Everton boss Roberto Martinez suggests European teams will struggle at World Cup

Everton boss Roberto Martinez has told fifa.com that European sides will find it extremely difficult to adapt to the conditions in Brazil this year, ahead of the World Cup which kicks off in under two months’ time. Martinez, a respected figure in the English game after a fantastic first season at Everton, said: “First, as […]
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sambafoot_admin
2014-04-15 20:41:00

Everton boss Roberto Martinez has told fifa.com that European sides will find it extremely difficult to adapt to the conditions in Brazil this year, ahead of the World Cup which kicks off in under two months’ time.

Martinez, a respected figure in the English game after a fantastic first season at Everton, said: “First, as a European team to be able to adapt to the conditions- the conditions of the pitch and the climate- it’s very difficult and it takes alot to get used pushing yourself under those conditions, so physically you’ll be affected.”

“Tactically, it’s a very different way of playing the game. It seems South American sides are quite happy to go man-marking all over the park and they are happy with those one-on-one situations, rather than relying on systems and being a bit more zonal and organised.”

“And third is the meaning of representing a South American side in a World Cup is, at the moment, much stronger than for a European player representing his nation.”