Attributes that define each nation's footballers the best

The highlight of the beautiful game lies in the fact that it has players from a vast number of countries. And each nation is unique in the sense that it brings in a philosophy and a style that might be different from the others.Be it physical, attack minded, defensive, organized, individual flair or any other traits, there is something different in a player from each country. And with players playing in leagues spread across the world, the life of coaches has become harder in getting the best out of them for, ultimately, the club’s benefit. Here, we look at the dominant nations in world football today and the kind of footballers they typically produce.

#1 Netherlands

Footballing philosophy: Total Football, fast-paced and attack-oriented

Greatest Dutch players: Johan Cruyff, Frank Rijkaard, Ronald Koeman, Dennis Bergkamp, Ruud Gullit, Marco Van Basten

No other national team has had as much influence on the game as the Dutch team has. Renowned for producing attack-minded, positive and world class players, the Oranje are responsible for revolutionizing the game with the advent of Total Football that was deployed in the 1970s.

The greatest team to have never won a World Cup, the Oranje have had tremendous success on the international stage. Probably the greatest gift to the game, Total Football focuses on the ability of a player to play in all positions, and the system’s success relies on the adaptability of each player to different positions.

Typically lining up in the famous 4-3-3 formation, the players are able to organize, attack, create chances and utilize the spaces on the pitch to stretch and confound opposition defenses.

The last decade has seen the gradual decline of the system with the onus more on attacking flair and organized defense. Dutch players have become specialists in these past few years with players like Robben and Sneijder excelling in the midfield.

However, there still exist players who epitomize the Total Football style. A noteworthy example is Mr. Duracell – Dirk Kuyt who gave a throwback to the 70s with his ability to play in different positions from defense to attack during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

#2 Spain

Footballing philosophy: Tiki-taka, ball possession and high pressing

Greatest Spanish players: Alfredo Di Stefano, Luis Suarez, Raul, Fernando Hierro, Emilio Butragueno, Xavi, Iniesta

One of football’s greatest underachievers, Spain promised a lot but failed to deliver on the big stage for decades. Spanish football was immersed in a style termed "La Furia Española," or the Spanish fury, which epitomized hard work and discipline.

A Dutch intervention in the form of Johan Cruyff was needed to bring about a revolution that has seen Spanish players dominate the international stage this past decade. It is Cruyff’s stint as the manager of Catalan giants Barcelona which saw the birth of “La Masia”, the youth academy that has produced so many gifted players that now make up the backbone of the national team.

The turn of the century has seen Spanish players adopt tactics and a style that have yielded unprecedented results. The now famous “tiki-taka” style resembles a hurricane, where players distribute the ball in short one and two-touch passes, while constant movement off the ball helps in creating space or zones for the passes to be made. Such a play ideally results in a complex pattern that disorients the opposition, a tactic which has helped Spain demolish classy and rigid teams.

Even when possession is lost, the players focus on pressing as high up the pitch as possible to retain the ball as quickly as possible. This style of play requires players that are technically gifted with fantastic touch, fabulous dribbling skills and perfect one touch passing.

Spanish players are not entirely physical and generally rely on their technical finesse and skills to get past their opponents.

#3 Germany

Footballing philosophy: Organization, power, counter-attacking, attractive football

Greatest German players: Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller, Miroslav Klose, Paul Breitner, Jurgen Klinsmann, Uwe Seeler, Lothar Matthaus, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Philipp Lahm

For years, the German players have firmly established themselves as a successful force but one that has always been overshadowed and often forgotten. German teams and players have always been perceived as ruthless and efficient due to their organization and ability to generate results.

Despite being successful, Germany were never seen as champions who would be remembered for their style of play. However, more than a decade ago, changes to the German system from the youth to the senior team brought about a transformation to the national team and the players.

German players are now known for their ability to play adventurous, fluid football with great technique and creativity in the final third. The reason for them being a complete team is that their style of football is supplemented with defensive solidity and organization. The entire squad is capable of playing the pressing style and denying the opposition room or time to play through.

It’s their lethal ability up front that makes the German set-up so special. The German team boasts of players who can play anywhere on the top, flummoxing defenses with their movement and creativity. The young breed of German players are all round players who have the ability to influence the game in defense as well as in offense.

