Catenaccio (Italian pronunciation: [kateˈnattʃo]) or The Chain is a tactical system in football with a strong emphasis on defence. In Italian, catenaccio means "door-bolt", which implies a highly organised and effective backline defence focused on nullifying opponents' attacks and preventing goal-scoring opportunities.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Catenaccio1.png/220px-Catenaccio1.png)
History
editPredecessors and influences
editItalian catenaccio was influenced by the verrou (also doorbolt or chain in French) system invented by Austrian coach Karl Rappan.[1] As coach of Switzerland in the 1930s and 1940s, Rappan played a defensive sweeper called the verrouilleur, positioned just ahead of the goalkeeper.[2] Rappan's verrou system, proposed in 1932, when he was coach of Servette, was essentially a modification of the 2–3–5 system, and in some ways resembled the modern 4–4–2 or 4–3–3 formations; his system implemented with four defenders, three of which were fielded in a fixed role playing a strict man-to-man marking system, plus an attacking centre-half, who would also act as a playmaker, in the middle of the field, who played the ball together with two midfield wings. The system was essentially a 1–3–3–3 formation, with the verouiller as the last player in front of the goalkeeper, and with the two outside forwards or wingers functioning as forwards high up the pitch, keeping possession of the ball and always looking to cross the ball to the central striker making runs into the box or looking to find a pass to the most forward midfielder making a run in behind the opposing defense from the midfield. (with the right winger sitting slightly further back), but who would often drop off into deeper midfield roles when possession was lost. The team would often sit back and defend during matches, which enabled them to overcome stronger teams or physically fitter opponents successfully. In his 2009 book Inverting the Pyramid, Jonathan Wilson notes that the: "verrou [...] is best understood as a development from the old 2–3–5 [...]. Rather than the centre-half dropping in between the two full-backs, as in the W-M, the two wing-halves fell back to flank them. They retained an attacking role, but their primary function was to combat the opposition wingers. The two full-backs then became in effect central defenders, playing initially almost alongside each other, although in practice, if the opposition attacked down their right, the left of the two would move towards the ball, with the right covering just behind, and vice versa. In theory, that always left them with a spare man–the verouller as the Swiss press of the time called him or the libro as he would become–at the back." Wilson notes that a weakness of the verrou system was that it placed excessive demands on the centre-half, as the player deployed in this role was required to attack and act as a playmaker when on the ball, while instead dropping back into the defence, acting almost as a centre-back, off the ball. However, with this system, Rappan won two league titles with Servette, and five more with Grasshopper, after joining the club in 1935.[3][4][5][6][7]
During his time with Soviet club Krylya Sovetov Kuybyshev in the 1940s, Alexander Kuzmich Abramov also used a similar defensive tactic known as the Volzhskaya Zashchepka, or the "Volga Clip." Unlike the verrou, his system was not as flexible, and was a development of the 3–2–5 or WM, rather than the 2–3–5, but it also featured one of the half-backs dropping deep; this allowed the defensive centre-half to sweep in behind the full-backs, essentially acting as a sweeper.[5]
In Spain, starting in the 1940s and reaching great success in the 1950s, Helenio Herrera developed an early version of his 1960s catenaccio. With Atlético Madrid (1949–1953), he won two consecutive league titles with a defence nicknamed "the Iron Curtain". He kept on developing his system later on in other Spanish clubs until reaching his well-known 5–3–2 formation when he went years later to Inter in Italy (see below).[8][9][10]
Italian Catenaccio also has its roots with Mario Villini of Triestina in the 1941 season,[11] Ottavio Barbieri of Spezia in the campionato Alta Italia 1944,[11] and Gipo Viani of Salernitana in the 1948 season.[11] "Mezzo sistema" was influenced by Rappan's verrou and originated from an idea that one of the club's players altered the English WM system – known as the sistema in Italy – by having his centre-half-back – known as the centromediano metodista or "metodista," in Italy – retreat into the defensive line to act as an additional defender and mark an opposing centre-forward, instead leaving his full-back (which, at the time, was similar to the modern centre-back role) free to function as what was essentially a sweeper, or libero ("free," in Italian). Although this ultra-defensive strategy was initially criticised by members of the Italian press, including journalist Gianni Brera, Andrea Schianchi of La Gazzetta dello Sport notes that this modification was designed to help smaller teams in Italy, as the man–to–man system often put players directly against one another, favouring the larger and wealthier teams with stronger individual players.[5][12][13][14][15][16][17]
