With the spectacular signing of Yohan Cabaye completed last month, Crystal Palace FC added a marquee name to a squad that has racked up some impressive victories over the past two seasons. The deal broke Palace’s previous transfer fee record and was an impressive combination of three factors: the new TV money empowering mid-table Premier League teams, the lure of London and Palace’s clear ambitions.

The Frenchman’s skill and creativity will complement the talent already found in the heart of the Eagles midfield. The introduction of such a technically gifted player to the center of the park will also enable Palace to switch play reliably, spreading the ball wide to the club’s excellent corps of wingers. This still misses a key area of the pitch however, an area that Palace has been glaringly lacking in since their promotion in 2013, the penalty area.

For all their dazzling wing play and despite signing Connor Wickham this week, Palace still need to find a reliable striker to lead the line. Since returning to the Premier League, the club has seen its top league scorer finish with a grand total of seven goals. Dwight Gayle and Jason Puncheon shared the dubious honor in the 2013-14 season and Glenn Murray managed his seven in the following season. Given that Palace enjoys the services of some of the Premier League’s best true wingers, it makes sense that the club has continued to hunt around for a decent target man, Murray fits the bill in size and skill but has been hampered by injuries and is 31 years old. Marouane Chamakh is definitely not good enough for the Premier League, while Wickham can be too selfish in front of goals at times.

To fill the void in the penalty box, Palace need look no further than west London. Queens Park Rangers forward Charlie Austin has entered the last year of his contract and is currently rejecting Rangers’ offer of a new deal. Palace would not be the only club in the hunt for Austin’s signature. Aston Villa, Newcastle United and West Ham United are all circling in the hopes of driving down QPR’s £15 million valuation. For a promising striker entering the prime of his career, Crystal Palace is definitely the best of the potential moves on offer. Though perhaps lacking the reputation of more established Premier League clubs, the Eagles are one of the few sides that have managed to maintain a consistently upward trajectory. They have a stable and ambitious chairman, a manager who may be arrogant but has delivered consistent results and are enhancing their squad rather than reconfiguring to the style of a new manager.

For his part, Austin made much out of mediocre service at Loftus Road last season. Over his entire career, spanning non-league to Premier League, he has maintained a slightly better than 1-in-2 goal scoring average. Beyond his penalty box prowess the relentless athleticism that dragged defenses apart last season would benefit the likes of Yannick Bolasie, Wilfred Zaha and Jason Puncheon. Likewise Austin, excellent in the air and as a poacher, would fill his boots off the service of a midfield that loves to drive to the end line. With Charlie Austin leading the line Crystal Palace could easily find themselves lifting a cup or preparing for European football in 2016.

During the summer leading up to the 2014-15 season, Roberto Martinez recognized that Everton did not have the squad to meet the new challenges of the coming season. It had been six years since the Toffees had competed in Europe and Martinez was fully aware that his team, particularly the aging defense, would be put under immense strain. The Europa League is infamous for destroying a club’s league form; tougher travel, more games, and later midweek scheduling add serious hurdles to the marathon Premier League season.

Knowing this, Martinez was open about hoping to add at least six but potentially eight new players to the squad. By the time the window shut in August, Everton had five new players. Two of those players were Gareth Barry and Romelu Lukaku, both of whom had spent the previous season on loan at the club. Only one of those signings, nineteen-year-old Brendan Galloway, was a defender.

Heading into a crucial sophomore season, Martinez gambled on one big money signing (the club-record $43 million paid to Chelsea for Romelu Lukaku) and lost. Everton made the round of sixteen in the Europa League, found early exits in both domestic cups and finished 11th back home in the Premier League, winning only 12 matches all season. More worryingly was the goals against column, which had gone from 39 in 2013-14 to 50 in 2014-15.

