2010 FIFA World Cup: From U.S.-England To Switzerland-Spain, Big D Dominates

It is an axiom developing in World Cup soccer that has been repeated in U.S. major professional baseball, football and basketball playoff scenarios.

Big D, or solid defense, dominates more often than not.  Two key first round World Cup matches involving four top teams revealed the axiom in workable form.

Last Saturday’s widely anticipated U.S.-England first round contest found the Americans confronting the beginning that had been feared.

An early score by England was perceived as a major morale boost for the favorites and a potential crusher for America.  When this came about through a fourth minute goal driven into the net by Steven Gerrard anxious eyes awaited the test of underdog mettle.

It was important for the U.S. to hold its own and not yield anymore quick scores and keep the game competitive.  A golden opportunity emerged in the 40th minute when midfielder Clint Dempsey took possession of the ball 35 yards from the goal.

At the 25-yard mark Dempsey unleashed a left-footed shot goal ward.  Despite being in position to smother the threat by getting two hands on the ball firmly in front of goalkeeper Robert Green’s body, it instead bundled across the line for an equalizing U.S. score.

American sports viewers immediately recalled the historic ground ball through the legs of Boston Red Sox first baseman’s Bill Buckner’s legs in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.

The mistake of an easy chance by an accomplished defensive first baseman gave the New York Mets new life as they went on to turn the tide and win baseball’s world title in seven games.

After taking advantage of a break as the Mets had 24 years earlier, U.S. Coach Bob Bradley made a tactical decision in the second half that has been validated in a World Cup that to this point has been replete with low scores.

Bradley chose to play a more defensive brand of soccer as he realized that in his case, unlike that of favored England, achieving one point for a tie was akin to a win.

Such an effort would hold down the favored side to a single point and leave the U.S. in a solid position to advance to the second round after a deadlock with the team in its group considered to be the most formidable opponent.

Just as Robert Green would tragically be remembered for one play that resulted in a goal when he made some excellent plays throughout the rest of the contest, goalkeeper Tim Howard stood in a different position.

The determined efforts of the 31-year-old Howard throughout the game, particularly when pressed on penalty kicks, resulted in his being named “Man of the Match.”

Action got particularly hot and heavy when England’s Coach Fabio Capello stepped up the attack late in the game in an effort to earn the three points anticipated in advance by most prognosticators.  Star midfielder Wayne Rooney was the center of offensive action but the U.S. resisted and a tie resulted.

In so many closely competitive games following that involving the U.S. and England a prized goal was achieved and stalwart defense was invoked to preserve victory.

This strategy almost doomed defending champion Italy after Paraguay jumped off to a 1-0 lead in a closely contested match.

What enabled the Italians to emerge with a disappointing draw but prevention of a crushing game one defeat was a play where the Paraguay goalkeeper relinquished his area to take charge of the ball but failed to catch it.  Abdicating the net area prompted a goal that saved the day for the Italians.

Fast forward to today’s action and the same pattern of moving the ball into the goal area and hoping for a favorable result occurred in a match between Spain and Switzerland.

The Spanish were decisive favorites.  Spain was not only co-favorite with Brazil to win the 2010 World Cup; it had never lost to Switzerland.

The score your goal and then develop a fortress strategy was never more notably invoked than in this upset match in which a long kick at the 52-minute mark  landed in that key area within the box where goal chances reside.

During activity, with Spain’s goalkeeper sprawled on the ground along with other players on both sides, the ensuing scramble was resolved when Switzerland’s Gelson Fenandes nudged home the winner.  Fernandes was referred to as an “unlikely hero” by Britain’s The Guardian as well as a “once unremarkable fringe player for Manchester City.”

The jolted Spaniards responded with a flurry of offensive activity.  On one occasion a dart by Xabi Alonso rocketed against the crossbar, a near miss but a miss nonetheless.

The frustration of the Spaniards was compounded by their dominance in shots taken, totaling a 24-8 advantage.  After taking the lead the Swiss set up an impressive five man wall that Spain was unable to successfully penetrate.

The early matches have established a prevalent tone to this point.  In competitive matches, the exception being a stellar German team’s 4-0 dominance against overmatched Australia, the emergent pattern is clear.

Score a goal, sometimes through a break, which often results from a key mistake.

After than play it close to the vest, do not take unnecessary scoring chances that will create open spaces for the opposition, and let your defense preserve victory.