In the 1946 season Ottavio Barbieri introduced the sweeper role to Italian football during his time as Genoa's manager. He was influenced by Rappan's verrou, and made several alterations to the English WM system or sistema, which led to his system being described as mezzosistema. Gipo Viani, after him, called this "Vianema". His system used a man-marking back-line, with three man-marking defenders and a full-back who was described as a terzino volante (or vagante, as noted at the time by former footballer and Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Renzo De Vecchi); the latter position was essentially a libero. The team's midfield played in a triangular shape, with the centre-half-back or "metodista" fielded in front of the back-line. His formation also made use of three forwards in attacking trident, but the right-sided winger was also tasked with assisting the midfield defensively, and therefore acted in the manner of a right-sided wide midfielder, known as the tornante in Italian football.[13][18]
Italian catenaccio
editIn the late 1950s, Nereo Rocco's Padova pioneered a modified catenaccio tactics in Italy where it would be used again by other Italian teams throughout the 1960s; his strategy was initially also known as the mezzosistema, as, like the vianema, it modified elements of the sistema.[13][19][20] Rocco's tactic, often referred to as the real Catenaccio, was shown first in 1947 with Triestina: the most common mode of operation was a 1–3–3–3 formation with a strictly defensive team approach, while his team would look to score by starting quick counter-attacks with long balls after winning back possession. With catenaccio, Triestina finished the Serie A tournament in a surprising second place. Some variations include 1–4–4–1 and 1–4–3–2 formations. He later had great success with Milan using the catenaccio system during the 60s and 70s, winning several titles, including two Serie A titles, three Coppa Italia titles, two European Cups, two European Cup Winners' Cups, and an Intercontinental Cup.[21][22][23][24]
Alfredo Foni also used the catenaccio tactic successfully with Inter during the early 1950s; unlike Rocco, however, the teams's strong defensive play off the ball did not limit the offensive manner in which his team played while in possession of the ball.[13] In his system, his team's right winger, Gino Armano, would drop back to mark the opposing team's left winger (essentially acting as a tornante), allowing Ivano Blason, the right-back, to shift across and act as a sweeper and clear balls away. Blason also played as a sweeper under Rocco; as such, he is often considered to be the first true sweeper in Italian football.[5][12]
The key innovation of Catenaccio was the introduction of the role of a libero ("free") defender, also called "sweeper", who was positioned behind a line of three defenders. The sweeper's role was to recover loose balls, nullify the opponent's striker and double-mark when necessary. Another important innovation was the counter-attack, mainly based on long passes from the defence.[13][25]
In Helenio Herrera's version of catenaccio in the 1960s, he used a 5–3–2 formation, in which four man-marking defenders were tightly assigned to the opposing attackers while an extra player, the sweeper, would pick up any loose ball that escaped the coverage of the defenders. The emphasis of this system in Italian football spawned the rise of many top Italian defenders who became known for their hard-tackling and ruthless defending. However, despite the defensive connotations, Herrera claimed shortly before his death that the system was more attacking than people remembered, saying 'the problem is that most of the people who copied me copied me wrongly. They forgot to include the attacking principles that my Catenaccio included. I had Picchi as a sweeper, yes, but I also had Facchetti, the first full back to score as many goals as a forward.' Indeed, although his Grande Inter side were known primarily for their defensive strength, they were equally renowned for their ability to score goals with few touches from fast, sudden counter-attacks, due to Herrera's innovative use of attacking, overlapping full-backs. Under Herrera, Inter enjoyed a highly successful spell, which saw them win three Serie A titles, two European Cups, and two Intercontinental Cups.[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33]
Manager Ferruccio Valcareggi also used tactics inspired by the Italian catenaccio system, which was popularised by Inter manager Herrera during the 1960s, with the Italy national team, employing a sweeper behind two man–marking central defenders and a full-back, as well as a strategy which made use of heavy defending, focussing predominantly on stability, grinding out results while conceding few goals and defending narrow leads; although his tactics were controversial – in particular as during the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, he devised his infamous staffetta (relay) policy of playing one of his two star playmakers, Sandro Mazzola and Gianni Rivera, in each half, to avoid offsetting the defensive balance within his team – and not particularly exciting, they proved to be effective. Moreover, although at times he drew criticism in the Italian media over Italy's dull, slow gameplay and lack of goals, Italy also demonstrated their offensive capabilities throughout the tournament, as well as their technical capabilities, which enabled them to conserve energy and cope with the altitude in Mexico. He had a successful spell as Italy's manager, winning UEFA Euro 1968 on home soil, and leading Italy to the 1970 World Cup final. However, in the latter match, Italy suffered a heavy 4–1 defeat to a much more offensive minded and stylish Brazilian side. His team adopted a more attractive playing style in the lead-up to the 1974 World Cup, however, which saw them considered among the favourites to win, but suffered a surprising first-round elimination in the final tournament.[34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42]
