Big Question: Which Teams Play the Best Defense?
After breaking down the most potent and most feeble offenses, today we turn our attention to defense. If the old cliché that defense wins championships is true, then the teams that we think have the best defenses should all be in a position to win some games this summer in Germany. We’ve identified the five best defensive teams in this year’s World Cup.
In no particular order:
Serbia and Montenegro – The Plavi defense was merely average during World Cup qualifying. That is, if you consider yielding one goal in ten games to be average. In addition to playing great team defense S&M’s backline is so studly that it has a nickname: The Famous Four.
Italy – With a number of quality strikers up front, this is a different Azzurri team than is usually the case. One thing that isn’t different is a defense that is harder to break than the Da Vinci Code.
Mexico – The Mexican defense might not be made up of world class players, but it does play very well together as a unit and when it does break down keeper Sanchez is normally there to bail them out. Should be very interesting to see it matched up against Portugal’s offense in the first round.
Croatia – A team built around defense, the backline does not have a nickname but might earn one if it can shut down Brazil in the opening round.
France – The team might be older than dirt, but it was quite the miser during qualifying yielding a nasty two goals in ten matches. Somehow we think France is either capable of keeping nothing but clean sheets or folding quicker than a tent and letting in a ton of goals.
Also worthy of merit: England, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Angola, Sweden
Agree or disagree, let us know with your comments. You can also send your Big Question to bob [at] worldcupblog.org and we might just take a stab at answering it.
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Comments
By Pedro P | March 26th, 2006 at 1:02 am 
Portugal is traditionally terrible when against defensive teams. We never beat Italy and we lost a final to Greece. In Lisbon. Sven tried the same stunt when ENG played POR (they were also 1 up, so tat was the obvious thing to do) and it was already what it was for POR…
And now you tell me Mexico is one of the strongest defenses? When there’s a chance a lot will be defined for everybody in that last match? You’ve just ruined my sunday…
Anyway, I believe that no matter how good their defense is, they will give free space. They’re south americans and they like to play ball. If they do, I just hope the guys in red and green are having a good day. It’s not fun to work 80 mins to score and then somebody catches you ONCE of guard, they go throuh and you go home…
By Pedro P | March 26th, 2006 at 1:05 am And I’ve also said here once, last time POR played ANG was NOT a walk in the park. Says as much about them as it does about us…
By Luis | March 26th, 2006 at 3:38 am I would put Portugal among the best defences. We all know that Portugal is up and coming and we always hear about the potent offense, but the portuguese defense is often overlooked. Consider the role call - Carvalho, Andrade, Meira, Valente, Miguel, Ferreira…all of them giants on the pitch. They may not get all the limelight, but they are the backbone of dozens of dominant clubs throughout Europe. In qualification, PT was close to the top on goals scored and fewest goals allowed. The true test is whether all these potent players can come together to play complete football. Little or no mistakes. That’s what it takes to win the big one.
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By Dido | March 26th, 2006 at 12:12 pm There is no question that Portugal should be on that list. They have a defence capable of shutting every teams attack.
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United Kingdom
By Pedro P | March 26th, 2006 at 12:57 pm With Andrade out and Costinha not playing in his club, I fear things are not as good as they should. Costinha is the equilibrium factor. Not that he’s super skilled, or brilliant at passing. He has, though, an impecable sense of placing and timing. He’s the balance between attack and defense.
I do find POR´s defense better than usually credited. But don’t forget most of the time the team has 5 in front of the ball. No matter how good a defense is, this always makes life complicated for defenders and forces them to be faster than usual.
By Massimo | March 27th, 2006 at 12:13 am Seriously, what’s with Saudi Arabia? Is that a joke? I’ll take it as a joke.
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By Ade Lamidi | March 27th, 2006 at 4:54 am Serbia and Montenegro definitely come up tops. Their defence is just too stingy and I heard they only conceded one goal in qualifying for the World Cup. That is some record. Holland, Argentina and Cote d’Ivoire strikers will need to come up with a formular to break this team down.
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By Your Mom | June 25th, 2006 at 11:51 pm Argentina has a solid defense. Their game against Mexico was pretty sad, but normally, Argentina’s defense is superb. Anyone agree?
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