Herrera goes on the defensive
Football's tactics have continued to evolve over the years to a level of
extreme sophistication, and various countries, coaches and teams are credited
with having been the key figures behind a tactical innovation that left its
indelible mark on the game.

Changing game
English coach Herbert Chapman devised the 'WM' system in the 1920s; the
Hungarians revolutionised football in the early 1950s with their use of the
deep-lying centre forward; the Dutch gave us their polyvalent, thrilling
'total football' in the early 1970s. And Italian football was the focal point
of a tactical upheaval in the 1960s which placed greater emphasis on the use
of defence to win matches.

Locking the door
The 'catenaccio' - large chain, in Italian - system was the direct successor
to the so-called 'verrou' (bolt) defensive template invented in the 1940s by
Karl Rappan, the Austrian coach who was in charge of the Swiss national team.
He stationed an extra defender in front of the goalkeeper to act as an extra
obstacle to opposition forwards.

Herrera's way
The 'verrou' system was deployed in various styles from then on, and was to
act as an inspiration to Helenio Herrera, the Argentinian coach who took over
at FC Internazionale in Milan in 1960. The authoritarian Herrera devised a
pattern of play in which at least three defenders were assigned strict
man-to-man marking duties on the opposition attackers. They were accompanied
at the back by a free defender - a 'libero', so named because he was free of
marking obligations. The 'libero' played behind the other defenders, and was
used as a last rearguard hurdle to stop any opponents who might have breached
the defence.

European champions
Herrera's system worked to such an extent that Inter won the European
Champion Clubs' Cup twice, in 1964 and 1965. Other coaches copied Inter's
example. The reliance on this highly efficient defensive system was subject
to considerable criticism - detractors argued that football was about winning
matches by scoring goals, rather than about merely not losing. The critics
pointed at a proliferation of 0-0 draws, and argued that the game was poorer
as a result, for spectators as well.

Counterattacking style
Nevertheless, the intelligent Herrera knew he also had the armoury to turn
defence into sudden, devastating counterattack. His 1960s team also contained
the stealthy attacker Sandro Mazzola, Spanish midfield general Luis Suárez,
and a piece of elegant football gold in full-back Giacinto Facchetti.

Opponents ensnared
Inter were at their most fluent when Facchetti was breaking forward. In fact,
Herrera encouraged both of his full-backs, Facchetti and the rugged Tarcisio
Burgnich, to attack when they had the ball. Opponents were ensnared in
Inter's defensive web - and then picked off in rapid-fire fashion at the
other end when they were exposed and leaving space.

Positive legacy
Facchetti scored ten goals in one Serie A season, and while Inter's side may
have been more famous (or infamous) for tight defence, Facchetti's skills
were to lead to the emergence of attacking full-backs - a legacy that remains
today in the form of players like Roberto Carlos and Cafu - and the attacking
'libero' such as Franz Beckenbauer.

Italian mentality
'Catenaccio' was a source of feverish debate. Many observers have commented
that it was simply reflecting a certain football mentality in Italy - the
result was more important than the manner. For many, it represented a
negative step - defence taking priority - but, conversely, the experts will
tell you that the system also provided an interesting counterpoint, in that
it also heralded the era of a new style of attack.

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