Decline of catenaccio with the advent of total football, and the birth of zona mista
editJock Stein's Celtic defeated the catenaccio system in the 1967 European Cup Final with a highly offensive strategy. They beat Herrera's Inter Milan 2–1 on 25 May 1967 creating the blue print for Rinus Michels' total football, a continuation of Stein's free flowing attacking football.[43][44][45][46]
Total Football, which was invented by Dutch manager Rinus Michels in the 1970s, exposed the weaknesses of the Catenaccio system. Unlike previous systems, in Total Football, no out–field player is fixed in their nominal role; anyone can assume in the field the duties of an attacker, a midfielder or a defender, depending on the play. Due to players often switching positions with one another, man-marking strategies, such as catenaccio, were no longer effective at coping with this fluid system.[13][47][48][49] Despite previously losing out 4–1 to Milan in the 1969 European Cup Final, who were managed by Rocco, a manager known for his defensive catenaccio strategy,[50][51] in 1972, Michels' Ajax defeated Inter 2–0 in the European Cup final, and Dutch newspapers announced the "destruction of Catenaccio" at the hands of Total Football.[47][48][52] The following year, Ajax defeated Cesare Maldini's Milan 6–0 in the second leg of the European Super Cup, in a match in which the defensive catenaccio system employed by Milan was unable to stop Ajax, which saw the Dutch side win the title 6–1 on aggregate; this was the worst defeat for an Italian team in an UEFA competition final.[53]
As man-marking alone was insufficient to cope with the fluidity of total football, coaches consequently began to create a new tactical system that mixed man-marking with zonal defence in order to counter this strategy, which came to be known as zona mista ("mixed zone," in Italian), or gioco all'italiana ("gameplay in the Italian manner," in Italian), in Italian football, as it mixed elements of Italian catenaccio (man-marking) with elements of total football (zonal marking). Italian manager Giovanni Trapattoni, who had played under Rocco at Milan, and was initially influenced by Rocco's catenaccio system, was one of the main proponents of this system from the 1970s onwards, and used it to great success.[13][47][48]
Modern use of catenaccio
editDerivative defensive strategies
editHighly defensive structures with little attacking intent – which are colloquially often referred to as "anti-football" or "parking the bus," and which have been employed at times by managers such as José Mourinho and Diego Simeone – are often arbitrarily and incorrectly labelled as Catenaccio by pundits, managers, and players, but this deviates from the original design of the system; while catenaccio was similarly an organised system that involved tactical discipline and deep, heavy, and patient defending off – or even behind – the ball, it also made use of now obsolete man-to-man marking, a sweeper, who was tasked with protecting the back-line and also starting plays after winning back possession, as well as employing sudden counter–attacks to score goals.[54][55][56][57]
Italian football
editAlthough Catenaccio has still come to be associated with the Italy national side and Italian club teams, due to its historic association with Italian football, it is actually used quite infrequently by Serie A and Italy national teams in contemporary football, who instead currently prefer to apply balanced tactics and formations, mostly using the 5–3–2 or 3–5–2 system.[58] For example, under manager Cesare Prandelli, the Italy national team also initially used the 3–5–2 formation, which had been popularised by Juventus manager Antonio Conte throughout the previous Serie A season following his success in the league; although Prandelli used a ball–playing sweeper, he also used attacking wing-backs and a more offensive–minded approach with Italy. In their first two clashes of UEFA Euro 2012 Group C, the system resulted in two 1–1 draws against Spain and Croatia. He subsequently switched to a stylish attacking possession-based system using their 'standard' 4–4–2 diamond formation for the knockout stages; the switch proved to be effective, as the team went on to reach the final, where they suffered defeat to a similarly more offensive-minded Spain side, who used a possession–based strategy based on passing known as tiki-taka.[59][60][61][62] Rob Smyth of The Guardian was critical of Spain's striker–less formation and particular brand of tiki-taka at UEFA Euro 2012, however, believing that the lack of emphasis on the offensive aspect of the game led to fewer goals, and that the team's seemingly endless passing and preoccupation with ball–possession was in fact boring, dubbing it "Tiki-takanaccio," a reference to the defensive–minded catenaccio tactical system, despite the fact that tiki-taka had ironically originated from the more offensive minded Dutch total football strategy.[63] Prandelli did make use of a more organised and defensive 3–4–3 formation against Spain during the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup semi-final, however, attempting to stifle Spain's possession game by reducing spaces, and subsequently hitting them on the counter-attack; the system proved to be more effective, as Italy created several opportunities and were only eliminated on penalties following a goalless draw.[64][65]
