Tactical Innovation in Soccer is a Mirror Image of Poker
Believe it or not, there are tremendous similarities between tactical plays in poker and soccer. As a strategy-based card game, poker is often compared to anything involving calculated odds. This includes, but is not limited to trading, investing, chess, and even eSports. Unbeknownst to many, several leading soccer players are avid poker enthusiasts. You may be surprised to learn that Gerard Pique of Spain and FC Barcelona is an avid poker enthusiast. He performed exceptionally well at the World Series of Poker Main Event, and is a regular contender on the European Poker Tour. Back in 2011, he successfully competed and won $56,000.
But he’s not the only soccer star who uses his mental acuity at the card tables. Arguably the world’s most famous modern-day footballer Cristiano Rinaldo is one of poker’s biggest fans. He routinely promotes the game and is a skilled player too. Guys like Teddy Sheringham are exceptionally talented at high-stakes poker contests. Back in 2016, he finished #14 in the WSOP Main Event, claiming $66,000 in winnings. That pales in comparison to the tournament earnings he has racked up over the years – $329,000. Ronaldo claimed $42,180 in the Bahamas in a poker tournament, and Neymar Jr has won an impressive €17,810 playing poker.
What Are the Similarities in Gameplay between Soccer and Poker?
We know that Neymar is dead set on becoming a professional poker player after he retires from soccer, so clearly there is something unique that connects soccer players with the mind game of poker. At a recent sit-down, Brazilian poker ace Andre Akkari (who happens to be Neymar’s poker idol) discussed what it takes to make the transition from the soccer pitch to the poker felt. Akkari is no slouch at the poker tables, with an impressive $2.6 million in tournament earnings to his credit. Quoting Akkari, ‘… Neymar keeps saying that after he quits football he’s going to play poker for real, become a professional.’ Brazilian soccer players have a keen affinity with the game of poker. Perhaps it’s the showmanship, razzle-dazzle, bluffing, and big pots that are so appealing?
The similarities between poker and soccer run deep. Thanks to soccer ambassadors who now play poker, tremendous resources have been shifted to the game and there’s plenty of interest among players. Many leading footballers (soccer players) have taken to poker, including Tony Cascarino, Jan van Soreson, Tomas Brolin, and company. The competitive nature of both games is the common link. Of course, the connections run much deeper. High-stakes poker games mimic high-stakes action on the soccer pitch. When players go head-to-head against one another, they put everything on the line. In soccer, the tactical plays must be learned and executed with precision. There is very little room for error on the pitch, given the skills and abilities of one’s opponents. At that level of play, players have an intricate understanding of the psychological aspect of the game – whether it be poker or soccer.
Sometimes opponents have to be outmuscled with speed and precision, and at other times they must be outwitted with bluffs and set pieces of play. The culmination of these tactical plays often results in goals being scored. On the soccer pitch and the poker felt, that means victory. The correlations run deep. While no amount of tactical planning can guarantee a favourable result there are probabilities to consider. A poker player, like a soccer player, can expect a greater probability of success when precision tactical plays are executed. Lady Luck is an ever-present wildcard in both games, but the odds clearly favour the prepared player. In common parlance, Chance Favors Only the Prepared Mind (Louis Pasteur). Many attendant factors must be considered, such as timing, actions, and resource management. When all is said and done, it’s the innovative techniques that push a player over the goal-line. Nothing less than perfect execution can safeguard a favourable result.
What Were the Best Tactical Innovations in Soccer History?
Throughout the ages, soccer stars have displayed an uncanny ability to implement effective tactical measures to secure victory. The likes of Argentinian soccer player Helenio Herrera and coach Karl Rappan conjured up a tactical system known as Catenaccio with a 4-4-2 formation. Then of course there was the Hungarian system with a 3-2-3-2 formation. Other effective soccer strategies included Herbert Chapman’s counter-attacking game play while at Arsenal. Guys like David Jack and Alex James played alongside Herbert Chapman to secure victory. In 2008, Guardiola took over FC Barcelona. By including Spaniards in the Spanish team, Guardiola strengthened the squad. These types of tactical innovations have helped to secure victory for soccer teams.
In poker, players routinely step away from fixed plays and implement innovative techniques to secure victory. In much the same way as soccer coaches realized that there were no limits to how teams could establish themselves, poker coaches started to focus more on the mental game of poker as a pathway to success. Most everybody agrees that poker is a mind game; players are in engaged in grueling psychological interactions with one another on every play. 4 betting and 5 betting during the pre-flop stages became increasingly popular in poker. We’ve seen lots of tactical changes taking place in the game with aggressive gameplay, rapid offensive plays, and correct nutrition. The latter aspect of poker is particularly notable. Red Bull became the drink of choice at poker tables, purporting to give advantages wide-eyed advantages to poker players.
At highly competitive levels of play, there is very little separating the great teams and the great players. That’s why the edge diminishes and a whole other level of complexity enters the arena. These tactical innovations often mean the difference between victory and defeat. At the highest level, victory cannot be taken for granted. Game-changing evolutions are always being investigated to give a slight advantage to the player. It doesn’t come easy, but once you score a victory the euphoria is overwhelming.