fifaworldcup.com
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Sweden and Senegal not so far away
On the surface Sweden and Senegal are as different as night and day. The geographical distance alone between the tip of West Africa and Northern Europe’s Scandinavia is massive. But the clash of contrasts and superficial differences will end when the two sides meet on 16 June in Oita.
Senegal far from being the strictly creative, stereotypically “African” squad at the finals have in fact proven themselves a cohesive, solid unit to rival either of the remaining Viking survivors –surely with a bit of spice to boot.
As Sweden’s lack of star power and appeal to a coherent team-style is well documented, two of Senegal’s five first round goals reflect a break in the commonly held view that African football is merely a festival of the individual and weak on tactical meat.
If the African upstarts first goal against France was something of a fluke, or the result of holders’ jitters, their second in a 1-1 draw with second-round bound, Scandinavian side Denmark proved a stunning example of a European style tactical buildup. The play developed deep in Senegal’s end, before the ball took a tortuous route to goal, finally culminating with a cheeky, teasing little tap in from Salif Diao.
And again five days later against gallant Uruguay, Senegal proved no one-trick African pony with a similar strike from Papa Bouba Diop on the end of a surging sweep from the back in a 3-3 draw.
But if their two amazing team-worked goals offer a glimpse into the African football of tomorrow, respectful of the mores and values of Northern Europe’s team tactics, Senegal’s surrender of a 3-0 lead to the shrewd South Americans may signal a break in the well-weaved fabric.
If Sweden are the archetypal team-centric Nordic unit, fancy Senegal have one or two players in particular who stick their heads up a bit above the pack in Liverpool-bound El Hadji Diouf and Auxerre’s Khalilou Fadiga.
And with Freddie Ljungberg – arguably Sweden’s only “star” - injured we will simply have to wait and see which version of teamwork pays the best dividends. Sweden’s purist delight of collective coherence, or Senegal’s with flashy bits of unrepentant brilliance?
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Sweden and Senegal not so far away
On the surface Sweden and Senegal are as different as night and day. The geographical distance alone between the tip of West Africa and Northern Europe’s Scandinavia is massive. But the clash of contrasts and superficial differences will end when the two sides meet on 16 June in Oita.
Senegal far from being the strictly creative, stereotypically “African” squad at the finals have in fact proven themselves a cohesive, solid unit to rival either of the remaining Viking survivors –surely with a bit of spice to boot.
As Sweden’s lack of star power and appeal to a coherent team-style is well documented, two of Senegal’s five first round goals reflect a break in the commonly held view that African football is merely a festival of the individual and weak on tactical meat.
If the African upstarts first goal against France was something of a fluke, or the result of holders’ jitters, their second in a 1-1 draw with second-round bound, Scandinavian side Denmark proved a stunning example of a European style tactical buildup. The play developed deep in Senegal’s end, before the ball took a tortuous route to goal, finally culminating with a cheeky, teasing little tap in from Salif Diao.
And again five days later against gallant Uruguay, Senegal proved no one-trick African pony with a similar strike from Papa Bouba Diop on the end of a surging sweep from the back in a 3-3 draw.
But if their two amazing team-worked goals offer a glimpse into the African football of tomorrow, respectful of the mores and values of Northern Europe’s team tactics, Senegal’s surrender of a 3-0 lead to the shrewd South Americans may signal a break in the well-weaved fabric.
If Sweden are the archetypal team-centric Nordic unit, fancy Senegal have one or two players in particular who stick their heads up a bit above the pack in Liverpool-bound El Hadji Diouf and Auxerre’s Khalilou Fadiga.
And with Freddie Ljungberg – arguably Sweden’s only “star” - injured we will simply have to wait and see which version of teamwork pays the best dividends. Sweden’s purist delight of collective coherence, or Senegal’s with flashy bits of unrepentant brilliance?