Several of Italy's previous coaches, such as Cesare Maldini and Giovanni Trapattoni, used elements of catenaccio to a greater extent at international level,[66][67] and both failed to go far in the tournaments in which they took part; under Maldini, Italy lost on penalties to hosts France in the 1998 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals, following a 0–0 draw,[68] while Trapattoni lost early in the second round of the 2002 FIFA World Cup to co-hosts South Korea on a golden goal,[69] and subsequently suffered a first-round elimination at UEFA Euro 2004.[70]
Other Italian managers have often deviated from the catenaccio system, despite still employing aspects of the strategy into their gameplay, and maintaining a strong defensive unit. While Dino Zoff's 5–2–1–2 system initially largely differed from the more defensive-minded approach of his predecessors who were in charge of the Italy national side, by introducing younger players and adopting a more attractive and offensive-minded approach,[61][71][72] he also made use of a sweeper, a tight back-line, and put Catenaccio to good use for Italy in the semi-final of UEFA Euro 2000 against co-hosts Netherlands, when the team went down to ten men; despite coming under criticism in the media for his defensive playing style during the match, following a penalty shoot-out victory after a 0–0 draw, he secured a place in the final.[68][73][74][75][76] In the final, Italy only lost on the golden goal rule to France.[77][78]
Previously, Azeglio Vicini, on the other hand, had led Italy to the semi-finals of both UEFA Euro 1988 and the 1990 FIFA World Cup, on home soil, thanks to a more attractive, offensive-minded possession based system, which was combined with a solid back-line and elements of the Italian zona mista ("mixed zone," in Italian) approach (or "Gioco all'Italiana"), which was a cross between zonal marking and man-marking systems, such as catenaccio. Despite their more aggressive attacking approach under Vicini during the latter tournament, Italy initially struggled in the first round, before recovering their form in the knock-out stages, and produced small wins in five hard-fought games against defensive sides, in which they scored little but risked even less, totalling only seven goals for and none against leading up to the semi-finals of the competition. Italy would then lose a tight semi-final on penalties following a 1–1 draw with Argentina, due in no small part to a more defensive strategy from Carlos Bilardo, who then went on to lose the final 1–0 to a much more offensive-minded Germany side led by manager Franz Beckenbauer. Italy then claimed the bronze medal match with a 2–1 victory over England.[79][80][81][82][83][84]
Vicini's successor as the Italy national side's manager, Arrigo Sacchi, also attempted to introduce his more attacking–minded tactical philosophy, which had been highly successful with Milan, to the Italy national team; his tactics, which were inspired by Dutch total football, made use of an aggressive high-pressing system, which used a 4–4–2 formation, an attractive, fast, attacking, and possession-based playing style, and which also used innovative elements such as zonal marking and a high defensive line playing the offside trap, which largely deviated from previous systems in Italian football, despite still maintaining defensive solidity. Italy initially struggled to replicate the system successfully, however, and encountered mixed results: under Sacchi, Italy reached the final of the 1994 FIFA World Cup after a slow start, only to lose on penalties following a 0–0 draw with a defensive–minded Brazilian side, but later also suffered a first-round exit at Euro 1996.[85][86][87][88][89]
Previously, at the 1978 FIFA World Cup, Enzo Bearzot's Italian side also often adopted an attractive, offensive-minded possession game based on passing, creativity, movement, attacking flair, and technique, due to the individual skill of his players; the front three would also often change positions with one another, in order to disorient the opposing defenders. Italy finished the tournament in fourth place, a result they replicated two years later at UEFA Euro 1980 on home soil. At the 1982 FIFA World Cup, he instead adopted a more flexible and balanced tactical approach, which was based on the zona mista system, and which used a fluid 4–3–3 formation, with Gaetano Scirea as a sweeper, who held both defensive and creative duties. While the team were organised and highly effective defensively, they were also capable of getting forward and scoring from quick counter-attacks, or keeping possession when necessary. The system proved to be highly effective as Italy went on to win the title.[76][90][91] Bearzot's Italy side were also known for their solidity, aggression, and defensive strength, possessing a number of hard–tackling players in their team, such as midfielder Marco Tardelli, and defenders Claudio Gentile and Giuseppe Bergomi.[92] Gentile, who served as the team's stopper, or man-marking centre-back, gained a degree of infamy in the media for his highly physical man-marking of Diego Maradona in Italy's second-round match against Argentina; although controversial, the strategy proved to be effective as Gentile essentially nullified the Argentine playmaker's impact on the game, with Italy winning the match 2–1.[93]
