|By Gabriel Nkunika
As the Zambia national football team takes on the current world champions Argentina national football team. The focus shouldn’t necessarily be on the result but on progress.
What I’ll be looking out for is improvement in our system of play, and more importantly, tactical discipline from both the coach and the players.
One consistent issue Zambia continues to face is how easily teams play through us. This largely comes down to a lack of compactness. When the team is too stretched, it creates spaces between the lines, making it easier for top sides like Argentina to dominate and control the game.
In modern football, it’s not just about the formation that’s only the structure. The real identity of a team comes from its principles of play:
A high line often reflects an attacking approach, pushing the team forward.
A low block is more defensive, focusing on organization and denying space.
Zambia must find the right balance. Whether we play high or sit deep, the key is staying compact, organized, and disciplined throughout the game.
For a player like Patson Daka, who may not receive the ball as often in a game like this, positioning becomes very important. He has to trust his teammates to get the ball to him, but at the same time, he must remain active making intelligent runs, pressing from the front, and constantly working hard to create opportunities. Even without frequent touches, his movement and work rate can still have a big impact on the game.
If we can show improvement in these areas today, that will be a bigger win than the scoreline itself.
