I think they'd adapt

by Anonymous 2 days ago

If you played a team of 2025 players against a team of 1990s players the 2020s players would be on average much fitter and much more able to run hard for 90 minutes. Although playing on 1990s pitches with 1990s boots and balls and most importantly referees would go some way to levelling out the difference, I'd still expect the 2025 team to basically run the 1990s team into the ground.

by Ok_Ice3579 2 days ago

This is true. Just see how Maradona was man-handled on every match day. You had to be a street fighter along with a footballer back in those days. All those who cry about footballers faking injuries should watch a few matches from the 80s and 90s to see WHY this has happened.

by Anonymous 2 days ago

I disagree, today's tactics would absolutely demolish the 90's tactics. Tactics > Physicality.

by Anonymous 2 days ago

90s players also had less cardio.

by Brionna57 2 days ago

They would, but like OP said. The game was a lot rougher back then, go back far enough and players were playing in swamplike pitches sometimes when compared to today. There's a lot more regulation these days from the state of the grass to how players tackle. The likes of Keane and Cantona just flooring players and getting away with warnings several times during a match would be instant reds today and I think most of todays players couldn't handle it. What I think OP means by struggle is actually playing and not just winning/losing. The environments are just very different. Haaland is conscidered quite the physical player these days, but compared to 30 years ago, the mans nothing. He'd be shoved around like a kid in a mosh pit. Tactically, yeah he's better than a lot of players in knowing where to be, watching plays and being a better teammate than a physical individual. But he'd struggle to pull that off as well when Keane is trying to shove him over "slyly".

by windlerstefan 2 days ago