Football is often referred to as the beautiful game, one which continually gets taken to new levels of technicality and skill.

England, for example, as the inventors and supposed masters of the game, found to their cost at Wembley back in 1953 that football was a fast developing sport. The way in which Ferenc Puskas and his Hungarian teammates tore into the home side in a 6-3 mauling brought a whole new realisation to the shores, that football had been stepped up a gear.

It enlightened the English game, helping to improve it vastly, certainly giving the national side the kick start it needed to erase the air of false arrogance of “we invented the game so are obviously the best at it, and will stick to our negative, out of date style”.

The 1960’s and 70’s were predominant for the evolution of the game, with Brazil glorifying the offensive style, tearing into sides with raw skill and brilliance, exciting audiences across the globe will their all out attacking play. The likes of Zito, Garrincha, and more notoriously Pele, demonstrated how easy football can be on the eye, seemingly brushing past sides with ease, with more than an air of class.

The South Americans weren’t alone with supplying a fresh impetus. Two words. Total football. Maybe the Dutch master-class took some tips from the Brazilian’s, but, Johan Cruyff certainly envisaged a very special method of play. Under the guidance of Rinus Michels, the Orange Army reached the final of the 1974 World Cup after seeing off past masters Brazil, and Argentina along the way.

Puskas helped to change the face of the English game

After retiring, Johan Cruyff dabbled in management, rather successfully it has to be said, and, like in his playing days, attempted to adopt the unique ‘total football’ approach. Rumour has it, that while at the helm of Dutch giants Ajax, Cruyff knew no boundaries, reportedly playing a young Dennis Bergkamp as a defender in training, to give him a better perspective of the game.

Football can be a game of skill, something which is a beautiful spectacle when contested in such ways as the above

Indeed, 5-a-side soccer and 6-a-side football, when played at a high standard, is a skill. The Leisure League national tournament clearly demonstrates this, with the elite 6-a-side football sides coming from across the length and breath of the British Isles to compete for honours.

Six a-side football is obviously played in a more compact arena. Indeed there is definitely a certain element of skill in engineering space, becoming available for that pass which can create a match defining goal.

However, more often than not, the beautiful game is not all that pleasing on the eye. Teams come prepared with a game plan, to stifle the opposition, stop them playing and grind out a battling point. It is seem across the country, continent, in every league at any level.

And what is wrong with it? Teams play to their strengths. Not every club, has the ability to splash out millions of pounds on the next Fabregas, who can pick a pass from virtually anywhere on the pitch. Sure, he is a joy to watch, but then on the other hand, a side who can successfully tactically stifle this kind of player deserve an element of credit.

Look at the masters of the defensive game, the Italians. The national side have an illustrious history, having being crowned World Champions four times added to a solitary European Championship in 1968 – at the first attempt. Cruyff once infamously stated “Italians can’t defeat you, but you can lose to them.” Read into that what you will, but it suggests, albeit indirectly, that they are tactically admirable. Well it may do anyhow.

If there is a considerably skill-full individual lining up for the opposition at your local 6-a-side football league, then to mark them out of the game, deny any opportunity on the ball, is admirable.
Johan Cruyff - A masterclass

So if a side goes to Old Trafford for example, doubles up on Wayne Rooney, stops the ball reaching the home sides threats, and comes away with an invaluable point, instead of criticising, have a think about how whichever manager it happens to be, has triumphed in a tactical battle.

It’s not just in a defensive sense that teams can be accused of playing a ‘dull’ game. Lumping the ball up to a bulky target man often has its critics. Stoke City for example, have been targeted for their long throws ins. Ok, so it doesn’t make for a masterpiece that is often displayed by Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal, but how many times have they come away from the Britannia Stadium in recent years with nothing to show for their efforts? Added to the fact that numerous teams from across the Football League have also discovered that one of their players has a big throw, the Potters could be earmarked as trend setters of their own.

Everyone has great admiration for football when it is played in the most attacking of ways, with fast, fluent passes, accompanied with nice touches and great vision. However, every team will play to their strengths, and if that is playing a long ball to a target man, then so be it. If it isn’t your cup of tea, then turn off your TV or stop going to the games – then again, you’re not really a fan of football, just the nice on the eye stuff.

Alex Z