The Unfinished Miracle After What's Already Been Done

Rangnick brought to mind Bielsa. Maslov. Wolfgang Frank. Rappan. Jimmy Hogan. Not Hagan, Hogan! All of them are etched into football's greatest teams, even if their trophy cabinets weren't overflowing.

The German abolished the libero in the land of the libero, pushing for zonal marking, a high defensive line, and relentless pressing. His greatest domestic triumphs were the German Cup and League Cup, yet his footballing philosophy spread like wildfire, even embracing Austria. Both the philosophy and the man himself, now, after being deemed unremarkable at Old Trafford.

Maslov lived on through Lobanovskiy, Frank through Klopp and 'gegenpressing,' and Rappan through Helenio Herrera. Without Hogan, there would have been no Austrian 'Wunderteam' of Sindelar or the Hungarian 'Aranycsapat,' with the legendary Magyars Puskás, Czibor, Kocsis, and Bozsik. Without him, the cafes of Budapest and Vienna wouldn't have debated football so passionately, to the point of believing they could challenge the Mother of Football.

El Loco is one of the game's most influential figures. Cruyff, of course, but the Dutchman always left disciples because he won. The Argentine built his career in his homeland and, despite being beloved by almost all of us, won very little outside of it. He, perhaps the first not to choose between Menotti's romanticism and Bilardo's pragmatism, becoming a synthesis of both, is evident in the models of Guardiola, Simeone, Pochettino, Tata Martino, Berizzo, Sampaoli, Gallardo, and even Nagelsmann and Tuchel.

The 'garra charrúa' (Uruguayan grit) and 'Bielsism' seemed a perfect match. Marcelo's model thrives on energy, and Uruguayans have made that the foundation of their game for years. However, the World Cup isn't going as planned. Two draws, against Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia, leave them facing elimination in the final group stage match against Spain. This is an 'Olympic Celeste' without Suárez and Cavani, with Darwin struggling and a winger leading the charge. Not even Bielsa works miracles! Or does he? Does he even need to?