"They always say Belsa is a madman, but personally, I think he's more of a genius."
On the Brazil Team's bench, Chen Yu sat with Lopez, listening to his analysis of the game.
"He's a disciple of Michels's spatial theory, but he takes it to a more extreme level. On the surface, it looks like having three defenders would weaken the backline, leaving space for the opponent to attack on the left and right." Lopez was the Brazil Team's technical advisor. He studied tactics for a living, so explaining these concepts was second nature to him.
He pointed to Brazil's side of the field. "Look. If we try to play the ball out from the back and push forward, their three forwards and Belon form a diamond of four. They'll immediately press us, forcing us to fall back on defense. It's a proactive way to neutralize an attack—they kill it in the cradle before it can even begin."