It is a huge blessing for a manager to inherit a cohesive, experienced defensive unit but it is also vital for a manager to anticipate that unit’s eventual decline and have successors in place. Martinez is very vocal in his advocacy for youth development and bringing players all the way through the academy to the first team. That dedication to youth, along with a blind spot in transfer policy, has put Everton into a precarious position heading in the 2015-16 season. The mainstays of Martinez’s back four are mostly over-30, the only current starter under-30 (other than 21-year-old John Stones) is Seamus Coleman, a player who is constantly in danger of being snatched away by a top four club. The club’s most experienced defender, Sylvain Distain, moved on this summer and leaves behind a center back role to be filled by youth players with little-to-no experience of top flight football except for England international Stones.

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Martinez has always been a manager known for his open, attacking football and in his debut season at Everton the faithful were treated to some truly outstanding displays. For all his talents however, Martinez had never been able to set out a team to defend a game. The resilience shown by Everton in his debut season appears more and more to be a lingering Moyes-ian stoutness imbued in the veteran players.

Wigan under Martinez were always a favorite of the neutrals. Their smooth passing game brought the plaudits and eventually an FA Cup. It also brought them three straight relegation battles before eventually going down in a blaze of glory holding the FA Cup. Martinez continues to insist that he is building up Everton with the longview in mind, which is all well and good. However without adding more experience and depth to his squad, particularly the defense, Everton and Martinez could be facing some harsh realities in the short term.

Start with a bang, end with a sigh. In the penalty shootout defeat to Argentina in the semi-final the Netherlands can be proud they managed to contain the opposition defensively without so many fouls this time but were again found wanting when the ball crossed the halfway line.

Given their group, the indifferent form of key players (bar Arjen Robben), the relative youth of the squad, and arched eyebrows cast at the posturing of Louis Van Gaal, it’s difficult to look back and pinpoint exactly what the expectations were when the tournament began. Some pegged them to be one of the shock early exits, most didn’t expect them to get much farther if they did make it out of the group. Thrashing Spain and a run to the semi-finals was not on the cards.

With all the power of hindsight about this Dutch campaign I’ve become increasingly convinced of two things. The first is that most of the preparation for this tournament focused entirely on beating Spain. The surprise system that Van Gaal rolled out in their opening match worked flawlessly, the players were clearly well drilled but it helped immensely that Spain hasn’t varied their game at all since 2008.

After that game Van Gaal only continued with the system on the insistence of his players, high on the confidence only available to those who hand the kings their collective head. Each game saw the system be less and less successful, usually abandoned in the second half while on the fly adjustments were made, the fact that the Dutch were often flying by the seat of their pants makes the appearance in the semi-final even more impressive.

The second thing casts King Louis in a slightly less flattering light when it comes to handing out the genius label. When picking his 23 man squad (of which he used 22) he was extremely overconfident with his attacking options. The bold choices of younger players that made up the backline and some of the midfield were tempered by a front line on the wane. Aside from the potentially superhuman Robben, the other leading lights of the Golden Triangle had uneven or downright depressing tournaments.

During every game in this tournament I found myself wishing that Wesley Sneijder would be subbed out. It never happened because there wasn’t a equal/better option on the bench. With Sneijder a shadow of his former self there was zero creativity to this side, the final two matches combined for 240 minutes of sideways dreck, interrupted only when the ball found it’s way to Robben’s feet. Van Gaal brought younger options at every position except No. 10 and that is entirely his fault. Though they don’t have the name recognition of Sneijder but surely Siem de Jong or Davy Klaassen could have brought a spark to that dour midfield.

Still, this deep run will provide great experience for the younger players, a few of whom will  likely make up the starting XI for the next decade or so. Daley Blind, Daryl Janmaat, Stefan de Vrij, Jordy Clasie, Memphis Depay. They all showed promise in Brazil and hopefully Guus Hiddink and Danny Blind view the qualifications for Euro 2016 as an opportunity to reshape this team, moving away from such a reactive style  and bring back some of the magic that made previous generations of the clockwork Oranje tick.

The Round of 16 is over, the optimism and joyous attacking play of the group stage have given way to the need for ruthless precision and unyielding determination. Though we saw teams depart the tournament in the group stage those are exits we could often see coming, make our peace and begin to figure out where it went wrong. Knockout football, on the other hand, is one of the most physically, psychologically and spiritually grueling experiences around, just ask Miguel Herrera.

