What Separates the Good From the Great?

Throughout the history of soccer there always comes along a team/s that turn the game around for the next decade to come. For the latest decade it has been the revolution of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Barcelona. By investigating what these teams do or have done to reach these next levels, we can also see how the game of soccer has taken on a new shade of color over these last few years and reveal the secrets to success in the ever growing game of soccer.

For the longest time soccer has been a game of play down the sideline and cross. This style is evident from the English soccer still present today. Eventually a new era began to arise. This was brought along by the Brazilians and the Spanish when they began to establish their own style of play. The term for this style is "tiki-taka" and was coined by a Spanish reporter after having watched the Spanish team Barcelona in action. This changed from the kick and run way of play to a very more controlled, possession oriented style of soccer. Not only is this new way to play more effective, but it also requires a level of difficulty that hasn't been seen in any other area of the game. This is the main reason why so many teams fail to achieve this, and this is what makes the good teams great. So why is this style of soccer so much better than anything else that has graced the game? Well, it requires a level of discipline that is only seen in the best of teams. The entire team needs to move as a unit and work together, and nothing can ever be forced. Every pass is simple and carefully calculated and the soccer ball has to always be moving. One of the best ways to beat a team is to never let them touch the ball, and that's exactly what this style attempts to do. By being patient and keeping the ball for 75% of the game, it greatly limits what the other team can do with it.

This style of soccer has been ushered in by some of the world's greatest teams like Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich. It is because of this distinct style that they came, they saw, and they conquered. They will remain dominate for years to come, until the next genius mastermind of the game comes along and introduces the next unbeatable strategy that outshines the old and makes them succumb to the next revolution.