CODE: eB3E1u2%qmjj

    After creating Greece's tactics for Euro 2004, which was incredibly difficult to design, I wanted to go further, I wanted to try the opposite... and what was the opposite? Rinus Michels' Total Football, the "Clockwork Orange," the Netherlands of 1974.

Before I start explaining how I managed to recreate it almost exactly, I should warn you that it's a tactical system in which they're going to suffer a lot in defense, which was this team's weakness when they didn't recover the ball.

    I also want to clarify that the way that team recovered the ball, that way they looked like a pack of wolves, is impossible in the game. I tried to replicate their fluidity and movement in attack, and their high press in defense.

  
let´s explain the photos.

The second photo shows the tactical system we'll start with, the 4-3-3 holding. It's all in Spanish because I'm from Argentina (I always say this, but it's worth clarifying), but when you enter the code, it will switch to your language.


In the third photo you can see the team's positioning in defensive play, with the CDM helping the CBs forming a 3-man defense. In the left side of the field, we already have overlap with the Lb and the Lcm who will constantly rotate.


In the fourth photo, we can see the team's width, covering all areas of the field. The right and left wings are positioned wide, and the striker drops back into midfield, trying to emulate Cruyff's tactics.


In the fifth photo, we can see how the team positions itself in the finishing zone, with many men on the attack, the right cornerback providing cover, and the left cornerback moving higher up the field to create a staggered defensive line. The linebacker is already involved in the midfield zone.


In the sixth photo, if we imagine lines, we can draw them and see how many options for triangles to link up and pass can be created, which is what this team was looking for.


In the seventh photo, you can see the rotation of positions. The left CB now occupies the midfield zone, the LB moves to cover the central defensive zone. The LCM and RCM switch positions.


In the last photo, it's the team's defensive block, pressing in the opponent's defensive zone, forcing an error in order to attack.


Once the photos have been detailed, let's break down the tactical system.


Balanced. Yes, balanced. You might think I'm wrong, but after searching, watching, and investigating, this team wasn't a tiki-taka machine. In fact, in one match, they had over 60 percent possession. Balanced is the most logical description, given that at times they accelerated, trying to finish the play quickly.

extreme (95) in defense replicates exactly what we are looking for, to suffocate the opponent.


GK: Sweeper Keeper - Balanced. Jongbloed, He was a goalkeeper with great footwork, semi-professional for the time; in fact, he worked in a tobacco factory. But Michels must have seen something that the other goalkeepers didn't have: his great vision and passing game, ahead of its time.


RB: Attacking Wingback - Support. Suurbier He was a great attacking weapon on the right side, with great stamina and always an option to receive the ball; he provided width on the right.


RCB: Defender - Defend. Rijsbergen He was the one who enforced defensive order, although sometimes he anticipated rivals; his job was to maintain defensive order and try to cover his teammates in their offensive incursions.


LCB: BPD - Build Up. Haan He was a defensive midfielder with great vision and positioning. Legend has it that Cruyff recommended him to Michels to start in that position; in attack, he would push forward and then become a defensive midfielder alongside Jansen.


LB: Falseback - Balanced. Krol, Words can't do justice to everything he did for this team. He provided width, played centrally, covered gaps, and so on. I put him in this role and with this focus because he best complements and enhances the LCM and LW, giving them more width. Krol was so technically gifted that he was always linking up with teammates or joining the attack.


CDM: Holding - Defend. Jansen He was the most positional, although he took up ground in attack; his job was to provide cover for his teammates, recover the ball, and play it simply.


RCM: Box to Box - Balanced. Neeskens He was the modern box-to-box midfielder, covering the entire field, dropping deep to receive the ball, switching positions with Cruyff, and going all over the pitch. A key figure for this team.


LCM: Playmaker - Roaming. Van Hanegem He was the one who brought composure and calm to the team. Defensively, he covered for his teammates (sometimes even playing as a linebacker), and on offense, he moved all over the field looking for the best option to get the ball and circulate it. Very underrated.


RW: Inside Forward - Attack. Rep He was a very aggressive winger in attack, always getting into scoring positions thanks to his mobility and the spaces created by his teammates.


LW: Winger - Attack. Rensenbrink He was the prototype of a prolific winger. He engaged in many 1v1 duels against the opposing red card, and provided width to cover all areas of the pitch.


ST: False 9 - Build up. Cruyff... What can we say about him that hasn't already been said? The epitome of the false 9. He dropped deep to receive the ball, orchestrated attacks, and switched positions. He even started as a center back in some games. The complete player and the face of this team.



As I said before, with this system, if you lose the ball and don't recover it quickly, you can suffer defensively. But then it's a lot of fun to pass and move around. I hope you enjoy this tactic as much as I enjoyed replicating and designing it.

Netherlands 1974 Total Football