In the relentless sun Costa Rica and the Netherlands fought for and won the right to fight again, to step back out into the heat and give everything to get that much closer to the dream. The roar of the Maracana and the trophy lifted high.

In the controversial wake of the Netherlands 2-1 defeat of Mexico the debate over Arjen Robben’s penalty box behavior has given way to questions about Miguel Herrera’s in-game decisions and Louis Van Gaal’s judicial use of the water breaks to make necessary adjustments.

Van Gaal is being rightly praised for his reading of the game, continually upping the pressure as it became increasingly clear that Herrera had tipped his hand early, the removal of Dos Santos a clear indicator that the Mexican manager believed they could sit on the 1- 0 lead for the last 30 mins. Starting in the 3-5-2 they’ve used for most of the tournament, the Dutch slowly shifted between several loose formations, the ultimate goal being to stretch the Mexican defense, create gaps and give the ball to Robben on the right to dash into the box.

While Herrera is being criticized for his in-game decisions, the fact is that Van Gaal made the wrong choice for the start. Due to the weather I believe the Dutch had always planned to conserve energy and soak up pressure but the rotated 3-5-2 was the wrong choice. Since the opener against Spain it has become clear that Van Gaal meant it when he said he had planned to use the system for that game only. Each successive game has seen the Dutch abandon the formation around the half, moving to either a 4-3-3 or as against Mexico, a series of tactical shell games to keep Robben free.

Against Costa Rica I fully expect the Oranje to take the field in a 4-3-3 from the start.   Before the tournament began the talk mainly focused on the young backline as the Dutch weakness however watching them play it has become glaringly obvious that the achilles heel of this team is the lack of creativity in the center of the park. Against the back five of Costa Rica the likely front three of Depay, Van Persie, and Robben will be able to use their dribbling and pace to turn a defense that prefers the offside trap to tight man-marking. The skill of Van Persie off the shoulder of the last man should be particularly effective, though he should prepare himself for a physical encounter. The hope for this game is that Wesley Sneijder will build on his fine goal against Mexico and be able influence play from advanced midfield positions.

For the first time this tournament it will be interesting to see what happens when this Netherlands side is given the lion’s share of possession. Will they be able to use the ball well, move it quickly and smartly too pick apart the stern Costa Rican defense or will they flounder in midfield with endless sideways passing?

Costa Rica are truly a Cinderella story. Up from the disrespected CONCACAF they topped a group of former champions and have been eyeing the glass slipper since. Los Ticos’ well organized displays have left 4 nations shaking their heads in frustration and disbelief. A few flashes of skill from Joel Campbell, Cristian Gamboa, and Bryan Ruiz have kept the tiny flame of hope alive, that maybe they can keep writing their fairytale,

In another of the more hostile environments in this tournament Costa Rica withstood a Greece side that, from the first minute, continued to increase the pressure. An odd Bryan Ruiz goal gave them the ability to hold on past a red card and the inevitable Greek equalizer after which, drained to the point that Campbell shuffled like the walking dead to the spot, they emerged victorious from one of the finest penalty shootouts I’ve ever seen and then collapsed with exhausted satisfaction.

Now they face what is likely going to be the most difficult international game any of them have every played. Without the services of Oscar Duarte, a key starter in the backline, Los Ticos will need focus and discipline like never before.

Like most of their matches thus far I expect Jorge Luis Pinto to set out his side in a 5-4-1. A life long devotee of Italian soccer he is well versed in the needs of catenaccio but has seen against the Greeks just how long his side can hold on. The five man back line works one of the most flawless offside traps seen in years, catching the Italians out a record 11 times.This skill will be key if Van Persie is fit, Robben will more likely being trying to dribble through them but Van Persie lives off the shoulder of the last man, controlling their shape will be key to shackling the Oranje captain.

If the Dutch switch to a 4-3-3 it will be crucial for the Costa Ricans to exploit the man advantage in midfield, closing down the Dutch quickly and allowing Ruiz and Campbell to find space. In this scenario it will mean that Gamboa and Junior Diaz also need to be on their toes, making the right decision but still seizing the opportunities to exploit the flanks.

