World Cup 2018: 3 reasons why tiki-taka is seemingly dead

#3 Dearth of genuine goal scorers

The advent of the notion of a false 9 has caused a general degradation in the quality of strikers in world football. It has to be kept in mind that Spain’s supremely successful teams had goal-scorers like David Villa and Fernando Torres, while Germany had Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski.

It’s not possible to win football matches without quality strikers. All those passes played in the midfield are of no value unless they are converted into goals.

Spain has a top-class penalty box poacher in the form of Diego Costa, but he seems a misfit at times and does not get enough quality crosses from the wingers or fullbacks.

Germany dropped Sandro Wagner from the squad and played Timo Werner who seemed much more comfortable playing on the flanks.

As a result, they found it extremely difficult to score and win matches. Their respective coaches refused to adopt a more direct strategy and paid the price.

About the author

Subhadeep, an adept tennis journalist at Sportskeeda, has been writing about the sport for seven years. He is known for his exclusive match reviews and opinion pieces, utilizing his MBA degree to tackle them effectively with his problem-solving abilities.

Subhadeep lives and breathes tennis. He watches matches regularly and engages in social media platforms to stay on top of the latest happenings. As a writer, he brings the fan's perspective to his pieces, ensuring his readers enjoy an exceptional experience every time.

Growing up, he idolized Boris Becker, but he now firmly believes Novak Djokovic stands alone as the 'Greatest of all Time', especially considering the 24-time Grand Slam champion's incredible stats. One thing that still puzzles Subhadeep, however, is how Becker's Wimbledon tally might have reached five if not for Pete Sampras.

Speaking of the All England Club, the British Major holds a special place in his heart as he admires its blend of tradition and grass-court excellence. When not working for Sportskeeda, Subhadeep delves into the other "love of his life": football, and enjoys contributing his insights to different websites dedicated to the sport.

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Edited by Anthony Akatugba Jr.