We all know the great football team from spain that have
won many tournaments and competitions for last four years. Yeah, it's Barcelona
Club de Futbol. By their motto, “Mes que
un club”, that means more than just a football club, they join many big
tournaments and be the world champion. Barcelona's players show their best
ability in football by good teamwork and amazing movements to entertain the
football lovers in everymatch they played.
We also know Spain that have won FIFA World Cup 2010,
they also won in EURO 2008 and 2012. They can do that because almost of their
players are from Barcelona CF. And now,
Spain is the first in FIFA World Ranking.
From Spain, we look at England. There is a big and
competitive league called Premier League. Swansea City is one of the football
club that join this league firstly after finished first in Championship, and
ranked up to Premier League. As the usual, the new participant in this league
will be finished at the low rank, even they often rank down again to
Championship. But, Unexpectedly Swansea City can finished at 10th
rank in the end of Premier League. Better or maybe best achievement of the new
participant ever in Premier League.
The question is, Why Barcelona, Spain, and Swansea can do
that fantastic achievements? If you watch their games, you will know that all
their achievements are attained because of their best tactic. Yeah, it's Tiki
Taka, the amazing football tactic.
Tiki
Taka firstly is called Total Football, but in 2006, after Andres Montes, a
Spain football commentator said about
the Spain's game in FIFA World Cup 2006 against Tunisia, “Estamos Tocando Tiki
Taka Tiki Taka...”, that means “ We play tiki taka tiki taka...”, it's called
Tiki Taka. But there is also some
statements argue that this tactic is called Tiki Taka because when its used in
a game, the players's move is like clackers sound, Tik...Tak...Tik...Tak, So
that, it's called Tiki Taka.
This tactic is firstly appeared in 1971. Rinus Michels,
the founder builds it in Barcelona CF when he became coach there. In 1988,
Johan Cryuff as the Rinus's apprentice improves this tactic better, He brings
many footballers that have the good abilities in Tiki Taka and makes Barcelona
CF as the great team in that time.
After that era, Tiki Taka had disappeared in the world
until Josep Guardiola as the Cruyff's apprentice develops it by educating the
youngsters in Barcelona's Football School, La Masia. In 2008, He brings all his
apprentices to the Top Level in Barcelona CF. With his apprentices, he win many
competitions and tournaments and make Barcelona CF become the best football
team ever.
Now, how Tiki Taka is used in a football game?
Tiki Taka is a tactic that is demanded all players to
move quickly and pass shortly in a game. So, the important thing to remember
when Tiki Taka will be used is, the coach have to choose the most fresh players
in starting eleven, because those players have more stamina, they can run and
run, move and move to dominate the ball possession and make the ball flows
around their legs. This is the essential of Tiki Taka, dominating ball
possession.
Tiki
Taka divides the football field into eight zones to simplify the players doing
their tasks in a game. The first Zone is The Goalkeeper. In this zone, the
goalkeeper and the center backs have to attend more control the ball moving
carefully, because this is the most dangerous zone. If they do wrong, they will
make their team injured.
The second zone is The Libero. The libero must capable to
dominate the ball possession, calm but clear and sure, and has to give the ball
to their friends well, because all team attacks will start from this zone.
The third zone is The Volante de Salida, and the players
here are called Defensive Midfielder, the players have to intersect and steal the
ball from the opposite players quickly and give to their friends directly. This
zone need more power from the players to stop the attack from the opposite
team.
The fourth zone is The Wing Back. In this zone, the players
must have good stamina, balance, and speed. The players have to overlap when
the team is attacking, and they also have to defend when the team is attacked.
The special ability that all players here must have is the ability to pass
crossing from each football sides to give the striker ball and chance to make a
great goal.
The fifth zone is The Deep Lying Midfielder. The players
in this zone are like a brain of this tactic. If they play badly, Tiki Taka
will not be shown as good as usual, but if they can play well, the chance to
win a game is very big. Why? Because the players in this zone must capable to
divide the ball among their friends, they also have to make and give the chance
for their friends to make a goal. So, the players here are considered as the
game determinants.
The sixth zone is The Inside forward. In this zone, a
team must have at least one good player that has capability to dribble and
trick the opposite backs to serve the chances for goal getter to make a shoot,
or make a goal himself.
The seventh zone is The Target Man. The players here
usually are called also as The Goal Getter. Why? Because, the Target Man
players are the ones who have more chances and will make the goals for their
team. They must have the good first touch ability in order they can make a
great goal only in a few seconds, because if they can't do that, The opposite
backs will take and steal the ball.
The eight zone is The Assist and Goal Zone. All players
may run to this zone and have the same chance to make a goal. Something
distinguished here is only the ability's players to feel calm, smart, and agile
to move and bring the ball. If the player can do that. He will make a great or
maybe an amzing goal from this zone. But, one thing that all players have to
remember in this zone is Don't forget to run back to your zone when the
opposite team do quick counter-attack, because you have to responsible for your position.
In summary, Tiki Taka is the tactic that need the good
teamwork, All players must have the good intuition each others, good ability to
pass, move, and create the goal chances. All this capabilities are built for a
long period, not instantly. So that, only by good and patient football training
and education, This tactic will improve itself and can be used well. That all
are what Barcelona, Swansea, and Spain players do to make their team become the
great team in the world.