At club level and in Brazil, Joel Campbell has shown skill at taking a touch and shooting from distance. Though he will likely get few chances he should take heart from the fact that Jasper Cillessen has not been among those keepers leaving their names writ large on this tournament.

Ultimately I believe the Dutch technical superiority will win the day but Costa Rica have been remarkably resourceful in their Brazilian campaign, what they do they do well and that must surely have given the players a confidence that they can shock the Netherlands. All that is for sure is that this Saturday in Salvador will be another fascinating chapter in a fantastic World Cup.

The round of 16 has begun and brought plenty of drama along with it. This tournament continues to spoil us, a shootout and a flamboyant display of individual brilliance on Saturday followed by another heavyweight clash on Sunday.

The early kickoff this Sunday will see the most high profile clash yet of this World Cup’s dominant formation, the 3-5-2. It’s highly doubtful that Mexico’s enthusiastic manager Miguel Herrera will shy away from his preferred shape so the lingering question is wether or not Louis Van Gaal will stand by the lineup that has carried the Oranje to their berth in the first knockout round.

Both teams in this match came to Brazil with the unwanted freedom of low expectations. El Tri stumbled through an embarrassing qualification, only securing their playoff spot through the grace of Graham Zusi and a World Cup spot thanks to an unimpressive New Zealand. The Dutch were riding a wave of negativity, closer to total indifference from the public. A thuggish losing display in 2010 was followed by a miserable slog to ignominy at Euro 2012.

The two sides have found new life on the sun drenched pitches of Brazil. The Mexicans came within a goal of beating Brazil to the top spot in Group A while the Netherlands enjoyed sweet revenge over the Spanish before testing their mettle against a valiant Australia and dangerous Chile.

The three man defense so popular this tournament as brought victory to both sides, though as I’ve written elsewhere they go about it in different ways.

The deciding factor for this match comes down to Van Gaal. Does he stick or twist? His players have publicly expressed their enjoyment of the current system and on paper it seems a good idea to try and bypass an uninspiring Dutch midfield as much as possible. Without a dynamic number 10 it makes sense for Van Gaal to keep the faith with Daley Blind as creator, pumping pinpoint diagonals for Robben and Van Persie to chase.

To be totally honest the Dutch midfield is entirely interchangeable, in this system their role appears to simply act as human roadblocks, 3 to 4 players marking tight and breaking up any passing move that comes their way.

As mentioned I would expect Herrera to remain loyal to the players and formation that have brought Mexico such joy. Only one player, defensive mid Jose Juan Vazquez, will miss out via suspension.

El Tri haven’t really put a foot wrong so far this tournament, playing out their group as seasoned professionals. Various players have had their chance to shine, Ochoa against Brazil, Dos Santos cruelly and repeatedly denied in his man of the match performance against Cameroon, el Capitan Rafa Marquez opening the scoring in the route of Croatia. Against the Dutch they will need all of those elements in harmony. For Mexico it really is an order of “more of the same, but better”, good play from the wingbacks Aguilar and Leyun must lead to incisive action from Peralta and Dos Santos.

What will haunt the Mexicans going into this game will be the poor touch of their qualifying. For all their flair and creativity they just could not put the ball into the back of the net. For obvious reasons that cannot be the case come Sunday.

Key Battles

Marquez and Ochoa v Robben and Van Persie

The fear that must lurk in the hearts of all supporters of El Tri is the sight of Robben sprinting full tilt at their back line. Not particularly mobile and captained by one of the true stalwarts of international football, Rafa Marquez and Memo Ochoa will need all of their ability to martial the Mexican defense in their attempts to frustrate the fearsome Dutch pair.

Size v Speed

Against Chile it was readily apparent that one of the Netherlands main tactics was to simply bully the Chileans off the ball and around the pitch. In a way the Chileans enthusiasm for this type of play worked against them as the majority of the Dutch were just much bigger than them.

