Kane, Giroud, Richarlison: what makes a World Cup no.9?
The Athletic FC Podcast
The Athletic
4.0 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 6 December 2022
⏱️ 35 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Adam Leventhal is joined by James Horncastle, Raphael Honigstein & Jack Pitt-Brooke to debate and analyse the values and importance of a no.9 in international football.
With the likes of Olivier Giroud, Richarlison and Harry Kane all playing prominent roles in their nations' hopes of winning the World Cup, yet playing the centre forward role in a differing way: what exactly are the hallmarks of a successful no.9?
The role of a false nine, target man and wide forward converted into a striker are all evaluated as well as the evolution of the centre forward through football history along with the role academies have played in the 'decline' of no.9 production.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The Athletic. |
| 0:03.0 | Plenty of goals in this World Cup have come from some of its brightest stars, Mbapé, Messi and Neymar. |
| 0:12.0 | But what of the traditional number nine, the likes of Olivier Giroux, Harry Kane, or those from bygone World Cups, |
| 0:20.0 | like Gertmuller, |
| 0:22.9 | Gary Lineca, and Toto Scalachi, |
| 0:24.4 | if you're really that old. |
| 0:27.4 | Are these types of players dying out, |
| 0:29.5 | or has the game and the number nine simply evolved into something completely different? |
| 0:32.2 | I'm Adam Leventall, |
| 0:33.1 | and this is the Athletic Football Podcast. |
| 0:48.0 | Thank you. This is the Athletic Football Podcast. This is the Athletic Football Podcast. |
| 0:52.1 | The class of champions. |
| 0:55.0 | Olivier Giroux, now the greatest ever. |
| 0:59.0 | Gallic goal scorer. |
| 1:01.0 | Kane running through the centre. |
| 1:02.0 | Kane's got a big chance here now. |
| 1:04.0 | It's Harry Kane and England lead to now. |
| 1:08.0 | The Netherlands take the lead and of course it's Cody Gapow. |
| 1:20.6 | So we are back, Paulside at Shea Horncastle and Honigstein |
| 1:25.6 | and I'm pleased to say James and Raffer are with us |
| 1:28.8 | we're not just here by their pool without permission |
| 1:32.0 | Jack Pitbrook is here as well |
... |
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