The FIFA Technical Study Group (TSG) saddled with the responsibility of ‘monitoring international matches and identifying latest footballing trends’ has applauded the tactical savvy of Coach Emmanuel Amuneke-led Golden Eaglets after they easily reached the semifinals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015 with aplomb on Sunday.
Desmond (Desi) Curry, Member of the TSG had sought out Amuneke ahead of their trumping of the A Selecao of Brazil at the Estadio Sausalito to explain briefly his seemingly obstructive tactics which have
confounded opposing teams at this tournament.
The team, according to TSG’s elderly man from Northern Ireland, has brought to bear a new trend with varied styles and deployment of players when ‘having or not having the ball,’ hence the need for clarification.
“Sincerely, we (TSG panel) have tried to understand the tactics you are using but it is confusing,” Curry told Amuneke matter-of-factly. “I have done some of your matches here but it is unusual to see a Number 10 (Kelechi Nwakali) playing deep as much as we have seen your player here.
“This is a new trend and we are going to include some of your explanations in the Technical Report of the championship because the tactical approach of your team stands out,” he noted.
The TSG was introduced 49 years ago by FIFA at the 1966 FIFA World Cup England and current Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Sunday Oliseh was on the panel at the last FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
“Our (TSG) main goal is continual improvement of the game,” notedJean-Paul Brigger, head of FIFA’s technical division while revealing the identities of TSG for Chile 2015. The eight-man TSG panel for Chile 2015 is made up of experienced former internationals and coaches including Teófilo Cubillas (Peru), Desi Curry (Northern Ireland), Víctor Funtes Moreno (Chile), Rónald Gonzalez Brenes (Costa Rica), Patrick Jacquemet (Tahiti), Belhassen Malouche (Tunisia), Sivaji Narayanan Nair (Singapore) and Dany Ryser.