Mexico doesn’t suffer from quite the same size difference but they must keep their heads. They have plenty of players with craft through the midfield and should be prepared for some highly cynical play from the Dutch.

Come Sunday Mexico must be wary of the speed of Robben and the craft of Van Persie. The Dutch backline should be vigilant during set-pieces, their young goal keeper is inexperienced and Mexico has a number of threats from a dead ball.

Overall this should be a fantastic match between two heavyweights of world football. I predict a Dutch victory but if the Oranje underestimate their Mexican opposition they could be heading home full of what if’s again.

Of all the teams arriving in Brazil with question marks over them, France began the journey with one of the heaviest loads. The long shadows cast by the events in South Africa meant that Les Bleus couldn’t just arrive at the tournament and win games, as most expected them to, having been handed one of the potentially easiest groups of the tournament from a European perspective.

No, Didier Deschamps squad had to win, win convincingly, and win with smiles on their faces. Against the Swiss, the smiles were so wide and confident that the French allowed two goals and all who witnessed it still considered it one of the most comprehensive wins of the tournament so far.

The much lauded Swiss defense was cut to pieces by the counter attacking power of France, time and again left charging into space to create chance after chance. Not just a bunch of athletic pace merchants, there was some exquisite passing, control, and dribbling from all parts of the pitch. With the exception of their defense (Raphael Varane, ahem), this squad features some of the most well-rounded modern footballers in Brazil.

Six points from two games, the French are one game away from becoming the 3rd group winner to win with maximum points, joining the intimidating company of Netherlands and Colombia. Their goal difference means that only the unlikeliest scenarios would see them go through second in the group. Still, do not expect Deschamps to allow his players to take their collective foot off the gas. A born leader, Deschamps knows the value that momentum, focus, and confidence bring to the cruel world of tournament football.

With no serious injury concerns, I would expect to see a largely unchanged side from the XI that faced the Swiss. After what many presumed was a time out for his petulance against Honduras, Pogba should be back along side Blaise Matuidi. In a move that was in no way pre-meditated, Yohan Cabaye earned his second yellow against Switzerland and will sit out this game. I’d expect to see Morgan Schneiderlin come in since he’s got the experience working as a defensive midfielder in a system that values quick passing and fluid positioning.

Even before the groups were drawn, there were never huge expectations for Ecuador. Aside from being infamous as one of world football’s most grueling away games, La Tri have been a side best described as functional. They have one general plan for winning a game, just enough quality players to make it a possibility, and enough determination to push to the final whistle.

It helps that Ecuador is fielding one of the most in-form strikers of the tournament. Enner Valencia has taken over, for now, the mantle of the Valencia star that first comes to mind when thinking about La Tri. With excellent service from Jefferson Montero and skipper Antonio Valencia, the Valencia star leading the line just cannot stop scoring. Currently on a run of six goals in six games, if Ecuador are going to pip the Swiss to second place, Enner Valencia’s name will definitely be on the score sheet.

Key Battles:

Valencia & Montero vs Debuchy & Evra

Ecuador’s game is all about getting it wide and racing for the byline. France’s 4-3-3 doesn’t depend as much on the fullbacks for width, but both still like to contribute when they can. The French will need their wide men to stay sharp and it should be fun to see club team mates Evra and Valencia go toe to toe in what will likely be their last World Cup.

Erazo & Guagua vs. Giroud

It’s safe to say Oliver Giroud startled people with his performance against the Swiss. Since his arrival in England the doubters have been out in force but this tournament could be the moment his game hits another level. If going for the win Ecuador usually go for a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1. The full back spend a lot of time in the opposition half and the two center backs are often left totally isolated. Neither Ecuadorian center back is particularly gifted and I expect them to be in for a long shift dealing with the movement of Benzema and Valbuena while having to contain physical presence of an extremely confident Giroud.

If the Ecuadorians really go all out for the win, this could be a very fun game but in all likelihood another dominate French victory is on the cards.

