"Styles make fights."
-Boxing axiom
If you've ever paid attention to boxing, you've probably heard the above cliche; the implication contained in it is that the outcome of boxing matches can be heavily dependent on the styles of the fighters involved. Sure, skill and ability matter, but it's not always about who is the better boxer that determines a winner.
The U.S. match against Slovenia tomorrow carries an element of this idea; the Americans like to sit back and counterattack, using their defense to set up their offense. The Slovenes like to do that same, and beat teams with superior organization and defensive commitment. It's a clash of styles because the two sides are of the same style. If the Americans can't adjust and take the game to their disciplined opponents, they'll find themselves in serious danger of losing. Essentially, Bob Bradley needs to adjust the U.S. style just enough to leverage the better overall talent his team possesses.
Beyond the effect stylistic match ups can have on the outcome of a match is something much more important to the neutral; the effect on entertainment value. No one expects Slovenia and the U.S. to play an engaging ninety minutes tomorrow, and likely the only ones enraptured by it will be the partisans on each side. Too much alike, the teams will grab and paw, looking for an advantage while always being conscious not to let themselves be surprised by a sneaky punch.
Styles have made for some of the better matches in a so far disappointing World Cup, like Argentina and South Korea combining for a five goals just today. Argentina, obviously the better attacking side, battered the Koreans; sitting behind the ball and hoping to stifle Argentina, South Korea instead found themselves on the business end of an onslaught. Here, the contrasting styles, and Argentina's follow through, provided an exciting game.
Though the boring soccer played first round of group matches is blamed just as much on "caution" as it is on style, it's clear that there is a trend towards negative tactics. Styles then, are having an adverse effect on the overall quality of the tournament, dictating that we get ugly, boring games lacking in initiative and drive on either side. Everyone is afraid to get caught out.
Well, not everyone. There are a few teams with the wherewithal to go for it regardless of who their facing, or who the idea of tactically shifting their style is anathema. There is, too, the possibility that teams change their approach mid-game; not every team in this World Cup is capable of such a thing to the same degree, but they all have at least some ability to do so.
It's takes a Herculean effort for a team intent on defending to stare down a truly superior attacking team for ninety minutes. Switzerland pulled it off against Spain, but it's far from usual, and is actually more about quality coaching and players rising to the moment than a stylistic stalemate. Generally, the hammer flattens the nail because the nail wasn't good enough to start.
If there's any truth to the idea that styles make matches the way styles make fights, the Americans are really in for it tomorrow. Shift that style, Bob, and get after it. A stalemate won't do.
