“It’s the first time this has happened to me. In all my career, I’ve never experienced anything like it.”
Bert van Mariwjk, a 69-year-old FIFA World Cup™ finalist with more than two decades of coaching experience under his belt, was in shock. And he wasn’t alone.
Everyone was asking how Qatar, with a mere 25.8 per cent share in possession, had raced into a 5-0 half-time lead against Van Marwijk’s UAE.
The secrets to this stunning success are pored over in detail on the FIFA Training Centre, with Technical Study Group expert Dwight Yorke full of praise for the FIFA Arab Cup™ hosts.
“It’s the best first half I’ve seen in the competition in terms of the execution,” enthused the UEFA Champions League-winning former Manchester United star. “You could see their class, the energy, the balance in the team.”
Read the article in full below to see what Yorke had to say about the “direct” and “precise” Qataris and the effective high-pressing tactics that have taken them through to a semi-final against Algeria.
