PEOPLE AND PLACES IN THE NEWS
Striker quits Venezuela in protest at coach
Josef Martinez
PEOPLE AND PLACES IN THE NEWS
T
he Venezuela national
team has lost the
services of one of its
most senior players
after MLS star Martinez
announced that he is
no longer available for
selection. He says he will not represent
his country while former goalkeeper
Rafael Dudamel remains in charge.
Martinez referred to a breakdown in
relations over the course of Dudamel’s
three-year reign, with this year’s Copa
America marking a new low point.
It had been clear for some time that
all was not well.
In the 2016 Copa, and the closing
stages of the last World Cup qualification
campaign, the Atlanta United player was
often the first player to be substituted- and he made little secret of his
displeasure as he left the field. More
recently he has not even been in the
starting line-up, with all three of his
appearances in the latest Copa coming
off the bench.
However strained relations are between
player and coach, the explanation can not
be limited to the personal. There would
also appear to be tactical motives.
Since the last set of World Cupqualifiers, Dudamel seems set on a
4-1-4-1 shape which gives him a triangle
in the centre of the pitch, with a mixed
midfielder either side of a holder. It also
gives him a triangle up front, where
Salomon Rondon is the big target-man
centre-forward, with hopes that recent
Boca Juniors signing Jan Hurtado will
be his burly, long-term replacement.
On the flanks, Dudamel likes quick,
tricky wingers such as Darwin Machis,
Jhon Murillo, Yeferson Soteldo and
Jefferson Savarino. There is, therefore,
no room for a second striker – the role
Martinez used to play supporting Rondon.
Martinez has made it clear that he
would like to continue his international
career and add to his 11 goals in 51
games, but it will need a change of coach- and, almost certainly, a change in
formation. He is not an out-and-out
number nine, nor is he a winger,
although his pace means he could
certainly improvise there. Instead, he^
is the type of striker who, at the top
level, is best suited to a 4-4-2 set-up.
Martinez’s club coach is Frank De
Boer and there were teething troubles
at Atlanta for the more defence-minded
Dutchman when he took charge this term.
However, a mid-season switch to a
back three and wing-backs boosted the
side’s attacking options – and Martinez
was the major beneficiary, going on an
MLS record-breaking 15-game scoring
run that was only ended by injury and
he was substituted against San Jose.
Tim Vickery
Regensburg line in 2.Bundesliga, he got a
hat-trick in the 5-0 dismantling of once-
mighty Hamburg.
An extra string to his bow is his
versatility. At Steinbach he operated
in all manner of attacking positions
- number 10, right-winger or second
striker – and more often than not lined
up on the left wing for Regensburg,
regularly cutting inside to score.
A regional table tennis champion in
his youth, he may be an elite novice but
that’s exactly where he finds his hunger
and drive. He always thought he would
reach the promised land one day and is
permanently fired up to make sure he
stays there.
“This is his first experience in the
top grade and he gives his absolute
all in every training session and match,”
says Hoffenheim team-mate Benjamin
Hubner. “It’s great to see someone like
him rewarded.”
Nick Bidwell
Threat...causing
problems for
Mexico’s defenceMartinez went on an MLS record-
breaking 15-game scoring run that
was only ended by injury