World Championship --Jules Rimet Cup 1966 Final ... - FIFA.com

their play to opponents but would ensure a strong defence . France were
emphasizing speed of play and Portugal planned to play offensively .
2 . Do you Arrange for Other Matches and Opponents to be Assessed?
All countries do this, except France, but the assessment varies from
having matches watched by trained observers and officials, to viewing on
television and reading press reports .
3 . How Many Players Are Required for the Final Competition?
Eleven countries were of opinion that twenty-two players were a sufficient
number for each squad, but Bulgaria, Argentina and Mexico would like
to see twenty-five, and France would like forty, not that they would
necessarily bring this number to the tournament . The Italian Manager
thought that twenty-two players in a camp headquarters were too many .
4 . Are There Any Specific Trends in Style of Play Emerging From the
World Cup Series?
Seven national coaches, Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Hungary,
Switzerland and Germany West, are of opinion that defensive play will
be more strongly practised . This tends to reduce the exploitation of skill,
adds more strength to tackling, and the game becomes less interesting .
The style, say the coaches of Portugal and Italy, will be set by whichever
team wins . Bulgaria feels that it is only in tactical formations that
differences will be seen, since most countries are now alive to modern
techniques . Russia thinks that the value of reserves who have to take
part in later matches will be an important factor .
5 . Is the Standard of Football Improving in Your Country and In What
Ways?
Only two coaches, from Brazil and Switzerland, felt that soccer was not
improving and, in the case of Brazil, this was attributed to the increase
in defensive football . Hungary are still recovering from the decline after
the Puskas era . In Germany West, young players are getting better
coaching .
6 . What Are the Trends in Football in Your Country?
In five countries, Brazil, England, Hungary, Mexico and Uruguay, the
change is more towards defensive football, whereas in Italy, Portugal and
Switzerland, there is now a revival of attacking play because it is more
rewarding. With more defence there is a tendency towards more personal
contact and more fouls .
Four countries, Chile, France, North Korea and Germany West, see
the growth in application of skill technique, and Germany West maintain
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