4-2-3-1 is the key for winning World Cup formula (Feature)

By Sebastian Stiekel Jun 11, 2010, 9:58 GMT

Bloemfontein, South Africa - The World Cup appears wide open and there is as much uncertainty about the winning formula.

Football fans would love a Barcelona/Spain-like attacking game to prevail on July 11. Tacticians would probably enjoy a Inter Milan/Italy-like game based on a masterful defence.

Both game plans have enjoyed success on the big stage with Spain winning Euro 2008 and Barca the Champions League in 2009. Italy took World Cup honours in 2006 and Inter the Champions League three weeks ago.

'I hope that we will see fast attacking football,' said coach Guus Hiddink, who failed to qualify with Russia.

The key element in both game plans is a 4-2-3-1 formation which a majority of teams will be using at the tournament.

Even the traditional attacking powers of Brazil and Netherlands are looking at a safety net in midfield, and Germany will do the same.

'We want to to dominate and pressure the opponent not simply through running and fighting,' said coach Joachim Loew.

The key player in this new era is the classic number 6, the defensive midfielder.

But while the defensive midfielder in the past has purely tried to keep the opposing playmaker at bay over 90 minutes, the player has now become the central player of the game himself, or with a partner by keeping the opposition at bay and setting off the own attack.

The Dutch have Mark van Bommel and Nigel de Jong, Brazil Gilberto Silva and Felipe Melo, and Germany Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira for this crucial role.

'The team which rules the centre controls the game,' said Schalke coach Felix Magath. Germany chief scout Urs Siegenthaler said that 'creativity can only come from order.'

However, in the end it is still up to the coach to show his players the game plan.

Many observers have blamed Diego Maradona for the fact that Lionel Messi isn't as good in the Argentina shirt as for Barcelona, because he doesn't know what he is supposed to do on the pitch.

Messi also doesn't have the same skillful team-mates as in the club for the awesome attacking game, as Barca's Brazilian Dani Alves said on Thursday.

'I do not want to be disrespectful but there is no comparison between the Barcelona team and the Argentine one. When he (Messi) plays for Barcelona he is alongside players who are on his level,' said Alves.