Similarly, although Italy successfully used a more offensive-minded approach under manager Marcello Lippi during the 2006 FIFA World Cup, which saw a record ten of the team's 23 players find the back of the net, with the side scoring 12 goals in total as they went on to claim the title, the team's organised back-line only conceded two goals, neither of which came in open play.[94][95] Notwithstanding their more attacking minded playing style throughout the tournament, when Italy was reduced to ten men in the 50th minute of the 2nd round match against Australia, following Marco Materazzi's red card, coach Lippi changed the Italians' formation to a defensive orientation which caused the British newspaper The Guardian to note that "the timidity of Italy's approach had made it seem that Helenio Herrera, the high priest of Catenaccio, had taken possession of the soul of Marcello Lippi." The ten-man team was playing with a 4–3–2 scheme, just a midfielder away from the team's regular 4–4–2 system. In a tightly-contested match, Italy went on to keep a clean sheet and earned a 1–0 victory through a controversial injury-time penalty.[96]
During his tenure with the Italy national team, Conte returned to Italy's traditional tactical roots, adopting a more organised, defensive-minded, counter-attacking approach, due to the perceived lack of talent in the side at the time, as well as injuries to key players. He used a fluid 3–5–2 formation at UEFA Euro 2016, in which the wide midfielders or wingbacks effectively functioned as wingers in a 3–3–4 formation when attacking, and as fullbacks in a 5–3–2 formation when defending behind the ball.[97][98][99] Conte's tactics proved to be effective as Italy reached the quarter-finals, only losing out to Germany on penalties.[100][101][102][103][104][105] However, despite the team's defensive solidity, he refuted claims in the media that the team's style of play was based on catenaccio, in particular following Italy's offensive displays in their 2–0 victory over defending champions Spain in the round of 16.[106][107][108]
During Italy's victorious UEFA Euro 2020 campaign, Roberto Mancini – who once had a reputation for being a more defensive-minded and pragmatic manager – instead built on the work of Maurizio Viscidi at youth level, as well as Maurizio Sarri, Roberto De Zerbi and Gian Piero Gasperini in Serie A, using a 4–3–3 formation and an attractive, attacking style based on fluid passing in possession – built around the gameplay of the midfield trio of Marco Verratti, Jorginho and Nicolò Barella – and energetic pressing and counterpressing out of possession. En route to winning the title, Mancini's side broke the record for most goals scored by an Italian side during a major international tournament.[109][110][111][112]
Other examples
editHowever, Catenaccio in its purer form has also had its share of success stories in recent years.[113]
German coach Otto Rehhagel used a similarly defensive approach for his Greece side in UEFA Euro 2004, with the team defending deeply behind the ball, and putting pressure on their opponents, while Traianos Dellas operated as a sweeper behind the back-line. Under Rehhagel, Greece surprisingly went on to win the tournament, despite Greece being considered as underdogs prior to the competition.[113][114][115][116] Despite strong emphasis on defence, only one Greek game went into extra time, which the Greeks won with a Golden goal by Traianos Dellas.
Trapattoni himself also successfully employed aspects of the system in securing a Portuguese Liga title with Benfica in 2005 – the club's first in 11 years[113][117] – and had also successfully used elements of the strategy in his gioco all'Italiana or zona mista tactical system with several Italian clubs throughout his career, which blended aspects of zonal marking from Dutch total football with aspects of man-marking found in Italian catenaccio.[117][118]
In contrast to previous editions of the tournament, during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, several teams found success against opponents who dominated possession by adopting a more defensive style and instead maintaining a deep, disciplined, and narrow defensive line, while also looking to score on counter-attacks.[119][120]
Legacy
editAlthough pure catenaccio is no longer as commonplace in Italian football, the stereotypical association of ruthless defensive tactics with the Serie A and the Italy national team continues to be perpetuated by foreign media, particularly with the predominantly Italian defences of A.C. Milan of the 1990s and Juventus from the 2010s onwards being in the spotlight.[121] Rob Bagchi wrote in British newspaper The Guardian: "Italy has also produced defenders with a surplus of ability, composure and intelligence. For every Gentile there was an Alessandro Nesta."[122] Critics and foreign footballers who have played in the Serie A have described Italian defenders as being "masters of the dark arts"[123][124][125] motivated by a Machiavellian philosophy of winning a game at all costs by cunning and calculating methods.[126] Historian John Foot summed up the mentality: "...the tactics are a combination of subtlety and brutality. [...] The 'tactical foul' is a way of life for Italian defenders".[127]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Elbech, Søren Florin. "Background on the Intertoto Cup". Mogiel.net (Pawel Mogielnicki). Retrieved 14 May 2012.
- ^ Andy Gray with Jim Drewett. Flat Back Four: The Tactical Game. Macmillan Publishers Ltd, London, 1998.
