As Bert van Marwijk and Dunga made clear before Holland's quarter-final against Brazil, and the two teams then demonstrated in Port Elizabeth, it is not all about the beautiful game anymore. This has been an entirely pragmatic World Cup, not a thrilling one, but I don't believe the purists should despair.
There have been some thrilling games and thrilling moments in the tournament, but even the countries associated with total football or a samba style have placed pragmatism over the beautiful game. Look at the Champions League. That is exactly the same. There are always trends in football and this is the way it is going at the moment, but people always find a way around whatever system football conjures up, which is why those who want more flair, risks and style shouldn't worry. The game changes rapidly. This has not been a great World Cup for entertainment, but I wouldn't be surprised if we are applauding one of the most entertaining tournaments of all in Brazil in four years' time.
Holland have not played total football in South Africa; they have been solid throughout and I don't think Van Marwijk, his players and their supporters will care less if they win their first World Cup next Sunday. A manager's style of play is only wrong when he doesn't win.
I expect Holland to overcome Uruguay. Van Marwijk has some terrific individual talent to work with, but he has built a solid side with a strong team ethic. There has not been a word of dissent coming out of a camp that is notorious for imploding at major tournaments and, as they showed against Brazil – first losing Joris Mathijsen in the warm-up and then conceding an early goal – they rallied and grew stronger in adversity. But most of all, I expect Holland to be in the final because of the psychological impact of beating Brazil.
The Dutch never need a lift in terms of self-esteem. They have great belief in their own abilities and how they play. But they didn't just beat 11 players to reach the semi-finals, they had to overcome the mythology that surrounds Brazil, too. There is tension and anxiety going into any game, but sometimes there is an added element – and facing Brazil in a World Cup is such a moment. Holland had to overcome the history of five-time world champions, of great players such as Pelé, Garrincha and Jairzinho, and of the yellow shirt that stands as a symbol of excellence in football. Maybe it helped Holland that Brazil played in blue!
Sometimes you are not just playing a great team, but a great player or a great manager who can exert an influence over and above the norm. From my perspective as a manager, I'd say José Mourinho has an effect on people beyond what you would expect. Holland had to beat a rich history, but, just as the myth can hinder opponents, it can have an adverse effect on those who inherit the Brazilian shirt. Brazil lost their heads in the quarter-final – and at a time when they still had 11 men on the pitch and every chance of winning. They had cruised through to the quarter-finals, but lost their discipline at the first sign of trouble.
Brazil always expect to win, but it is a test of a side's spirit and team ethic when things start going against you – and they failed on that score. It was Holland who passed the test. They worked tremendously hard to turn that game around.
On top of being good players, there is a swagger and an arrogance that comes with playing for Brazil, and, if it is not going their way, you occasionally see the nasty reaction that undermined them in the quarter-final. Indiscipline cost them dearly and I was howling with laughter when Robinho accused Arjen Robben of diving. Talk about the pot and the kettle. The tournament has been littered with incidents like that. It's nonsense.
This will be viewed as a failure in Brazil and Dunga, who was criticised for their style of play even when the team where sailing through games, has become the latest manager to leave his post after a World Cup. He had every right to expect more from his players.
The great players have not lit up this tournament. Instead, it has been players from the lesser teams, such as Keisuke Honda, of Japan, who have shone. The players who were expected to grace this World Cup, Kaká, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Fernando Torres, have been a big disappointment, and only Lionel Messi has lived up to his billing as one of the elite players in the world today.
Source:- www.guardian.co.uk
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