Gilbert Agius

! ! ! ! ! THE$ROLE$AND$FUNCTIONS$$ OF$THE$FALSE$NINE$ ! by! GILBERT$AGIUS$ Dissertation submitted in part fulfilment of the requirements for the UEFA PRO Diploma 2015-2017 at the Malta Football Association Technical Centre Tutor: STEPHEN!GRIMA! ! ! ! ! Table of Contents Introduction...…………………………………………………………………………….….......... 1 Rationale…...……………………………………………………………………………..………... 3 Chapter 1: History 1.1 The Origins of the False 9: The Coaches …………………………………..……...…… 5 1.2 The Origins of the False 9: The Players …………………………………………..…..... 9 1.3 The Origins of the False 9: The Teams ……………………….…….…………….…..… 12 1.3.1 Austria: The ‘Wunderteam’ ………………………………………………………. 12 1.3.2 Hungary: The Golden Team ……………………….…….……………........…… 15 1.3.3 ‘Totaal Voetbal’ ……………………………………………….…….…..……….… 17 1.3.4 Luciano Spalletti’s AS Roma ……………………….…….…….…..……….…… 20 1.3.5 Barcelona under Pep Guardiola ………………………………………...….…… 22 1.3.6 Spain: Winners of Euro 2012 ……………………..………………………….….. 23 1.3.7 Germany under Joachim Löw ……………………..………………………..…… 26 Chapter 2: Analysing Barcelona under Pep Guardiola 2.1 Pep Guardiola- The Coach …………………………………….………….…….…….…. 30 2.3 Messi as Guardiola’s False 9 ………………………………..……..……………….……. 34 2.3 Real Madrid vs. Barcelona May 2, 2009 ……...……………..……………………….…. 35 2.3.1 Main Points in Barcelona’s strategy…………………..………..……………..… 37 2.3.2 Messi’s Role …..……………………………………..……..……………………… 40 2.3.3 Weaknesses ………………………………………..………...…………………… 42 2.3.4 Conclusion……………………………...…………..……………………………… 45 2.4 Barcelona vs. Real Madrid November 29, 2010 …...……………………………..….… 46 2.4.1 Main Points in Barcelona’s Strategy ……………………………..…….……….. 47 2.4.2 Messi’s Role ……………………………………………………………………….. 49 2.4.3 Weaknesses ……………………………………………..………………………… 50 2.4.4 Conclusion …………………..….…………………..……..……………….……… 52 Chapter 3: Implementation of the False 9 3.1 General Considerations …………………………………………………………………... 53 3.1.1 Strengths …………………..…………………………………………………….… 54 3.1.2 Weaknesses ………………………………………..……………………………… 54 ! $ $ i! $ $ 3.1.3 Other Points…………………..…………………………………………………… 55 3.2 Player’s Profile …………………………..………………………………………….…...… 57 3.3 Training Practices ……………………………………..………………………………....... 57 3.3.1 5v3 with Transition Rondos…………………..…..……………………………… 60 3.3.2 Good Timing to Receive …………………..……………………………………… 61 3.3.3 4v2 to 6v3 Rondos…………………..……...……..……………………………… 62 3.3.4 Creating Overload in Midfield and Supporting Forward Play ………………… 63 3.3.5 Showing Early for the Forward Pass…………………..………...……………… 64 3.3.6 Creating Overload in Central Areas……………….…..………………...……… 65 Conclusion………….……………………..…………………………………….....……………… 66 Bibliography ……………………………...……………………………………………………..…. 67 ! $ $ ii! $ $ List of Figures and Tables Figures Figure 1: The creators of the ‘false 9’ and ‘total football’ Page 7 Figure 2: The direct influence Page 9 Figure 3: The ‘false 9’ definition Page 10 Figure 4: Matthias Sindelar – ‘Der Papierene’ Page 13 Figure 5: Austria - The ‘Wunderteam’ Page 14 Figure 6: Nándor Hidegkuti: Hungary’s ‘hamis kilenc’ Page 15 Figure 7: The Golden Team in 1953 Page 16 Figure 8: Rinus Michels - The architect of ‘totaal voetbal’ Page 18 Figure 9: Johan Cruyff – The genius of ‘totaal voetbal’ Page 18 Figure 10: Holland’s 1974 World Cup formation. Page 19 Figure 11: Luciano Spalletti with Francesco Totti Page 20 Figure 12: AS Roma typical formation Page 21 Figure 13: Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi Page 22 Figure 14: Guardiola and Messi – two gifted and privileged minds of this game Page 23 Figure 15: Cesc Fàbregas with The European Cup Page 24 Figure 16: Jubilant Spain with the Henri Delaunay Trophy Page 25 Figure 17: Joachim Löw Page 26 Figure 18: Build-up for Götze’s goal in World Cup 2014 final Page 28 Figure 19: Mario Götze kissing the World Cup Page 28 Figure 20: Miroslav Klose being replaced by Mario Götze Page 29 Figure 21: Pep Guardiola – a true believer Page 32 Figure 22: Guardiola thrown in the air in jubilation from his Barcelona players Page 33 Figure 23: Lionel Messi with the Ballon d’Or Page 34 Figure 24: Barcelona formation Page 35 Figure 25: Messi creating overload in midfield Page 38 Figure 26: Messi dropping in midfield, followed by Real’s central defender Page 39 Figure 27: Cannavaro following Messi Page 39 Figure 28: Numerical superiority for Barcelona in midfield Page 40 Figure 29: Messi receiving the ball between defence and midfield lines Page 40 Figure 30: Messi scoring his first goal of the match Page 41 Figure 31: Messi’s defensive duties Page 42 Figure 32: High defensive line Page 42 Figure 33: Full backs out of position Page 43 ! $ $ iii! $ $ Figure 34: Higuain exploits space between the two central defenders Page 43 Figure 35: Space found on the fast counter Page 44 Figure 36: High pressing Page 44 Figure 37: Overcrowding Messi Page 45 Figure 38: El Clásico: Final score Page 45 Figure 39: Barcelona line-up Page 46 Figure 40: Messi and Pedro swapping positions Page 47 Figure 41: Villa and Pedro staying wide Page 48 Figure 42: Messi being given space to play by Real’s