- ^ Sahu, Amogha (2 August 2011). "World Football: The 5 Greatest Tactical Innovations in Football History". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ Chatterjee, Jayeek (9 January 2015). "Football Tactics For Beginners: Catenaccio". thefalse9.com. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d Wilson, Jonathan (2009). Inverting The Pyramid: The History of Soccer Tactics. London: Orion. pp. 159–66. ISBN 978-1-56858-963-3. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ Wilson, Jonathan (8 June 2008). "The end of forward thinking". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ Martin, Jay (2012). The Best of Soccer Journal: An NSCAA Guide to Soccer Coaching Excellence. London: Maidenhead: Meyer & Meyer Sport. pp. 69–71. ISBN 978-1-84126-329-8. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ "Alfonso Aparicio: santo y seña del Atlético de Madrid". martiperarnau.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ Fernando Nogueras (14 April 2020). "Vida y obra del catenaccio (III) La historia de Helenio Herrera". Soy Calcio (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ Ginés, Guillermo (3 June 2015). "Helenio Herrera. El 'mago' que inventó el catenaccio". Football Citizens (in European Spanish). Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ a b c Grandi storie. L'allenatore. Pp. 2. Storie di Calcio Archived 11 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Andrea Schianchi (2 November 2014). "Nereo Rocco, l'inventore del catenaccio che diventò Paròn d'Europa" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Storie di schemi: l'evoluzione della tattica" (in Italian). Storie di Calcio. 24 December 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ "Nereo Rocco" (in Italian). Storie di Calcio. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- ^ Damiani, Lorenzo. "Gipo Viani, l'inventore del "Vianema" che amava il vizio e scoprì Rivera". Il Giornale (in Italian). Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ Chichierchia, Paolo (8 April 2013). "Piccola Storia della Tattica: la nascita del catenaccio, il Vianema e Nereo Rocco, l'Inter di Foni e di Herrera (IV parte)" (in Italian). mondopallone.it. Archived from the original on 20 August 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ Brigante, Giuseppe. "LAVAGNA TATTICA, il catenaccio all'italiana" (in Italian). Invasore di Campo. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ "Genoa: Top 11 All Time" (in Italian). Storie di Calcio. 9 August 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ^ cbcsports.com 1962 Chile
- ^ fifa.com Intercontinental Cup 1969
- ^ "What Nereo Rocco would say about AC Milan and the Azzurri". Calciomercato. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- ^ "El Paròn Nereo Rocco, l'allenatore della prima Coppa Campioni" (in Italian). Pianeta Milan. 20 May 2019. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- ^ Fontana, Mattia (12 August 2014). "La storia della tattica: dal Catenaccio al calcio totale" (in Italian). Eurosport. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ "Il Padova di Nereo Rocco: La Leggenda del Santo Catenaccio" (in Italian). Storie di Calcio. 26 November 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ Aquè, Federico (25 March 2020). "Breve storia del catenaccio" (in Italian). Ultimo Uomo. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ "Helenio Herrera: More than just catenaccio". FIFA. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
- ^ "Mazzola: Inter is my second family". FIFA. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
- ^ "La leggenda della Grande Inter" [The legend of the Grande Inter] (in Italian). Inter.it. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
- ^ "La Grande Inter: Helenio Herrera (1910-1997) – "Il Mago"" (in Italian). Sempre Inter. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
- ^ "Great Team Tactics: Breaking Down Helenio Herrera's 'La Grande Inter'". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
- ^ Fox, Norman (11 November 1997). "Obituary: Helenio Herrera – Obituaries, News". The Independent. UK. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
- ^ "Helenio Herrera: The Innovator Who Single-Handedly Changed the Beautiful Game". Sports Illustrated. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- ^ "Profilo: Helenio Herrera" (in Italian). UEFA. 4 September 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- ^ Smyth, Rob; Murray, Scott (25 October 2016). "World Cup final 1970: Brazil v Italy – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ Brian Glanville (5 November 2005). "Obituary: Ferruccio Valcareggi". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
- ^ Molinaro, John F. (21 November 2009). "1970 World Cup: Pele takes his final bow". CBC Sports. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ "VALCAREGGI Ferruccio: una vita nel pallone" (in Italian). storiedicalcio.altervista.org. 9 February 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ Viner, Brian (13 July 2009). "Great Sporting Moments: Brazil 4 Italy 1, 1970 World Cup final". The Independent. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ "Ferruccio VALCAREGGI (I)" (in Italian). magliarossonera.it. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ CROSETTI, MAURIZIO (3 November 2005). "Esce Mazzola, entra Rivera così la staffetta ha fatto storia". La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ BRERA, GIANNI (30 May 1986). "VIGILIA MUNDIAL PENSANDO AL ' 70". La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ "CALCIO - LA STORIA DEL CALCIO" (in Italian). Treccani: Enciclopedia dello Sport. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ Barham, Albert (25 May 1967). "Relentless attack captures European Cup". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
- ^ Forsyth, Roddy (15 May 2001). "Murdoch the true Lionheart". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
- ^ "LOCAL HEROES: THE LISBON LIONS". Chris Hunt. June 2007. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
