Easy 10
Brain dead MUG SHEEP
After a gruesome opening game defeat, Scolari dragged a pretty average Portugese side to the Final, where they deservedly lost to the Greeks. But you have to admire the guy. A larger-than-life character who his players really seem to respond to. Not afraid of making big decisions, or upsetting players (five changes in tonights starting line-up from the one which started the opening game), this fella is a hands-on, fully involved coach of his team, who is in complete control.
The bloke never seems to be seated during a match. Throughout every game he is there at the edge of his technical area encouraging, cajoling, directing his team from the sidelines. He reacts to the pattern of play, making adjustments and changes, gives new instructions. At any break in play, he is calling a player over and having a word with him. And it was more, much more than Keegans simplistic, rather desperate "thumping heart" signal from the sidelines. It was real direction. For the penalty shootout against England, he was on the pitch encouraging, putting his arm round his players, instilling his passion, desire and belief.
In stark contrast, what does Eriksson do ? His arse is glued to that bench for the duration of the match. He presumably says his piece before kickoff, and at half time, and thats it. No matter what is happening on the pitch during those 90 minutes, there he stays. No changes unless absolutely necessary. No reaction to the flow of the game. Once the players have crossed the white line, thats it, he'll play no further part until half time, or the end. Passiveness personified.
Obviously there is more to coaching a team than simply bawling from the sidelines. But Sven goes to the other end of the scale completely - he might just as well go and sit with Motty as co-commentator once the teams out on the pitch, for all the input, reaction and direction he provides from the dugout.
If Scolari was in charge of that England squad, I firmly believe we would have progressed beyond the Quarters. He would have got more from those players than Sven ever could.
The bloke never seems to be seated during a match. Throughout every game he is there at the edge of his technical area encouraging, cajoling, directing his team from the sidelines. He reacts to the pattern of play, making adjustments and changes, gives new instructions. At any break in play, he is calling a player over and having a word with him. And it was more, much more than Keegans simplistic, rather desperate "thumping heart" signal from the sidelines. It was real direction. For the penalty shootout against England, he was on the pitch encouraging, putting his arm round his players, instilling his passion, desire and belief.
In stark contrast, what does Eriksson do ? His arse is glued to that bench for the duration of the match. He presumably says his piece before kickoff, and at half time, and thats it. No matter what is happening on the pitch during those 90 minutes, there he stays. No changes unless absolutely necessary. No reaction to the flow of the game. Once the players have crossed the white line, thats it, he'll play no further part until half time, or the end. Passiveness personified.
Obviously there is more to coaching a team than simply bawling from the sidelines. But Sven goes to the other end of the scale completely - he might just as well go and sit with Motty as co-commentator once the teams out on the pitch, for all the input, reaction and direction he provides from the dugout.
If Scolari was in charge of that England squad, I firmly believe we would have progressed beyond the Quarters. He would have got more from those players than Sven ever could.
