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Louis van Gaal: The mastermind

Jack new author
Roar Rookie
8th July, 2014
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Jack new author
Roar Rookie
8th July, 2014
11

While we are building up to the climax of football’s showpiece in Brazil, are we seeing the reasons behind why Manchester United may have gone for Louis van Gaal?

He has shown exceptional tactics and planning to take Holland, tipped to be knocked out of the group stage, to within two victories of the World Cup.

His next task will be facing the well fancied Argentina and the current world’s best player, Lionel Messi. But how will Van Gaal go about stopping Messi and the rest of the free-flowing, attacking Argies?

So far in the tournament we have seen Van Gaal impose a preferred style of play, but also the willingness to make some key and game-winning substitutions.

In the group stage we saw Holland play out the biggest surprise of the tournament, with the 5-1 spanking of the current world champions Spain.

Van Gaal approached the game with five defenders, making his midfield as compact and narrow as possible to eliminate and end the tika-taka style of football that had been so consistent and successful the last five years.

This will be the approach he will take against Argentina, which gives him his best chance to eliminate the presence of Messi, while also looking to counter at pace with the likes of Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie to expose a less than impressive defence.

When we think Argentina we simply think about one man, which is easy to do. But they have other pieces to the jigsaw that I am sure Van Gaal will be looking to eliminate. We would expect Niger de Jong (if fit) to sit in front of the defence and try to eliminate Messi getting between the lines and running at the back five.

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But one huge advantage for Van Gaal will be Argentina’s loss of Angel di Maria due to injury. While his performances have received harsh criticism, he is still a match winner for the Argentinians as we saw with the winner against Switzerland in the round of 16.

The man to replace him is likely to be Sergio Aguero after he trained with the side the past few days. We would all agree he has had a remarkably quiet tournament, which has been hampered by injury, but Van Gaal will be wary and experienced enough to still know he can knock-out his Dutch side with clinical finishing.

While Ageuro is an able replacement he is a front man, unlike Di Maria who gives natural width to the Argentina attack. This is something that will play into Holland’s hands.

The worry for Van Gaal would have been that if they make the pitch tight in the central areas that they will spring the ball into the wider areas where Di Maria can expose his full backs. Without him I don’t think Aguero or Gonzalo Higuian can offer that same natural width and ability to beat a man and deliver.

Even if they were, Van Gaal would be happy as his three centre halves can all deal with a cross with the likes of Messi and the other smaller forwards in the box.

We have touched on how the Dutch can neutralise the Argentinians going forward, but how can they use it to their advantage at the other end?

When holding a deeper line and compacting the central areas it will draw the Argies towards them, creating pressure on the Dutch defence. They have already shown they are capable of handling this pressure against the likes of Chile and Spain, and then utilising it to their favour by counter attacking.

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We have seen that the South Americans have been less than convincing at the back and the men in orange have looked like they can score at will, but those thinking it will be a goal fest think again.

The Dutch will be clever and pick their moments to attack, knowing that committing men forward could leave them susceptible to a counter themselves. With the likes of Messi, Higuain and Aguero as the front three you wouldn’t want to leave yourself light at the back.

We have two top teams packed full of attacking talent but the stakes are high this late on in the tournament. Both teams will be scared to lose so don’t be surprised to see Argentina set up in a similar fashion.

While Argentina will be favourites with the bookmakers, experience counts for plenty at this stage. With that in mind and with these tactics enforced by the Dutch boys, I believe this is how Louis van Gaal will get the Dutch to the World Cup final.

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