- ^ "Celtic win European Cup 1967". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ^ a b c Liew, Jonathan (27 November 2015). "From 2-3-5 to gegenpress: how football's tactical fads have come and gone". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ^ a b c Siregar, Cady (13 December 2018). "What is Total Football? Famous tactics explained: the clubs, countries & players to use it". Goal.com. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ^ Wilson, Jonathan (23 December 2009). "The Question: How will football tactics develop over the next decade?". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ^ "Milan 4–1 Ajax". UEFA. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ^ "Il mondo ai piedi del Milan di Rocco". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ^ "1972 final highlights: Ajax 2-0 Inter". UEFA. 25 January 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ^ "Ajax enjoy early success". UEFA. Archived from the original on 3 March 2008. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
- ^ Wilson, Jonathan (22 September 2009). "The Question: Could the sweeper be on his way back?". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
- ^ Chakraborty, Abhishek (2 June 2012). "The beauty of 'Catenaccio' style of Football". Sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ Zico (7 June 2010). "Catenaccio rules!". sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ Lahm, Philipp (28 May 2021). "Manchester City and Chelsea continue to learn the lessons of Sacchi's revolution". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 28 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- ^ Will Tidey (8 August 2012). "4-2-3-1 Is the New Normal, but Is Serie A's 3-5-2 the Antidote?". BleacherReport.com. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- ^ Fleming, Scott (26 June 2012). "Prandelli's revolution". Football Italia. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
- ^ Hayward, Paul (29 June 2012). "Euro 2012: Cesare Prandelli gets Italy playing with as much heart as head to reach final against Spain". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
- ^ a b "L'Italia che cambia: per ogni ct c'è un modulo diverso" (in Italian). sport.sky.it. 20 December 2016. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
- ^ "Napolitano a Prandelli "Se andava via mi sarei arrabbiato" –" (in Italian). La Repubblica online, www.repubblica.it. 2 July 2012. Archived from the original on 3 July 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
- ^ Smyth, Rob (30 June 2012). "Euro 2012: Spain wear tag of boring for lack of excitement and goals". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- ^ Lopresti, Sam (25 June 2016). "Italy and Spain Renew Rivalry in 1st Euro 2016 Knockout Round". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ Zucker, Joseph (27 June 2013). "Confederations Cup 2013 Results: Score and Highlights from Spain vs. Italy". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ "Mondiali: Trapattoni, "Catenaccio"? Noi giochiamo così..." [World Cup: Trapattoni, "Catenaccio"? We play that way...] (in Italian). ADNKronos. 4 June 2002. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
- ^ Foot, John (24 August 2007). Winning at All Costs: A Scandalous History of Italian Soccer. Nation Books. p. 481. ISBN 9781568586526.
- ^ a b Bortolotti, Adalberto; D'Orsi, Enzo; Dotto, Matteo; Ricci, Filippo Maria. "CALCIO - COMPETIZIONI PER NAZIONALI" (in Italian). Treccani: Enciclopedia dello Sport (2002). Retrieved 26 February 2020.
- ^ Vincenzi, Massimo (19 June 2002). "Vieri la star Maldini il peggiore". La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- ^ "Cassano's last-gasp winner all for nought as Trapattoni pays price for early exit". The Guardian. 23 June 2004. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
- ^ Veltroni, Walter (12 September 2015). "Zoff: "Berlusconi, Bearzot e Totti. Vi svelo tutto"". Il Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 26 February 2020.
- ^ "Juventus rallies around stricken legend Dino Zoff". The Score. 28 November 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
- ^ Giancarlo Mola (29 June 2000). "Italia, finale da leggenda Olanda spreca e va fuori" (in Italian). La Repubblica. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
- ^ Casert, Raf (30 June 2000). "Pele picks France in Euro final". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
- ^ MARCO E. ANSALDO (18 May 1990). "SUBITO LIBERO DA QUESTA JUVE". La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 9 March 2017.
- ^ a b ANDREA COCCHI (8 July 2012). "Bearzot, un genio della tattica" (in Italian). Mediaset. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
- ^ "2000, Italia battuta in finale. L'Europeo alla Francia". Il Sole 24 Ore (in Italian). Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ Ivan Speck (4 July 2000). "Zoff resigned after attack from Berlusconi". espnfc.com. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
- ^ MURA, GIANNI (13 October 1991). "L' ITALIA S' ARRENDE E VICINI DICE ADDIO". La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 19 February 2020.
- ^ BOCCA, FABRIZIO (31 January 2018). "E' morto Azeglio Vicini, ex ct della Nazionale di calcio". La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 19 February 2020.
- ^ "La storia della Nazionale ai Mondiali" (in Italian). FIGC. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
- ^ Glanville, Brian (2018). The Story of the World Cup. Faber and Faber. p. 326. ISBN 978-0-571-32556-6.
After half-time, the game grew harsher, when Klaus Augenthaler was blantanly tripped in the box by Goycoecha, Germany had far stronger claims for a penalty than that which won the match. Sensini bought down Völler in the area Codesal gave a penalty, Argentina protested furiously, and seemed to have a pretty good case.
- ^ Scime, Miguel (7 June 2018). "Por qué el penal más polémico de los Mundiales fue un error en Italia 1990 y hoy no sería cuestionado". Infobae (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ Jones, Grahame L. (28 April 1994). "Losers Cried Foul : Bad Game in '90 Cup Final Might End Up Good for Game". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ "Sacchi to take over at Parma". ESPN.com Soccernet. 9 January 2001. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- ^ Vincenzi, Massimo (26 June 2000). "I ct degli altri sport difendono l'Italia di Zoff". La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 26 February 2020.
- ^ "Gli italiani si dividono tra Zoff e Sacchi". La Repubblica (in Italian). 16 June 2000. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
- ^ CATALANO, ANDREA (23 March 2018). "USA 94 E L'ITALIA DI ARRIGO SACCHI" (in Italian). rivistacontrasti.it. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
- ^ Schianchi, Andrea (28 May 2014). "È il Mondiale del Codino. I miracoli e le lacrime". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 26 February 2020.
