“No one will see Xavi or Iniesta in this tournament, but our philosophy is the same as the men’s team of the last few years,” Spain captain Veronica Boquete said ahead of the 2015 World Cup.
“This is a team that likes to play ‘tiki-taka,’ to hold the ball, and to play the beautiful game. Spain had never won anything and this style helped it achieve success and, now, we want to stick with it.”
It didn’t quite work out like that in Canada – Spain dominated possession in one of their three group games and took only one point, against Costa Rica. But the intention and the identity was clear: whenever we do it, we will be doing it the Spanish way.
Spain have stayed true to their mantra of possession since Boqueta’s missive. It is a reflection of Barcelona femini’s commitment to the same principle after the men’s team – and certainly the men’s game in general – graduated towards a more counter-attacking, less possession-heavy style.
More from Football
Spain averaged 75 per cent possession in the group stage; no other team managed more than 67 percent. That’s made more significant given the strength of Spain’s opposition. They had comfortably more of the ball in a 2-0 defeat to Germany than England did in an 8-0 win over Norway.
But what if that was not through their choice but the choice of their opponents? Germany were more than happy to sacrifice possession in exchange for potency. Denmark continually looked to play direct, having a shot for every 25 passes – Spain made 709 passes but were fortunate to win. The absence of Alexia Putellas, arguably the greatest women’s footballer in the world, should not be overestimated. But it would not have changed the issue entirely.
Instead, Spain have become the great tiki-taka exception: the team that passes and passes but only scores headers. Four of their five goals have been scored with the head (a penalty the other). For all the open-play patterns, Spain have been far too easy to defend against, positively stagnant against Germany and for large parts of the win over Denmark. Their biggest threat comes from set pieces, a bizarro hybrid of La Masia and Tony Pulis-ian principles.
By Monday, in an interview with the Guardian, midfielder Laia Aleixandri suggested that Spain might be better suited to an opponent who were unlikely to allow Spain to dominate possession. You can consider that as sacrilege to the identity of the team, but it’s more a simple piece of rational thinking. Spain have limited England to a single shot on target across their last two meetings (one in 2020, one earlier this year). They have also averaged 60 per cent of the ball, far less than their usual.
One of the unique characteristics of women’s football’s development after its grotesque 50-year ban is that rapid improvement is made possible with only medium-level investment. Spain are the newest example. Barcelona Femení turned professional in 2015; six years later they dismantled Chelsea 4-0 to win the Champions League final and established what they intend to be a new era of women’s football dominance.
The rapidity of that rise presents Spain and England as opposites. This England generation, with their World Cup quarter-finals in 2007 and 2011 and major tournament semi-finals in 2015, 2017 and 2019, have seemingly been building towards this tournament as their best realistic hope of triumph for years. Spain, who had never before won a knockout match at a major tournament, were the pre-tournament favourites out of nowhere.
More on Women's Euro 2022
Which means that Spain are acutely aware that for the first time in a while, the pressure is more on their opponents than them. Against Finland and Denmark, they were heavy favourites. Against Germany, they were expected to exert their new power over the old guard. Brighton will be abuzz, the breaking heat causing a wave of relief into which a football fever will rush. The atmosphere for England’s group game against Norway at the Amex was comfortably the most universally positive of any game I have attended. But knockout football brings with it nerves; where expectation and pressure meet, fear abides.
England are favourites for good reason. They have improved exponentially under Sarina Wiegman and their players are fully prepared for the step up in class. Complacency kills momentum and England are hardly guilty of it. The atmosphere in Brighton will create pressure, but it will also inspire those who have years to experience it and those who thought it might never come at all. But they must beware a Spanish team that knows we have not yet seen their best and is determined to spoil the party. They might even compromise on principles to do it.
Key battles
By Jack Butler
Beth Mead vs Leila Ouahabi
Beth Mead’s record at this summer’s Euros – five goals in three games – is remarkable, considering she missed out on the Olympic squad last summer.
Her particular match-up against Spain will see her face Leila Ouahabi, who has recently joined Manchester City after 11 years split between Valencia and Barcelona.
Although Ouahabi was replaced at half-time by 21-year-old Olga Carmona in their final group game, she is likely to retain her starting place for the quarter-final.
Ouahabi is one of the most renowned attacking full-backs in the game and provides a different proposition to the defenders Mead has embarrassed thus far. If she starts, Mead will be challenged defensively by a player equipped to force the Arsenal attacker to retreat as she attacks down the left.
In response, England must be brave, although this seems to be their default setting under Wiegman. But – as we saw when Finland took a shock lead after 50 seconds and Germany netted inside three minutes – Spain’s defensive line can be caught cold and exploited. Mead could be the player to provide the go-forward in that line of attack.
Irene Paredes vs Ellen White/Alessia Russo
The choice between Ellen White and Alessia Russo is perhaps the only selection dilemma for England ahead of the quarter-final, having remained unchanged throughout the group stage.
Russo has scored three goals off the bench and is pushing White for the starting position, although the Manchester City striker is expected to get the nod.
Regardless of who Wiegman starts, they will have to get past Spain skipper Irene Paredes, who made her international debut in November 2011 and has gone on to become a vital figure both on and off the pitch.
Her defensive qualities are well known, but her leadership skills would have been tested in this tournament, where she has been tasked with rebuilding an environment shocked by injuries to record goal-scorer Jennifer Hermoso and Alexis Putellas.
Aitana Bonmati vs Keira Walsh
Without doubt this match will be won in the middle of the park. Key to England’s hopes of thwarting their opponents will be Walsh, a player whose eye for a pass could be crucial in catching Spain on the counter and making sure the home side get a break from chasing shadows.
Her main match-up will be with Aitana Bonmati, an energetic box-to-box midfielder who will test England with her quality and engine. She also seems relatively confident of toppling the hosts.
“I’m not scared. I think my team-mates aren’t scared either,” said Bonmati ahead of the quarter-final clash.
“We think we can beat them but we have to improve our style and be better.”
from Football | News and analysis from the Premier League and beyond | iNews https://ift.tt/JAZNi8R
Post a Comment