Star performers

It was a near-hegemony of the 4-2-3-1 formation at Euro 2008. Karthik Krishnaswamy picks his best for the course.

Before Euro 2008 began, Johan Cruyff criticised Dutch manager Marco van Basten for turning his back on Total Football and Holland’s traditional 4-3-3 formation. Specifically, Cruyff did not approve of Van Basten’s employment of two holding midfielders in his 4-2-3-1. After the Dutch rode roughshod over the group of death with incisive, counterattacking football, Cruyff changed his opinion dramatically.

Germany’s Joachim Low began the tournament with a 4-4-2, Michael Ballack and Torsten Frings sharing attacking and defensive responsibilities. After losing to Croatia he switched to 4-2-3-1, advancing Ballack and replacing striker Mario Gomez with an additional midfielder. The move freed Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski against Portugal in the quarterfinals and Turkey in the semis — Schweinsteiger cutting in from the right to slot in Podolski’s crosses from the left on both occasions.

In both teams the full backs, covered in defence by the holding midfielders, played crucial roles in attack. Giovanni van Bronckhorst was one of the brightest lights for the Netherlands in its group matches, combining with the front four brilliantly and pinging in accurate crosses. Philipp Lahm wasn’t consistently at his best through the tournament, but his last-gasp winner against Turkey — the clever exchange of passes with Hitzlsperger and the clinical near-post finish — reminded everyone why he’s considered one of the world’s best players.

The liberated fullback theme was evident across most teams, with Italy’s Fabio Grosso, Portugal’s Jose Bosingwa, Croatia’s Vedran Corluka, Russia’s Yuri Zhirkov and Spain’s Sergio Ramos bombing forward at every opportunity.

Marcos Senna was Spain’s obvious ‘holder’, reading the game astutely, breaking up attacks without necessarily having to put his foot in. Even more vital than his ball-winning skills, arguably, were his calmness in possession and his neat passing that kept the tiki-taka (pass and move) ticking over.

With David Villa in the side, Spain played what was either a 4-4-2 or a 4-1-3-2 formation. With Fernando Torres stretching the defence, Villa in the hole, and Xavi alongside Senna in a deeper role, with ball retention his primary focus, it carried a faint 4-2-3-1 pattern. And when, in the semifinals against Russia, Cesc Fabregas replaced the injured Villa, it was stamped all over. The team’s second-half performance in that match was the best attacking display of the tournament.

Of the other sides which made the quarterfinals, Portugal clearly played 4-2-3-1 but lacked a ball-winner in midfield and a clinical finisher upfront. Italy switched from the ‘Christmas Tree’ 4-3-2-1 against the Dutch to 4-2-3-1 against Romania, overhauling the team drastically. Losing Andrea Pirlo stifled its creativity against Spain, which it managed to keep in check for 120 minutes. As with Portugal, Italy lacked the finish, with Luca Toni in woeful touch.

Croatia had Niko Kovac sitting in front of its back four, initially in a 4-1-3-2, which became 4-1-4-1 — not far off 4-2-3-1 with Luka Modric coming deep to dictate play — against Germany, with striker Mladen Petric replaced by attacking midfielder Ivan Rakitic.

Guus Hiddink’s Russia went against the grain and lined up in a 4-1-3-1-1, with Sergei Semak slotting into defence whenever Zhirkov on the left, or Alexander Anyukov on the right, forayed into attack. Andrei Arshavin played behind the front man — roaming wherever he pleased — to the left with the greatest impact when he tore Holland to shreds.

Turkey displayed stunning versatility in its semifinal against Germany with half its first team suspended. Hamit Altintop, who had played right-back against Croatia, switched seamlessly to the middle of midfield, replacing Tuncay Sanli, who usually starts up front or on the left-wing for Middlesbrough. Right-winger Sabri Sarioglu took Altintop’s place at right-back. Brazilian-born defensive midfielder Mehmet Aurelio, sitting between defence and midfield in a 4-1-4-1, marked Ballack out of the game.

Having established the near-hegemony of the 4-2-3-1, it is time to indulge in that most subjective, addictive exercise — picking 11 players to fill the formation.

Goalkeeper: In a straight fight between Iker Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon, the winner of the quarterfinal penalty shootout sneaks through.

Fullbacks: After much deliberation, and loss of hair and sleep, jerseys numbered 2 and 3 have been handed to Hamit Altintop and Giovanni Van Bronckhorst respectively. Sergio Ramos and Yuri Zhirkov are desperately unlucky to lose out.

Centre-halves: The men manning the heart of defence haven’t been at their most luminous at the Euros, and consequently, no equivalent of Fabio Cannavaro at the 2006 World Cup. So step forward Pepe, as you did so memorably against Turkey, and Carlos Marchena, so tidy for Spain he was almost invisible — like a good wicketkeeper.

Midfield: Xavi Hernandez was player of Euro 2008, and his passing was so impeccable, his vision so sharp that it’s almost impossible to leave him out. Note the word almost, however. For the sake of throwing open debate, and giving Marcos Senna a new midfield mate, he has been left out. That new midfield mate is Luka Modric, who allies an almost Xavian ability to retain possession with a tad more willingness to play the ambitious, 50-50 pass.

Attacking midfield: During the group stages, Wesley Sneijder’s name was spoken in appropriately hushed and eardrum-shattering tones by opponents and commentators respectively. With two goals, three assists, and two equally exquisite feet, he slots in nominally at left-wing. On the other wing is Bastian Schweinsteiger, who atoned for his red card against Croatia with crucial goals in the quarters and semis. Shedding a tear for Andres Iniesta, David Silva, Podolski and Deco, Andrei Arshavin is handed the number 10. He may have been rendered anonymous by Senna in the semifinal, but was Russia’s go-to-guy otherwise.

Striker: David Villa scored four goals, Torres only two. It’s the Liverpool man who makes it, however, because he’s the one more suited to leading the line, essential to a 4-2-3-1. Pace, power, touch, technique, composure, aerial ability – Torres has them all, in abundance.