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The role of the deep-lying playmaker (regista) has become critical for successful teams and at Russia 2018, this special breed of players is expected to be among the most important stars for their teams.
The deep-lying playmaker has become one of the most important roles in world football and is more popularly known by its Italian translation: regista.
The regista is the conductor, orchestra coordinator and the dictator who decides how and at what pace the team attacks/defends. This very important player usually possesses a bit of the defensive nous of the defensive midfielder and the attacking abilities of the box-to-box midfielder.
However, his most important job is to be the glue that holds the team together and be the link between defence and attack. The regista is expected to be an adept passer of the ball, the most intelligent player on the team sheet and the one man who dictates how possession of the ball is used, the tempo of the attack and the general balance of the team between attacking/defending.
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It is no coincidence that the teams that have won the big titles in recent times; World Cup, UEFA Champions League, Premier League, Bundesliga and so on have all had one very good player occupying the regista role.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup will have more than its fair share of classy deep-lying playmakers, here is a look at 5 of the very best:
#5 John Mikel-Obi (Nigeria)
Chieftain and leader of a resolute but limited Nigerian team, the former Chelsea midfielder will be the captain of the team at the World Cup and will be solely responsible for driving the team forward at the Mundial.
An adept passer of the ball capable of going short or long depending on the team’s needs, Mikel is one of the most senior members of a Super Eagles team that is big on enthusiasm but may find the going tough against technically astute teams.
A midfielder who defends like a matured centre-back would: with intelligence and an excellent reading of the game; his excellent long-range passing and the vision to by-pass the opposition’s midfield with balls over the top will be crucial for the Eagles as his passing will free up Nigeria’s pacy wingers: Alex Iwobi, Victor Moses, Ahmed Musa, and co. to drive forward and disturb the opposition.
This defensive nous coupled with his brilliant passing and ability to dictate the tempo of a game will be of great help in slowing the game down at certain times to help his defenders recover and disrupt the flow of the opposition’s attacks.
Grouped alongside Argentina, Croatia, and Iceland, Mikel will have his hands full against registas of similar quality in these nations and if Nigeria has plans to make an impression, the 31-year-old will be key.
#4 Ever Banega (Argentina)
A pass master who on his day can be almost unplayable, Banega is the one man in the Albiceleste team expected to help shift the creative burden away from Lionel Messi’s shoulders.
The Sevilla midfielder is a majestic passer of the ball who is adept at recycling possession, slowing or quickening the tempo depending on what the game needs as well as being blessed with the ability to drive forward and support the attack or stay back and prompt from the centre of the pitch.
A tough competitor who is no stranger to fulfilling defensive functions, his rugged nature or grinta means that coach Jorge Sampoli should be able to trust his defensive instincts and play him in a two-man midfield to allow the forwards, license to roam.
His presence in the centre of the Argentine midfield means that the Albiceleste will be able to field four attacking players in a game where goals are needed or in the big, tight games, he may act as the central shield for an extra midfielder who could drive on to support the attack.
The wingers; Angel Di Maria, Cristian Pavon, and Eduardo Salvio would also benefit from Banega’s vision and passes as they would be able to stretch opposing defences better with their runs.
#3 Ivan Rakitic (Croatia)
Often criticized by some ignorant Barcelona fans, Rakitic will be a key player for the Vatreni (Blazers) who have the look of tournament dark horses.
He is a baller tailor-made to occupy that crucial regista spot for his country as his passing ability has helped the team to bypass a stubborn midfield in certain matches.
One of his biggest strengths is his technical ability in possession. He strikes the ball well; his passing is regular, purposeful and inventive (long range and short) and he can take on a player or two with a quick change of pace and forward motion.
This means he can be trusted to carry the ball forward in certain situations (interchanging with captain and fellow world-class midfielder Luka Modric) where an extra runner in the middle is needed, an asset that would be of great value to Croatia in tight games. The star midfielder has the unique ability to be always available to receive possession which then becomes a means of keeping the opposition pinned back.
With the stylish Modric as well as other players like Marcelo Brozovic, Milan Badelj and Mateo Kovacic named in the Croatian squad to the Mundial, manager Zlatko Dalic has a wealth of midfield options few nations can compete with.
With trickery and pace down the flanks in the form of Ivan Perisic and Marko Pjaca and the overlapping runs of fullbacks like Sime Vrsaljko, Rakitic’s vision will be crucial in getting the team on the front foot particularly against opponents expected to defend deep like Nigeria and Iceland in Group D at the Mundial.
#2 Koke (Spain)
Full names, Jorge Resurrección Merodio, the 2018 FIFA World Cup will provide the Atletico Madrid star the perfect platform to show to the world his world-class attributes. Attributes that have been obvious to keen watchers of the Spanish La Liga for a while now.
Blessed with incredible balance and agility that allows him to skip into space and past a marker, Koke is most adept at playing long searching balls either in the air or the ground, passes that are unique to the world’s truly elite registas.
His set-piece abilities will be of great value to Spain as his pinpoint deliveries from corners and free kicks would give players like captain Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Diego Costa and others a chance to score goals.
He is able to retain possession under pressure and dribble past opponents into space in order to create chances for his teammates, His work-rate is exemplary and given Diego Simeone’s legendary demands for defensive work, he will run, tackle, jump and put in the work needed for La Furia Roja to achieve the desired objective
Koke will be up against Bayern Munich’s Thiago Alcantara for the battle to play alongside Sergio Busquets at the heart of the Spanish midfield but given his battling attributes in addition to his classy technical skills, the 26-year-old should get the nod to start.
#1 Toni Kroos (Germany)
If science were to create the perfect regista with the perfect set of abilities to make him stand out in a field of classy players, the end product would be a slightly inferior version of Toni Kroos.
Metronome-supreme, the arch-regista and deep-lying playmaker per excellence, the 28-year-old has been at the heart of teams that have won the UEFA Champions League 4 times in the last six seasons and was at his fluent, fluid best when Germany won the World Cup in Brazil 4 years ago.
The complete midfielder, Kroos is expected to once again be the brainbox for a formidable looking Die Mannschaft and would provide the calm and ice-cold brilliance that will counterbalance the chaotic attacking style favoured by manager Joachim Löw.
His long and short range passing vision which are exemplary at all times means that the fleet-footed forwards: Timo Werner, Leroy Sane, Julian Brandt and others will be able to stay as high as possible and get into scoring positions within the shortest possible time while at the same time pressing high to win the ball back in dangerous areas.
His unflappable and never-flustered style which means that he is able to retain possession even while been pressed (see the UCL Final against Liverpool for example) means that the most advanced midfielder for Germany (usually Mesut Ozil) will be tasked with less defensive work.
The former Bayern star will be the key player for the German team in Russia and if the Mercedes-Benz sponsored team is to win its 5th world title, the Real Madrid midfielder will be central to all the good things they will do.