Throughout qualifying and even into the tournament itself, there were questions about who would line up along the US back four. Pundits, fans, and even Klinsmann himself went through the combinations, looking for the perfect balance. The one thing those four players have going for them is that the name of the man between the sticks is never in question.

On June 16, Tim Howard gave another in a long line of outstanding performances. Beaten only once by one of the best worked goals of the tournament so far, Howard kept his head under the pressure of the USA’s crucial opening match and kept the team in the game. Ghana rained shots on the US goal and Howard was there, sweeping up behind the overworked defense. USA beat Ghana 2-1.

A recently minted USMNT centurion, Howard continues the proud tradition of excellent American keepers. Catching the eye of national youth team coaches early, Howard has been a professional since graduating high school, moving through the ranks at the New York MetroStars (now New York Red Bulls) and Manchester United before finding a home on Merseyside with Everton in 2006. Since arriving, he’s become a fan favorite, setting a club record for most clean sheets in a season and was just two games shy of equaling the club record for consecutive starts. In England, he’s the veteran the younger Americans rally around. For those new to the country and the leagues, Howard offers support, advice, and even a place to live. Off the pitch Howard is an advocate for those with Tourette’s syndrome. Being diagnosed as a child, he has worked to overcome it, improbably forging a new secondary career as a color commentator for NBC’s coverage of the Premier League.

Howard’s style of play for club and country is exactly what you need when the back line is constantly rotating. A great shot-stopper and physically commanding presence in the box, Howard is famously vocal, constantly organizing, alerting, encouraging and critiquing. Against Portugal on Sunday, these skills will be vital to help the defense cope with Portugal’s pace off the wings, the lethal through-balls of Joao Moutinho and, of course, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Arriving at Manchester United at the same time, playing in the first team together, Howard has had plenty of first hand experience of Ronaldo’s ability. Time has passed but having that experience of playing with and against even a still young Ronaldo should be helpful in giving the defense any edge they can when the whistle blows to kick off the match in Manaus.

At Candlestick Park on a very cold Tuesday night, while watching the team continue to kick the tires of the diamond formation, my friends and I were having the same conversations I’m sure many US fans were having. Donovan, the new formation, Jozy and the rest of the squad. Finally we got around to wondering who would be the main men, the players on whom the fortunes of the US would turn when things got underway in Brazil. Without hesitating I pointed to Howard, our keeper, his voice booming even in the wind whipping through the stadium as he bowled the ball out and urged the team on.

The ubiquity of digital media has led to a common lament that it’s almost impossible to be truly surprised by players or systems featured on the world’s stage. While that’s often the case, it’s still been excellent and a novelty to watch a few of the early round standouts play the under-used and tricky 5-3-2/3-5-2.

Though recently making a strong comeback in Serie A, notably with the Scudetto winning Juventus, the system has been rarely seen in the rest of Europe. Requiring highly skilled players in demanding positions to make it truly effective, it can lead to defensive overkill against the lone striker 4-2-3-1. That system being the default setting in recent years at club level keeps the formation rare. However 3-5-2 has been a winning formula against the more common 2 and 3 man front lines at this competition with wing-backs quickly becoming one of the defining features of this blockbuster World Cup.

Even more fascinating has been watching the way different nations use the advantages the formation presents, especially in the wingback position.

Mexico’s Miguel Herrera brought the 3-5-2 with him when he became El Tri’s fourth manager of the qualifying cycle. Importing both formation and players from his La Liga side gave Mexico a solid base to build off of after the fortuitous turn at the end of their qualifying campaign.

The Mexicans field Miguel Layun and Paul Aguilar as two wing-backs, both playing the most recognizable versions of that role of any team in Brazil. Both hug the touchlines from their own end of the field, their dribbling skill and speed carrying them up level with the opposition box, Layun providing the better delivery from the left, usually looking for Oribe Peralta lurking at the edge of the box. Aguilar tends to combine with Giovani Dos Santos on the right, the quick one-twos between the pair dragging defenders around the box, opening space for Dos Santos thrilling footwork or a ball through for Oribe Peralta.