#4 Italy

Footballing philosophy: Defensive, counter-attacking

Greatest Italian players: Paolo Maldini, Roberto Baggio, Franco Baresi, Alessandro Del Piero, Andrea Pirlo, Gianni Rivera, Fabio Cannavaro

A nation known to be “Dolce Vita”, which means sweet life, carefree and upbeat, Italy has produced football that is ironically known for its stark contrast to the deeply organized and highly defensive style. The strength of Italy and its players lies on “catenaccio” (door bolt), a trait which is exemplified by its ability to shut out the opposition with its defense.

Italy’s success has primarily been on the back of a rock-solid back line. Italians are well-known for their “catenaccio” strategy that they used to great success in the 1960s and 70s. Renowned for their cautious style, Italians rarely went forward; they usually held their line and had most of the men behind the ball. A dour, boring tactic to some, but one that helped them overcome great oppositions. That said, Total Football changed everything.

Over the years, the Italians have married their defensive prowess with counter-attacking and strong build up, which has ensured that they have been successful in leagues beyond Italy.

#5 England

Footballing philosophy: Aggression, high tempo, long ball, power

Greatest English players: Bryan Robson, Geoff Hurst, Gordon Banks, Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton, Stanley Matthews

Boasting of the most popular league in the world, England still remain a team who are perennial underachievers in world football. English players are phenomenal at the club level but somehow are not able to recreate the same aura when it comes to the national set-up.

Typically, the style of most of the English players can be described as physical. Not as technically gifted as the Spanish or the Dutch, the English rely on their physical prowess and pace to overcome teams. Tactically, the English style relies on long balls to set up attacks rather than extensive possession.

The English players also depend on quick, incisive runs down the flank which lead to plenty of crosses that are a prominent feature of their play. This success of this style boils down to the strength of the striker to swat away the crosses and the long balls that come his way.

Englishmen are sometimes undone by their own tactics against organized and attack-minded sides.

#6 South America

Footballing philosophy: Ball possession, individual flair and beautiful football

Greatest South American players: Diego Maradona, Pele, Lionel Messi, Garrincha, Ronaldinho, Zico, Romario

The land of rainforests has produced some of the most technically gifted players who regularly uphold the term ‘beautiful game’. The players are confident on the ball and courageous, and have an uncanny knack of taking on opposing defenders.

A region that has been highly successful in the World Cup, South American teams tend to dominate the headlines with their flair and their ability to do something unexpected almost every time. The overall South American game is fast paced with many one-on-one challenges, fancy dribbling, and quick, free-flowing passes.

The fluidity of their game generally results in players being out of position, leading to an obvious defensive weakness. The quick, beautiful play generally leaves them vulnerable to counter attacks, with the 7-0 drubbing of Brazil by Germany in the 2014 World Cup being a perfect example.

The 21st century has seen teams such as Brazil and Argentina tighten up their defensive play; however, a natural mojo for individual brilliance and an inkling to play the beautiful game separates them from the other continents.

#7 Africa

Footballing philosophy: Aggression, physicality

Greatest African players: Samuel Eto’o, Abedi Ayew Pele, Nwankwo Kanu, Yaya Toure, Roger Milla, Didier Drogba

The fittest and strongest players hail from a continent which is popular for its power (literally) game. Traditionally, the African nations rely on their high physical standards and combine them with an all round game to succeed. The African players are well-conditioned, but their inability to organize defense well, their exuberant physicality, and their occasionally wayward technique tend to sometimes derail their campaigns.

However, over the last decade or so the influx of African players into European leagues has had a positive impact on the overall gameplay of the teams from the continent. The marauding Yaya Toure is a prime example of an African player who has been able to combine his physical strength with his passing and ability to unlock defenses.

Perhaps the perfect African performance was of the Cameroon team in the 1990 World Cup, led by the one of the greatest and most inspirational African forwards Roger Milla. The second round match against the Three Lions (England) saw Cameroon take a two-goal lead through an impressive physical and penetrative attacking play.

However, Cameroon would fall prey to their physicality as they would go on to concede three goals (via some clumsy challenges) in a match that highlighted their strengths and weakness in a tale of two halves. It was a tournament that would end up creating interest and enthusiasm for Cameroon, which then paved the way for the other African teams at the big stage.