Me and meh boy check out de NY Red Bull - New England game dis weekend and dey had a big splash celebratin football in NY recognizing past greats from de Cosmos and Metro Stars. Donadoni (among odders) were featured, for me he was one of the best midfield workhorses in our generation. Anyways, now this article appears on Fifa yahoo, check it out...
Quiet men with a big say
11 April 2006
by FIFAworldcup.com[/b]
Success on the world's biggest stage is impossible without the unsung heroes, the ball-winners, the man-markers.
For every Pele, Diego Maradona or Michel Platini, a team needs, just as importantly, its near-anonymous water-carriers willing to suffer selflessly for the cause. Join FIFAworldcup.com for a look back at those underrated and unheralded hustlers of finals past.
Brazil mean business
From 1958 to 1962, the Seleção were predicated primarily, and predictably, on the dazzling skill and improvisation of a young Pele, Garrincha and midfield maestro Didi. Throughout, however, the brawny and energetic Zito was there to provide the bite and bark. Known as the only player in the side willing to shout orders at young prodigy Pele, Zito – who was also Pele's captain at Santos – cut an intimidating figure in the holding midfield role. In the end, it was his hard graft, as much as the style and panache of his more celebrated colleagues, that helped bring Brazil their first two world titles.
By 1970, at the height of Brazil's reign as the champions of romantic football and improvisational genius, it was the turn of a young Clodoaldo to link it all together in the defensive midfield role. While Gerson would rampage forward to join up with Pele, Tostao and Jairzinho, Clodoaldo – also of Santos, and a polished performer himself – would hang back diligently, always at the ready to snuff out any emerging counterattack.
After Pele and Co had taken hold of the Jules Rimet Cup for a third and final time in 1970, there followed a trophy-less period of nearly a quarter of a century for the Seleção. Although they continued to produce some of the most gifted and exciting sides in memory, new tactics and a changing football landscape appeared to have left Brazil out in the cold. It was only when their uncompromising devotion to all-out attack was watered down at the start of the 1990s, with the unpopular inclusion of defensive midfielders Dunga (translated as 'Dopey' in reference to one of Disney's Seven Dwarves) and Mauro Silva, that the land of sunshine and Samba was able to reign supreme once again
At USA 94, this midfield pair teamed up to do the unspectacular dirty work that allowed the likes of Romario to star as the modern-day FIFA World Cup™ Trophy was taken home to Brazil for the first time. Dunga, named captain to the consternation of some in his homeland, even helped create the crucial third goal in the classic 3-2 quarter-final win over the Netherlands.
After reaching the Final again in 1998, Brazil journeyed to Korea/Japan in 2002 to take home their fifth world title. This time few were surprised at the inclusion of Gilberto Silva, then of Atletico Mineiro. With Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo weaving their magic triangle, Gilberto would have his work cut out snuffing out the danger that would inevitably arise when any of the attacks broke down. His success in doing so can be best judged by the fact that Brazil head to Germany as holders.
Deschamps, Stiles get results
When hosts France spoiled Brazil's party in 1998, hammering the holders and favourites 3-0 in the final in Paris, it was the name of Zinedine Zidane that was on everyone's lips. Many experts, however, pointed to the role of Didier Deschamps in the middle of the park. Dismissively labelled "merely a water-carrier" before the tournament by Manchester United legend Eric Cantona, it was his gritty devotion that provided a solid base for France to push on towards their first-ever FIFA World Cup, a feat the glamour teams of Platini's generation never managed.
Perhaps the archetypal midfield workhorse was Norbert 'Nobby' Stiles of England. In 1966, the Manchester United midfielder did all the hard work while the more stylish and elegant Bobby Charlton and Bobby Moore took the applause. Short, skinny and without a row of teeth following an on-field collision, Stiles suffered from a severe short-sightedness that would often result in him 'mistiming' a challenge or two.
The high point of his international career came when called upon by England manager Alf Ramsey to neutralise Portugal's prolific Eusebio in their Wembley semi-final in 1966. After terrorising Portugal's previous opponents with his pace, strength and superior vision, the tournament top scorer was forced on to the fringes of the game by England's dogged little terrier. The hosts went on to hoist the Jules Rimet Trophy for the first and only time, thanks in no small measure to the rough-and-tumble approach of one Nobby Stiles.
Argentina, led by the uncompromising Antonio Rattin in 1966, were considered one of the toughest sides in the world but it was not until 1978 that the South Americans finally made their reputation count when, as hosts, they rode the goals of Mario Kempes to a first victory on the world stage. Daniel Pasarella was a tough customer at the back, but the team's ball-winner was Americo Gallego. Currently coach of Mexican outfit Toluca, 'Tolo' - as he was nicknamed – would stop at nothing to claim possession in midfield before leaving it to one of his more cultured team-mates, such as Osvaldo Ardiles, to supply the killer pass.
In 1986, while Maradona was justifiably garnering the plaudits, Hector Enrique – an anonymous late selection by manager Carlos Bilardo – ran himself into the ground winning the ball before feeding it to El Diego. As the man who provided Maradona with the ball prior to his famous mazy dribble against England, Enrique is known to joke: "Diego's great goal only happened because of my pass."
Oriali inspires a song
Four years earlier at Spain 82, as Maradona was making his debut on the world stage, a seemingly prosaic Italy outfit somehow managed to scale the heights and capture their third FIFA World Cup. Paolo Rossi supplied most of the goals, Giancarlo Antognoni was the creator, Claudio Gentile the man-marker... and Gabriele Oriali the tackler. Brilliant in the Final against West Germany's Uli Stielike, the Inter man kept alive the selfless tradition begun in 1934 by Luisito Monti and continued in 1938 by Pietro Sarantoni and happily, for once, the unsung hero was not forgotten as famous Italian singer Luciano Ligabue dedicated his song Una vita da mediano (The life of a workhorse) to Oriali.
Germany have always been renowned for their competitive spirit. With that in mind, it is no surprise they have had among their ranks some of the most tireless workers in finals history. When they won their second title in 1974, all the talk was about their libero, Franz Beckenbauer, but alongside the Kaiser was his Bayern team-mate and enforcer, Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck, a merciless man-marker and ball-winner of the highest order. Known as the Kaiser's bodyguard, he played a prominent role in West Germany's success.
Guido Buchwald kept up the tradition in 1990 when a highly-disciplined Germany team, led by Lothar Matthaus, himself no slouch in terms of work-rate, stormed through to win their third world title. At the second-round match against the Netherlands, the unspectacular Buchwald, not known for his technical ability, put in such a wonderful performance that his team-mates took to calling him 'Diego', in reference to the great Maradona, whom he went on to neutralise so effectively in the Final.
As the game and its tactics evolve, the modern player requires, more than ever, to be equal parts creator and workhorse. Today, everyone - regardless of reputation or position - must put in the work, which may lead to the demise not only of the classic playmaker, but also the traditional midfield water-carrier.
Still, keep an eye on Messrs Makelele, Emerson and Gattuso this summer to see if any of the modern-day toilers can prevail in Germany.