The Netherlands sailed through qualifying with Louis Van Gaal generally sticking to the 4-3-3, occasionally breaking out the 4-2-3-1 for some variety. Being a unique combination of realist and perfectionist, Van Gaal experimented during the friendlies prior to Brazil. The loss of Kevin Strootman and a defense featuring mostly young players prompted Van Gaal to risk the wrath of the Dutch purists by moving away from the old Ajax saw.

The Oranje, as ever, play the 3-5-2 in their own way. The two players stationed out wide have very different briefs, Daryl Janmaat only occasionally passes the halfway line. Instead Janmaat is tasked with helping cover space as the 3 man defense shuffles up and over to shut down space in midfield and compensate for the space left by Daley Blind. Starting his career as a left-back Blind recently received the Dutch Player of the Year award for his season in the holding midfield role at Ajax.

In the opening demolition of Spain, Blind was crucial with his devastating long range passing totally bypassing a bewildered Spanish mid-field while avoiding leaning on the fading Wesley Sneijder to provide the spark. Continuing with this formation isn’t a sure thing, Van Gaal prefers flexibility and the rambunctious Australia exposed the inexperience of the young back line and it’s susceptibility to pace. The lighting quick hydra that is Chile will provide the Dutch with their sternest test of the tournament.

Costa Rica came to Brazil as a bit a of mystery. Qualifying second in the Hex they had a pretty average run to that spot, some good wins, mostly away losses, but showed that they had a few quality players that could give them a threat come June.

On June 14th fans in the stadium and watching at home were treated to Costa Rica schooling Uruguay with a textbook performance. Los Ticos’ counterattacking 3-5-2 worked flawlessly against Uruguay’s mundane 4-4-2, Gamboa and Diaz brought the energy needed to work hard up and down the touchline, stretching Uruguay as soon as the ball turned over. Gamboa in particular added to the joy Costa Rica got down the right, combining well with Bryan Ruiz and Joel Campbell. In the end set-pieces proved the difference but the hard running of Gamboa and Diaz meant that Costa Rica found themselves in a 3v2 or 2v1 against the Uruguayan back line, leading to the hacks and last ditch fouls that created the parade of Ticos set pieces in the final 20 minutes. Costa Rica has a tough group but their dominate opening display will give the England and Italy back lines something to think about.

The demands of international soccer are very different from that of club matches but perhaps the effectiveness and possibility for variation will lead to the 3-5-2 appearing on more European pitches in August.

No manager would ever wish for a Ballon d’Or nominee to pull out of a World Cup squad injured. However Didier Deschamps may have inadvertently found the opportunity that Les Bleus and the French public having been waiting for since the infamous implosion of 2010.

After the dramatic 3-0 win against Ukraine to secure their spot in Brazil Deschamps stuck with the 4-3-3 he debuted in the Stade de France. He built a solid midfield platform of Blaise Matuidi, Paul Pogba and Yohan Cabaye to support an attacking trio that will be an intriguing prospect come June 15th.

The loss of Ribéry has had a domino effect, the single opening on the left creating an opportunity for  several players across the front to seize their chance to shine at the tournament. In Ribéry’s place on the left Antoine Greizmann has been replicating his eye catching Real Sociedad form, Moussa Sissoko offers a more physical, defensive option without sacrificing pace. On the right it appears that Matieu Valbuena has locked down the starting role but Loic Remy is also capable on the right, harassing defenses with his direct runs and threat if not offering as much crossing or passing.

The two players looking likely to benefit most from the shuffle up front are Karim Benzema and Olivier Giroud. Benzema ran the show in the recent 8 – 0 dismantling of (an admittedly sub-par) Jamaica, ending the game with 2 goals and 3 assists Benzema was dominate. At Real Madrid and with the national team Benzema usually plays centrally but clearly relished the space on the left, unleashing a stream of deadly crosses and cutbacks, taking on defenders and displaying his excellent shooting.

