Serbia v Ghana

Serbia’s system was built on organisation. A typical 4-4-2 shape, they played in quite a traditional style, with two wingers, two full backs and a split midfield and attack. Zigic dropped deep, almost to an AMC position while the rest of the side held their shape and built behind them. This allowed the Serbs to play to their major strength; height and size.

Ghana on the other hand played a much quicker 4-3-3 strategy, looking to move the ball through the lines quickly on the counter attack. The forwards were able to move in and out of each other, although their movement was not always efficient. The quick movement allowed the wing players and Gyan to receive the ball, but they didn’t always have an outlet. The MCs closed down the opposition quickly and looked to launch the counter, while the defence, like the Serbians, were able to use their size to keep the opposition at bay.

Player Instructions - Serbia

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Player Instructions - Ghana

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Germany v Australia

What could have been an intriguing game turned into a complete mismatch. Germany played effectively a 4-2-3-1, quite a departure from their traditional shape. The wingers were able to offer a lot of support down the flanks while Klose roamed for space in the centre. Supporting this structure was the “number 10″ play maker, Oezil, who was able to drop deep and wide to pick up the ball and lay it off for the forward players. Further back, the defensive midfield players worked alongside the back four to block off attacks by the Australians. It was certainly a more free-flowing and energetic German side that we are perhaps used to, but it was made to look far more than the sum of its parts by a lacklustre Australian side.

Australia were forced into two game plans. The first was a tenacious 4-4-2 system built on two holding midfielders and two forwards who were encouraged to drop deep to support the midfield. Unfortunately, it was completely overrun by the German attack which was able to overload nearly every position on the pitch. Its asymmetry was also a major weakness as Germany were equally equipped to attack down the left, the right and through the middle.

This led to “plan B”; Cahill was to play up front on his own, while the midfield was restructured into a deep-lying 4-2-3-1. The central midfielders were pulled back to cover the defence, and the wingers were pushed a little wider and further up. Did it work? We may never know. Cahill was harshly sent off for what might be termed an “orange card” tackle, and the whole plan had to be revised again. By this point, however, the game was well and truly lost, and damage limitation was the name of the game.

Player Instructions - Australia

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Player Instructions - Germany

Team Instructions

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