CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1
PRE-WORLD CUP 2014 ANALYSIS: THE 3-5-2 / 3-4-1-2 FORMATION 1
A First Analysis of Netherlands’ New Style of Play: The 3-5-2 / 3-4-1-2 2
What Did Louis Van Gaal Learn from Netherlands Vs Ecuador? 3
Build up Play 4
Set Combination Play 4
Conclusion 4

CHAPTER 2
PREPARATION AND TACTICS FOR THE 2014 WORLD CUP 5
No Trends 7
Coaching Language 9
Technical Director 9
Progress in Build up Play 10
Being Compact in Defence 10
Player Awareness 11
The Opposition 12
The Strength of the Netherlands 14
Chapter Summary and Louis Van Gaal Quotes 18

CHAPTER 3
HOW TO MANAGE THE DUTCH NATIONAL TEAM: THE THREE ASSIGNMENTS 20
Staff 22
Three Assignments 22
Fitness 24
Scout7 26
Line-up 26
Division of Tasks 27
The Hotel Requirements 28
Pre-match Planning 28
Desire 29
The Barcelona Style of Play 29
Media 30
Selecting a Captain 30
Communicating with Players 31
Structure 32
Rotation 32
Motivation 32
Style of Play 34
Midfield 36
Focus 36
Conclusion 36
Chapter Summary and Louis Van Gaal Quotes 37

CHAPTER 4
LOUIS VAN GAAL NETHERLANDS TRAINING PRACTICES 2012-2014 39
Practice Format 40

PRACTICES
1: Passing + Dribble Combination ‘Triangle’ 42
2: Double One-Two Combination Triangle 44

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3: Double One-Two Combination Triangle (2) 45
4: Passing ‘Square’ - Receive, Directional Touch, Pass and Follow 46
5: Passing ‘Square’ - Timing of Movement in a Quick One-Two Combination Drill 47
6: Timing of Movement in a Quick One-two Combination Drill with Third Man Run 48
7: Moving to Receive in a One Touch Passing Drill 49
8: ‘Y-shape’ - Dribble, Change Direction + Pass 50
9: ‘Y-shape’ - One-two Combination, Pass + Dribble 51
10: ‘Y-shape’ - Double One-two Combination, Timing the Forward Run + Dribble 52
11: 5 V 3 Awareness Time and Space Possession Exercise 53
12: 6 V 7 (+Gk) Attack Vs Defence - Combinations to Break through 54
13: Collective Defending in an 8 V 7 Game Situation 55
14: Positional Support Play in an 8 (+2) V 8 (+2) Possession Game 56
15: Passing ‘Stations’ - Create Space, Give & Go + Dribble in a Continuous Drill 58
16: Passing ‘Stations’ - Create Space, Third Man Run + Dribble in a Continuous Drill 60
17: Passing ‘Stations’ - Create Space, Give & Go, Third Man Run + Dribble in a
Continuous Drill 61
18: Passing ‘Stations’ - Create Space, Give & Go, Third Man Run + Dribble in a
Continuous Drill (2) 62
19: High Speed of Play Quick Finishing 6 V 6 Small Sided Game 63
20: Positional Play in a 7 V 3 Possession Game 64
21: Attack Formation (2-3-2) V Defence Crossing and Finishing Practice 65
22: Press High up the Pitch, Win the Ball and Counter Attack in a 7 V 6 (+Gk) Practice 67
23: Switch of Play, 1 V 1 Flank Play + Crossing and Finishing Practice 68
24: Switching Play in a Box Formation 5v5 Small Sided Game with Outfield Goalkeepers 69
25: Shooting Practice with One-two Combinations (1) 70

CHAPTER 5
LOUIS VAN GAAL TRAINING PRACTICES FROM AZ ALKMAAR, BAYERN MUNICH
& MANCHESTER UTD 71

AZ ALKMAAR PRACTICES
1. Coaching Positional Roles to Build up Play in a 6 Zone 8 V 8 (+Gk) Functional Practice 72
2. Coaching Positional Roles to Build up Play in a 7 Zone 11 V 11 Game 73

BAYERN MUNICH PRACTICES

1. Timing of Movement in Double One-two Triangle Passing Combination 74
2. Timing Movement in Double One-two Passing Combination + Dribble 75

MANCHESTER UTD PRACTICES

1. Passing Diamond with Quick Combination Play 76
2. Passing Diamond with Quick Combination Play (2) 77
3. Shooting Practice with One-two Combinations (2) 78
4. Set Play: Short Corner - Cross and Finish 79
5. Set Play: In-swinging Corner and Finishing 80
6. Set Play: Wide Free-kick - Timing of Runs and Finishing 81

CHAPTER 6
DATA ANALYSIS AND THE PERIODIZATION OF FITNESS TRAINING 82
Football Conditioning 84
Fitness Analysis 85
Interpreting Data 88
Tactical Analysis 90

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3d Game Analysis 91
Chapter Summary 93

CHAPTER 7
COACHING PLAYERS IN THE SITUATION & CREATING A ‘WINNING CLIMATE’ 95
Style of Play 97
Pieces of the Puzzle 98
Creativity 98
Eleven versus Eleven 99
Defending 101
The Human and Footballer 102
Perspective 102
The Mental Aspect 104
Video Analysis 104
The Importance of Youth Development for Dutch Football 107
Chapter Summary and Louis Van Gaal Quotes 108

CHAPTER 8
THE IMPORTANCE OF TACTICS AND PSYCHOLOGY 110
One Step at the Time 112
Buying Players 113
Pressing 115
The Diamond Midfield 116
Video Analysis 116
Fc Barcelona 117
Attacking 119
The ‘Masterplan’ 120
Jose Mourinho 121
Psychology 121
Flexible and Honest 122
Netherlands 123
The World Cup 124
Chapter Summary and Louis Van Gaal Quotes 125

CHAPTER 9
RINUS MICHELS & VAN GAAL ON THE FUTURE OF DUTCH FOOTBALL 127
Another Style of Play? 128
Dutch Football Philosophy 131
Wingers 133
Breaking Point 134
Implementation 136
The Transition Phase 137
Director of Football 140
Regional Coaches 141
Louis Van Gaal Quotes 143

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