Former Italy and AC Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi has added his voice to the growing number of experts who believe the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar will be a success. He admitted he’s captivated by the concept of a compact tournament, which will allow players, fans and media an experience never before enjoyed at previous tournaments.
As the coach who led Italy to the final of the 1994 FIFA World Cup USA, Sacchi understands the difficulty of preparing a team to compete in a vast country where travel can be as much of a challenge as the opposition.
That’s why he believes FIFA’s decision to take the tournament to Qatar will work out perfectly. He said: “I don’t have any doubts about Qatar. I know the culture of the Qataris; they’ll do something special that will be remembered for a long time.
“The first FIFA World Cup in the Arab world will be very interesting. They will find a solution for the heat. I know that there is a great level of organisation there.
“To have a compact tournament is an enormous advantage for players and teams. Every time you have to travel it is stressful, and that adds to the exhaustion of the game. The less you have to travel at such a tournament, the better for the players.”
Sacchi was instrumental in forming a successful Italy team which included players such as Franco Baresi, Paulo Maldini, and ‘the divine ponytail’, Roberto Baggio. His Italy side reached the final of USA ’94 – only to lose on penalties to Brazil after a 0-0 draw, with Baggio missing the decisive spot-kick.
“He was a great player,” Sacchi remembered, “but everyone in my teams who played in a collective way and made a big effort for the team was important. The current Italy side needs to be renovated, there is always a need to learn more if you look at the way Costa Rica made it to the quarter-finals, you see that you can learn from countries from all over the world.”
Sacchi also believes that having equal playing conditions for all teams would be a great benefit to all the 32 participating nations at a FIFA World Cup™.
“At 25 degrees you will be very comfortable. I remember when I was coach of Italy in USA 1994, there were games with temperatures between 30 and 45 degrees, and up to 90 percent humidity. So if in Qatar they can cool all stadiums to 25 degrees that would be a great condition to play in. I know the capability of the Qataris, they will put on the best conditions for athletes and fans.”
Having observed the 2014 World Cup from close quarters in Rio de Janeiro, Sacchi believes that physical conditions and determination can often make a difference in the modern game.
“A tournament like this is very tiring,” he stressed. “To win you must be at 100 percent physically, you have to have the athletic capabilities, but also the character, determination, and of course you have to play well.”
The winner of two consecutive European Cups with AC Milan in 1989 and 1990, Sacchi said that coaching at national team level was more complicated.
“It is more difficult to coach at national team level because you don’t have so much time with the players. So it can be important to have a big group of players from one club, who know each other well.”
Sacchi, who coached the Italian national team for five years from 1991 to 1996, and is credited with being the founder of the attacking modern pressing style, concluded by saying Qatar would impress the world in 2022.
“I’m sure Qatar will do things well, they will have clear organisation and the best conditions for players.” — SC.qa