- ^ "Bearzot: 'Football is first and foremost a game'". FIFA. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
- ^ Brian Glanville (21 December 2010). "Enzo Bearzot obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
- ^ "Top 50 Hardest Footballers". The Times. 13 August 2007. Archived from the original on 19 October 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- ^ Hirshey, David; Bennett, Roger (29 April 2010). "Soccer isn't for ballerinas". ESPN FC. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ "Italy of '06 in numbers". FIFA. 1 July 2016. Archived from the original on 20 May 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- ^ "Italy conquer the world as Germany wins friends". FIFA. 28 May 2007. Archived from the original on 14 May 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- ^ Williams, Richard (27 June 2006). "Totti steps up to redeem erratic Italy". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
- ^ Ducker, James (15 June 2016). "Italy hail the new 'special one' Antonio Conte". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
- ^ Horncastle, James (21 June 2016). "Italy's start to Euro 2016 shows you should never underestimate them". ESPN FC. Archived from the original on 10 July 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
- ^ Bull, J. J. (11 June 2016). "Euro 2016 tactics: Italy go back to basics with focus on defence". The Telegraph. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ Marcotti, Gabriele (13 June 2016). "Antonio Conte's scheme works as Italy beat Belgium, but it wasn't perfect". ESPN FC. Archived from the original on 15 June 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
- ^ Macintosh, Iain (13 June 2016). "Antonio Conte guides Italy to tactical masterclass over Belgium". ESPN FC. Archived from the original on 14 June 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
- ^ Moore, Glenn (27 June 2016). "Italy vs Spain Euro 2016 reaction: Antonio Conte hails his Azzurri side despite 'not the rosiest period in talent'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
- ^ Bull, JJ (2 July 2016). "How Antonio Conte made Italy genuine Euro 2016 contenders". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
- ^ John Robertson (24 June 2016). "4 ways Antonio Conte can implement his Italian style at Chelsea". FourFourTwo. Archived from the original on 20 August 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
- ^ Bull, JJ (2 July 2016). "Germany vs Italy, Euro 2016: Germans win the shootout after Bonucci penalty cancels out Ozil opener". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
- ^ "Conte: 'Italy not Catenaccio!' - Football Italia". football-italia.net. 27 June 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ Lowe, Sid (26 June 2016). "Italy v Spain: a blood-stained rivalry that may be about to spill over again". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ "Horncastle: Italy Conte's greatest test". ESPN.com. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ Askew, Joshua (18 July 2021). "How did Roberto Mancini's new-look Italy win Euro 2020?". holdingmidfield.com. Holding Midfield. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ Bandini, Nicky (10 June 2021). "Renaissance man: how Mancini turned Italy from mess to winning machine". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- ^ "Mancini: 'No more defensive Italy". Football Italia. 5 February 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ Marcotti, Gabriele (12 July 2021). "Mancini promised Italy change. And he delivered". ESPN.com. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ a b c Charlie Eccleshare (17 October 2017). "As Napoli bring 'Sarri-ball' to Man City, a glossary of football's tactical systems". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ Tosatti, Giorgio (5 July 2004). "La Grecia nel mito del calcio. Con il catenaccio" [Greece in the football legends. With Catenaccio]. Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 19 April 2013.
- ^ "Traianos Dellas". BBC Sport. 26 May 2004. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ^ Hughes, Rob (3 July 2004). "EURO 2004: The stylish Portuguese face Greeks' dark art of defense". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ^ a b "GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI: l'allenatore-icona. Biografia e aneddoti" (in Italian). Pianeta Milan. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ "Giovanni Trapattoni: A Career of 2 Halves That Defined the Golden Era of Calcio at Juventus". Sports Illustrated. 12 August 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ Davis, Toby (3 July 2018). "Possession no longer the law for achieving World Cup success". Reuters. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- ^ Tweedale, Alistair (2 July 2018). "Why possession football is having less impact at the 2018 World Cup". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- ^ David Hytner (17 December 2012). "Santi Cazorla's hat-trick at Reading gives Arsène Wenger breathing space". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
- ^ Rob, Bagchi (4 June 2008). "Dark arts and cool craft of Italy's defensive fraternity". The Guardian.
- ^ Smith, Rory (2010). Mister: The men who taught the world how to beat England at their own game. Simon & Schuster.
- ^ Malyon, Ed (14 June 2016). "Belgium 0-2 Italy: Azzurri stun Red Devils in Lyon thriller - 5 things we learned". Daily Mirror.
- ^ Ridley, Ian (9 October 1997). "Football: Sheringham reveals Italy's dark arts". The Independent.
- ^ Garganese, Carlo (4 March 2014). "Four World Cups and 28 European trophies - why are Italy the most successful football nation in history?". Goal.com.
- ^ Foot, John (2010). Calcio: A History of Italian Football. Harper Perennial.
Notes
edit- Giulianotti, Richard, Football: A Sociology of the Global Game. London: Polity Press 2000. ISBN 0-7456-1769-7