So What Have We Learned From This World Cup

The World Cup in Qatar has been a really good watch and I have to say the Christmas run in has been great. What a fabulous idea to have a World Cup in November. It is cold and wet and watching a World Cup with the fire blazing is something I have no problem with. But football talking what has changed between the last world cup and this one. Is there styles of play redundant now? New teams are being made while other teams are past their sell by date. So a couple of things I saw in this World Cup are highlighted under the following points.

RIP Tiki Taka.

Spain met their maker against Morocco and were a shock exit from the tournament. The Spanish team under former Barcelona manager
Luis Enrique went into the tournament playing the same old Tiki Taka as usual. They had no real number 9 apart from Morata who was not really up to much. The problem was this style is now past its sell by date with teams now playing more direct. He didn't bring De Gea for example because the keeper can't really play out from the back. Not many commentators are talking about how Morocco knocked them out. They just went compact with just 15 yards between their number 9 and their Centre Halves and didn't give Spain an inch and ultimately knocked them out on penalties as Spain ran out of ideas. The Spanish press had a field day. Mainly because Enrique used to spend his press conferences belittling questions from the press. This did not go down well with them as some of questions being asked were well thought out. Enrique preferred to host question and answers on Twitch to get his ideas across. So when things went down hill the press dug the knive in with the headlines and that was the end of him. A new manager with a more direct style is to be appointed. And so meets the end of the tiki taka for now.

The dawn of the Number 9 (Again)

Who doesn't love a big number 9. They have been put out to pasture for the last decade with clubs preferring overloading the midfield. But they are back at this world cup. Giroud who had no goals at the last world cup is now banging them in for fun. Arsene Wenger had a good stat on this world cup. Germany plucked Füllkrug into the squad and resorted to throwing him up front when they were all but out of the world cup. There is an 86% increase in crosses into the box so if a national team has wingers then there is a good chance that they have done well. The revisionism from the English camp around whether this would have worked for them with Trent Alexander Arnold crossing them in for Harry Kane. You can see the big number 9 coming back at club level as well with Haaland at Man City and Nunez at Liverpool. It will be hear to stay for the next 5 years anyway.

The end of an era with the current Galacticos.

It was Messi's , Ronaldo's, Modric and Lewandowski's last world cup. Well we think. Probably 90% sure but some say Messi could do a job in Central midfield for another few years. An interesting news event happened after the French win against Morocco. There is a virus sweeping through the French camp. It is actually in a few team camps and the entire press corp has come down with a flu like virus with some going home or even to hospital in Qatar. Benzema is still in the French squad list even though he has been absent and was injured in training before the world cup began. There was even talk that the striker could fly back into Qatar for the final and sit on the bench and there were even rumours that the players wanted him there so he could collect a medal which is one he did not get at the last world cup. French manager Deschamps was irritated by that question at the presser yesterday which raised some eyebrows. The manager clearly does not want a star coming in and disrupting the harmony of the squad. The thing is he is still in the squad so he could play no problem. An irked Deschamps had this to say which means he doesn't want him there. Benzema has been given permission to fly by Madrid for the final.

https://twitter.com/julietbawuah/status/1603283532759158788?s=20&t=Ay5eLceAFZalNuU2wrX6aA
Source

Some commentators in France are in the mind that Giroud adds more balance to the squad and it is better that Benzema was not in the squad. The shadow of the Benzema question is not ideal before a World Cup final. With that and the virus in the camp , preparation is not ideal.

Messi is the greatest.

https://twitter.com/ConnorKalopsis/status/1602764555310047235?s=20&t=Ay5eLceAFZalNuU2wrX6aA
Source
This goal where he demolishes the best Centre Half of this tournament Gvardiol. Messi knows he doesn't have the speed so he stops and turns again. I did not spot that he put it through Gvardiol's legs. Momma Mia. The man is a genius. All debates should be called off and that includes Maradona and Pele. Maradona did it for a few years but not to the same extent as Messi. He doesn't need to win a World Cup to be the best. This is a team event. Argentina are OK but it always looks like there is something about to boil over with them. If things don't go there way I would not be surprised of a couple of red cards and that will be the end of them. But the Messi magic may win it for them.
So my friends. What have you spotted? Jesus having a horror world cup? Richarlison having a great world cup? Brazil getting what was coming to them after dancing too much against Korea. I loved this gif by the way.

https://twitter.com/Ruandewdy/status/1601281219617992704?s=20&t=Ay5eLceAFZalNuU2wrX6aA
Source