Hasan Saiyid looks at some countries that are going to rely heavily on width at the World Cup

Other than being great footballers, Sir Stanley Matthews, Garrincha and Marc Overmars have something else in common. They were fantastic wingers, a breed that is of relatively low stock in the modern game.

With the emphasis on central channels growing in modern tactics, wingers are playing less a part than they used to. For example, witness the importance that a central playmaker has held in recent years. Many teams now rely on a ‘number 10′ to get things rolling between the midfield and attack.

While having central playmakers has doubtless been a source of success for many, countries that play with wingers have also enjoyed incisive delivery for their forwards.

History serves to underline this point. Sir Stanley Matthews was a right-winger of some fame in the early twentieth century and was the chief architect of resounding English wins over Wales and Czechoslovakia in the 1930s. Even in 1957, despite the rigours of two decades of football, Matthews was influential as ever in a 7-2 England win over Scotland, where he set up no less than five
of the goals.

The Stoke City genius, who played on the right flank, was the paradigm of a complete winger. He was fast, strong on the ball and an exemplary dribbler (earning himself the nickname “The Wizard of Dribble”).

His modern day equivalent in the England team, David Beckham, has often been criticized for not having pace, grit and footwork required for a successful winger. Though Beckham’s set-piece skill and aerial delivery offset these limitations, commentators correctly bemoan the lack of a true winger’s attributes in the England captain.

At this summer’s World Cup, however, we will have the pleasure of observing some countries that still explicitly, though not exclusively,   rely on wide men on both flanks in their build-up play.

Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Figo are two of the most unique wingers in football today. While both are able to play out wide they are equally comfortable delivering through a more central role, as Ronaldo often does at Manchester United and Figo at Inter.

But the fact that they are fine wingers came to the fore at Euro2004, the first international tournament where Figo and his understudy Ronaldo played together.

The result was a wing-play system that was hard to define for defenders and observers alike. Rather than confining themselves to one flank, Ronaldo and Figo effortlessly interchanged flanks – a testament to their versatility – and verged into the middle when necessary.

Spain

The Spanish will relish the prospect of Joaquin and Vicente Rodriguez supplying the frontline from the wings. Given the often one-dimensional approach that Spain had during Euro2004, they would do well to use their wide channels more frequently and effectively.

Vicente and Joaquin provide considerable speed on the left and right flank respectively. The latter is also a versatile player, who can play a more central role if required.

England

Sven-Goran Eriksson long rued his lopsided midfield that was propped up on the right by Beckham. He now seems to have found the right balance by inserting Joe Cole on the left. Cole has vindicated Eriksson by putting in some intelligent, mature performances during the World Cup qualifiers.

As a right flank operator, Beckham remains a prominent winger in the modern game, even if he has his critics in that role.

Eriksson also has the option of the nimble Shaun Wright-Phillips on the right but he is probably going to stick with captain Beckham.

Netherlands

The Netherlands have always produced notable wingers, not least the retired Marc Overmars. Dutch coach Marco van Basten will place a strong emphasis on his bright young wingers at the World Cup.

He has a host of effervescent options in Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie, Salomon Kalou, who is originally Ivorian, and Romeo Castelen.

Such is the value of outstanding wingers in the Netherlands that van Basten and former Dutch legend Johann Cruyff have taken 20-year-old Kalou’s naturalization case to courts. They have argued for Kalou’s Dutch citizenship process to be sped up because the player provides immense added benefit to the Dutch team, especially as van Basten sees Kalou as a useful substitute for Robben.

As the case stands currently, Kalou has a good chance of playing in this summer’s World Cup, where he may even square off against brother and Ivory Coast player Bonaventure Kalou.

Wingers still in good health

The quartet of countries mentioned above will see wide men as an integral part of their attacking approach. While the central route has long worked for many there is an undeniable dynamic element to a wing-play system.

Thankfully, the Figos are continuing the tradition of the Matthews.

Hasan Saiyid has a burgeoning section on the World Cup, including player profiles, team profiles and a special ’Italia focus section’, on his site at: www.totalsoccer.ca/wc2006