In international football it is not even to just have great players. With the cat and mouse game of keeping possession of the ball, to be successful a team also has to have great tactics.
England bosses have occassionly had a problem with getting their specific tactical instructions over to their players as the quotes below display.
“There are two ways of getting the ball. One is from your own team-mates, and that’s the only way.”
Terry Venables
“I do want to play the short ball and I do want to play the long ball. I think long and short balls is what football is all about.”
Bobby Robson
“We changed to a back four and went 4-4-3.”
Glenn Hoddle
“Everybody says Steve McManaman played on the left for me in Euro 96 but he never played on the left. The one time he did play on the left was against Switzerland.”
Terry Venables
“I have a number of alternatives, and each one gives me something different.”
Glenn Hoddle
“The substitute is about to come on – he’s a player who was left out of the starting line-up today.”
Kevin Keegan
“Football’s always easier when you’ve got the ball.”
Kevin Keegan
“Players only understand substitutions when they become managers.”
Bobby Robson
“Their football was exceptionally good – and they played some good football.”
Bobby Robson
“They can’t change any of their players, but they have changed one of their players and that’s the coach.”
Bobby Robson
“It’s no longer an 11 man game.”
Kevin Keegan
England managers on referees and the rules
England managers on tactics
England managers on the anatomy
England managers wise words to inspire their players
England managers getting their clichés confused
England managers knowledge of Geography
England managers knowledge of Maths
England managers on their players
England managers thinking unclearly