Brazil 2014: Finke To Use ‘Parking The Bus’ System?

After Volker Finke’s release of the Lions’ World Cup provisional list which is dominated by defensive players, CameroonWeb takes a look at the system the German tactician might have in mind.

Including 16 defensive players in a list of 28, it is definitely no doubt that the German born will be thinking of using the ‘Parking The Bus’ system in Brazil come June 2014.

'Parking The Bus' is an ultra-defensive strategy, involving defending with nearly your entire team. You allow the other team possession, in exchange for occupying almost all available space in your defensive third, keeping the other team from creating any real chances at goal. In Italian, it is called ‘Catenaccio’ which means "door-bolt". Clubs like AC Milan of Italy, Athletico Madrid and Chelsea FC under Jose Mourinho, are famous in using this system which has come under so much criticism.

In his matches with the Lions, Finke has used three defensive midfielders in almost all his games and seem to have succeeded at some points. In the away leg against Tunisia, he used nine defensive players with only Eto’o and Webo playing as strikers. This paid well as the Lions were able to secure a 0-0 draw away to Tunisia.

Playing in a group with teams like Brazil, Croatia and Mexico, Finke going in for ‘Parking The Bus’ will not be a bad idea. But what will pose a problem will be whether the Lions’ attacking machinery will be realistic to convert their goal-scoring chances. Also, with this system, Cameroon will need swift attackers who can counter attack as fast as possible to surprise the opponent. This will be what Finke will be expecting from his attackers if he is to use the ‘Parking The Bus’system.

Out of Finke’s midfielders, only two are offensive midfielders, Benjamin Moukandjo and Edgar Salli, both wingers. This clearly shows that the German will be looking forward to playing ‘Parking The Bus’ system. Also, the lack of an offensive midfielder has prompted Finke in using Rennes defensive midfielder, Jean Makoun, as an offensive midfielder, whereas he is a born defensive player.

Bringing in Mohamadou Idrissou and Webo, Finke might be using them to make this system perfect as it usually forces teams to take outside shots or simply lob crosses into the box, chances that don't carry a good conversion rate, but if one goal is conceded, the strategy is ineffective. Lions’ squad is short of players who score from long range since the likes of Patrick Mboma retired. Therefore, it will be ineffective to push the Lions to the next stage with such a system.

All in all, ‘Parking The Bus’ isn't generally a recipe for a winning team, since you create very few chances for yourself, while allowing your opponent to continue trying to score. Like any other football fans, Cameroonians will be looking forward to see that their team wins matches to take them to the next level. They will not want a situation like the 1982 World Cup where the Lions had three points in three games. So, this will be a risky venture for Finke should he try to use it.

Complete list of 28-man provisional squad for the World Cup in Brazil:

Goalkeepers: Guy-Rolland Assembe (En Avant Guingamp), Loic Feudjou (Coton Sport), Charles Itandje (Konyaspor), Sammy Ndjock (Fethiyespor)

Defenders: Benoit Assou-Ekotto (Tottenham Hotspur), Henri Bedimo (Olympique Lyon), Gaeten Bong (Olympiakos Piraeus), Aurelien Chedjou (Galatasaray), Cedric Djeugoue (Coton Sport), Jean-Armel Kana Biyik (Stade Rennes), Nicolas Nkoulou (Olympique Marseille), Dany Nounkeu (Besiktas), Allan Nyom (Granada)

Midfielders: Enoh Eyong (Antalyaspor), Raoul Cedric Loe (Osasuna), Jean Makoun (Stade Rennes), Joel Matip (Schalke 04), Stephane Mbia (Sevilla), Benjamin Moukandjo (Nancy), Landry Nguemo (Girondins Bordeaux), Edgar Salli (Racing Lens), Alexandre Song (Barcelona)

Forwards: Vincent Aboubakar (Lorient), Eric-Maxim Choupo Moting (Mainz), Samuel Eto’o (Chelsea), Mohamadou Idrissou (Kaiserslautern), Fabrice Olinga (Malaga), Achille Webo (Fenerbahce).