Why Brazil's key men are its defensive midfielders

Brazil’s last World Cup victory in 2002 was orchestrated by current coach Felipe Scolari, and it was more efficient and workmanlike (most of its key games won by a single goal) than thrilling – aside from a few memorable moments from midfield wizard Ronaldinho. Even in these more regimented Brazilian formations, one or two players are allowed more freedom of expression. What was once the preserve of Ronaldinho is now the prerogative of Neymar.

But Brazilian anxiety will be more acute than ever; this Selecao is tasked with nothing less than a national exorcism, laying to rest the still fearsome ghost of 1950, when tiny Uruguay beat Brazil in the  last World Cup final played in Rio.

While Neymar gets most of the attention – and yes, he is an explosive potentially game-changing player, like Ronaldinho was – the key to the current side’s prospects is its defensive midfield duo. In 2002, Ronaldinho danced on a platform built and maintained by the custodial Gilberto Silva (dubbed “the invisible wall” during his Arsenal days) and Kleberson; now it falls to Luis Gustavo and Paulinho  to provide the same defensive foundation. Their screening of Brazil’s defense is essential  to allow the flying fullbacks Dani Alves and Marcelo to bomb forward and allow Neymar and Hulk to drift in from the flanks. But it also speaks to a counter-attacking style.

Scolari’s Brazil look likely to be set up like European club champions Real Madrid, with a strong emphasis on lightning-fast counterattack. A high-adrenalin version of that game saw them overwhelm Spain’s Barcelona-designed possession game in last season’s Confederations Cup warmup final, combined with pressing high up the pitch to prevent the Spanish settling in possession. There’ll be plenty of adrenalin for this team, but concern to avoid mistakes will be at a premium. If Luis Gustavo and Paulinho fail to deliver they’ll be in trouble.

Much the same is true, though, for other favorites: For Argentina, for example, it falls to Barcelona’s Javier Mascherano not only to protect a brittle defense, but also to win the ball – Messi can’t hurt opponents, after all, if he doesn’t have the ball. Spain knows that, and the foundation of their success in 2010 – and possibly here – is the defensive midfield duo Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets, whose contribution to Spain’s possession game has allowed La Furio Roja to maintain an unmatched record in clean sheets over the past six years. Italy’s key man is Andrea Pirlo, now converted to the deep-lying playmaker role, orchestrating from the base of the midfield alongside the additional defensive cover of the excellent Daniele De Rossi.

France’s will rely on Paul Pogba and Blaise Matuidi to win the ball the same; the ability of Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo to cement his claims to be the world’s best player will depend heavily on young William Carvalho at the base of the midfield holding the ball and disrupting opponents’ attacks, and so on. German coach Joachim Low, concerned that the injury to Sami Khedira will prevent him partnering Bastian Schweinsteiger in the defensive midfield role, is even considering using longstanding fullback Philip Lahm in the role.

Nobody is expecting much from England, despite the fact that there are a couple of young attacking players with the ability to trouble opposing defenses. One reason is that England have a weakness in the center of midfield, relying primarily on Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard to screen its defense. Gerrard’s delivery over 60 yards is second to none, but any Liverpool fan can tell you, he’s often caught out of position or surrenders possession in dangerous positions. England could be made to pay for not fielding a specialist holding midfielder alongside him in Brazil. 

The strikers and playmakers will get all the attention, as ever – a holding midfielder’s dozens of short passes used to organize the team’s shape throughout the game don’t make for glamorous TV ads.  But the difference between victory and frustration for the top may be the tactical discipline and vision, technique and athleticism of those central midfielders.