Vlaovic claims Germans are now favorites
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GERMANY is the top contender to win the 2014 World Cup with success now based on speed and dethroned champion Spain’s “tiki-taka” tactics now a relic in modern day football, former Croatia striker Goran Vlaovic said.
Vlaovic, who scored one of Croatia’s goals in a famous 3-0 win over the Germans in the 1998 finals when the Balkan nation finished third, assessed the Spaniards were undone by their own tiki-taka style which had served them so well.
“They were undone by their own game, the tiki-taka, which has become a relic in modern-day football as it is based on jealously keeping possession when a quick transformation from defense to attack is required,” he said yesterday.
“Speed has become the most important factor in modern-day football and this is where Spain have failed.
“Football keeps evolving and although it hasn’t changed much tactically in the past 16 years the pace is incomparably faster. Hence I see Germany as the prime candidate to win the tournament.”
The 41-year old, who netted 15 times in 52 international appearances, was speaking shortly before Croatia’s 4-0 rout of Cameroon in Manaus which left his country in contention to advance.
Adding that Croatia had the potential to emulate or even surpass the 1998 feat, he was especially impressed by underdogs Costa Rica and Chile after their shock wins over Uruguay and Spain, respectively. “It’s been a wildly entertaining tournament full of surprises so far, having produced an avalanche of goals and all the thrills and spills fans would have hoped for,” he said.
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