central defenders Page 48 Figure 43: Messi’s pass to Villa Page 49 Figure 44: Open spaces at the back Page 50 Figure 45: 2v2 on the counter Page 51 Figure 46: 3v3 on the counter Page 51 Figure 47: Real Madrid compact unit Page 52 Figure 48: The final score Page 52 Figure 49: Execution of 5v3 with transition rondos Page 60 Figure 50: Timing to drop to receive Page 61 Figure 51: Scheme of play for 4v2 to 6v3 rondos Page 62 Figure 52: False 9 dropping back to overload the midfield area Page 63 Figure 53: Showing for the early pass Page 64 Figure 54: Overloading the central areas Page 65 Tables Table 1: Honours won by Guardiola during his four seasons at Barcelona Page 33 ! ! $ $ iv! $ $ ABSTRACT The aim of this dissertation is to define the role and functions of the ‘false 9’ and to integrate these principles with the practical aspects necessary for implementing the ‘false 9’ tactic to its full effectiveness in a team. Methods This was achieved by detailed research regarding the historical evolution of the false 9. The application of the ‘false 9’ in practice was then explored in more detail in conjunction with Pep Guardiola’s time at Barcelona, with Messi playing in the ‘false 9’ position. Two matches were analysed in detail in order to illustrate the necessary elements underlying the system’s success. Ways of incorporating this information in training sessions in order to facilitate the use of this role in practice were then identified. Results The ‘false 9’ was first mentioned in 1911, revolutionised football at the time and has continu- ously evolved throughout the years to what it is today. It led to the creation of the ‘total football’ concept. Both of these systems were used successfully by various coaches throughout different times, but none were as notably successful as Pep Guardiola during his stint at Bar- celona, with Messi as the epitome of the ‘false 9’. The rationale underlying this success is shown in the detailed analysis of two famous El Clásico matches, with the main ingredients being the ability of the highly-technical ‘false 9’ player to drop deep into the opposing midfield and to turn with the ball, the incorporation of ‘total football’ way of play for the whole team and the dominance of ball possession. These essential components are then integrated into the team’s training sessions, with various techniques and practical aspects being detailed. Conclusion The ‘false 9’ position provides a dominant and entertaining way of playing football, but does not guarantee success on its own. It should be part of the whole team system and teams that utilise it should incorporate the ‘total football’ concept in their approach. ! $ $ v! $ $ INTRODUCTION Football is a vast and complex subject and it is not easy to focus on a single topic for a dissertation. I thoroughly discussed the selection of my topic and shared ideas with several of my friends in the football field, but I do have to say that the main inspiration and final decision came from the passion that I have for this magnificent sport buried within me. Football has been my biggest love since childhood. I was always fascinated and enthusiastic about any- thing associated with it. I knew all the players’ profiles by heart and I had numerous idols. However, my all-time favourite players have always been the talented and creative strikers, Francesco Totti and Lionel Messi. These two players created the spark for my dissertation and they were the reason why I decided to focus on one particular position of play, the ‘False9’. The ‘false 9’ is a decoy centre forward in a team deliberately set up without a dedicated strik- er1. The lone striker then drops deep, often as deep as the midfield line. He comes so deep that he leaves the central defenders with no one to mark. The central defenders would usually feed off the striker, judging his positioning and adjusting their movements according to the centre forward’s actions - however without one they become redundant. The typical ‘false 9’ is not the big hammering attacker, but rather a finesse-oriented player who likes to check back to midfield to participate in possession instead of waiting for a long direct ball. The player also prefers to receive the ball when played on the ground rather than being involved in physical aerial duels with stronger defenders. Players utilised in this position are usually technical players, equally gifted in the areas of dribbling, passing and finish- ing. They should be capable of receiving the ball amidst the minefield of holding midfielders and centre-backs with ease, then turning and running at defenders, or feeding an intricate through ball to a winger or midfielder who then capitalises from the spaces left by the same movement from the ‘false 9’. The team utilising the ‘false 9’ position needs midfielders who are capable of retaining possession and organising the game from the centre part of the field and also able to find the ‘false 9’ when he is roaming in pockets of space between the lines.

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