While watching the match France vs Honduras I could not help remembering the harsh criticism that was meted out when, many decades ago, as coach to the Malta side, I had elected to play defensively against much superior opponents and this to the disgust of the commentators.

It seemed to me that these critics hardly accepted the fact that had we tried to play differently we would have suffered worse defeat.

Honduras, conscious of their limitations, had the whole team behind the ball most of the time. They couldn’t do otherwise.

One wonders what the clever crits of yesteryear had to say.

And it is not only Honduras that indulge in such tactics when facing superior odds.