. There are, obviously, more players of that type. Maybe Ronaldinho, clearly Saviola, maybe Aimar.
Type number two. Die-Hard Latins and Non-Conformers. Equally talented, after having taken the first look at what‘s going on in European football, they refuse to play the local style which they understandably don’t understand, immediately get sick with nostalgia and turn the lasting contract into a nightmare for their employers. Typical representatives of that category would be Ortega and Cavenaghi. Brazilian Alex might be too. Of course, Martin Palermo. Usually upon returning back home they explode with joy and enthusiasm and produce great football (for example, this was the way Ortega made Newell’s a champion).
Type number three. Workers. These players do understand the gap between Latin American and European football, but agree that they arrived to earn money. In their first seasons, they usually stun people with what they were taught at home, but quite quickly the local football swallows them and makes them conform. After three to four years spent in Europe they are not anymore Latins by heart nor by style. Upon their return to homeland they feel awkward and it takes them quite many efforts to recall what the genuine football is about. The brightest example is Claudio Lopez. Also that would be players like Silvinho, Mancini, Belletti, Sorin, Roque Santa Cruz. Not saying about Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Cafu. Sergio Aguero is already showing the signs of conformism. Looks like he, sadly, understood, how easy it is to score in Europe, and how few European fans are able to value something other than goals. I bet, Messi in two years will turn into a typical Spaniard. He won't be Argentinean anymore. Kaka seems to be going along the same road too. He has started to run too much and too rapidly.
Type number four. Pure Conformers and Europeans by Heart. You may call them also Wrongly Born. There is a certain category of players who are considered mediocre or completely unknown at home, but turn into superstars in Europe. Kily Gonzalez, Deco, Matuzalem, Heinze, Emerson. They rarely know playing classic Latin style and find European football very comfortable. Veron is that type too, although he had been considered a star by many in Argentina. His style is too European.
So, what do I feel when Latin Americans go to Europe? If it’s type number four, I don’t care. If it’s a talented player, I feel pity. I would like them to play at home till they are at least 23. Otherwise, in most cases we witness broken careers and sold souls.
Poor Maxi Morales!...
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