Then there’s Olivier Giroud. The still-divisive Arsenal forward has shone for Les Bleus since the win over Ukraine, though in a different way. Giroud excels at playing a deeply out of fashion game as a classic “big man”. In the age of diminutive playmakers and tricky inverted wingers Giroud is the physical presence in the box, knocking crosses down or in, holding up the ball and dragging center backs out of position. Giroud’s ability to drag a defender, hold the ball and lay it off for a late midfield run has proven extremely fruitful for Aaron Ramsey, both Matuidi and Pogba have the athleticism for such runs and will undoubtedly take advantage.

Franck Ribéry’s absence leaves Patrice Evra as lone representative of the core group hauled up before the FFF in the wake of the 2010 debacle. That event still casts a long shadow but this current French side will fortunately be leaving most of its volatile historical baggage in Manchester and Munich. In the potential starting XI there are representatives of back-to-back Ligue 1 Champions, winners of the most recent Champions League, and 2014 FA Cup winners. This squad has youth, confidence, and experience winning. A deep run in Brazil would be both unsurprising and bode very well for the Euros in two years time.

As the Gunners scrape toward another fourth place finish in the Premier League, both fans and the media are embroiled in the annual debates about the future of Arsenal. The failings of seasons past now have a familiar rhythm to them, though the scale and manner of multiple humbling defeats at the hands of title rivals has ratcheted tensions inside the Emirates to almost unbearable levels.

Against this backdrop, while fingers are pointed and scapegoats readied, the summer window is not coming soon enough for some fans. With it another opportunity to attempt to inject a reliable, competitive edge into the side. Though undoubtedly transfers in and out will and should be made, it could be helpful to take time to revisit and reflect on one of the key components of Arsene Wenger’s period of sustained success that is missing from this Arsenal.

That crucial element was in attendance at Goodison Park to see Everton play Arsenal off the pitch with a version of the style Wenger brought to the Premier League. The cameras cut to David Dein and one has to wonder what Dein thought of the situation his friend and former partner is in. He brought Wenger to England to be a football manager and in that capacity Wenger exceeded all expectations. However since 2007 Wenger has had to shoulder more responsibility than he likely ever expected or wanted.

Though some still regard Dein with dubious suspicion, it cannot be denied that in his time as vice-chairman at Arsenal he provided the perfect counterpart to Arsene Wenger. One of the few in the game whose knowledge of players and staff could go toe-to-toe with Wenger’s, Dein also possessed a business acumen both ruthless and visionary, a vital combination for the idiosyncratic and insular world of football boardrooms.

In the seasons since Dein’s departure and the club embarking on the construction of Emirates Stadium, it was easier to explain the way Arsenal and Arsene acted in the transfer market as mere shrewdness, a temporary tightening of the belt with promises of a grander future for all the faithful. We have arrived at the promised future but the previous summer’s business as well as the 13/14 January window were a ominous sign that the inertia of the spendthrift era could continue unjustified.

Prior to the purchase of Mesut Ozil’s services, the summer window saw an almost-complete deal for Gonzalo Higuain fall apart when news of potential release clauses in Luis Suarez’s contract resulted in the farcical offer of £40,000,001. That both deals could not be kept quiet and negotiated simultaneously is unfortunate but part of the summer circus.  No one at Arsenal seemed to have the will to test Liverpool’s resolve to keep Suarez. There was no last ditch attempt to get Higuain to reconsider his options between Naples and North London. Though Ozil’s talent is undeniable it must be noted that Arsenal did not have to beat any competing offers from rivals to capture their record signing. Obviously this can’t all be laid at Wenger’s feet. The questionable qualities of Ivan Gazidis and Dick Law play their part, but neither strikes me as the type to challenge or offer an alternative to a course of action set by Wenger.

We can all rattle off the names of great managers but most thoughtful followers of soccer would admit that really almost all great managers were double acts. Clough and Taylor, Allison and Mercer, Shankly and Paisley. I believe that if Arsene Wenger remains in his post he needs to overcome his legendary stubbornness and bring in a director of football (Dein himself would be ideal) and elevate Steve Bould to more than just a sympathetic observer.

Arsene Wenger still has the traits and desire to be an elite manager but needs to be allowed (or forced) to refocus his efforts solely on the quality and training of the squad.