Comments on: Spain 0-1 Switzerland: Spanish failings the main reason for the scoreline

By: Sigmund

Sigmund — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 09:57:53 +0000

The embarrassment of riches that greets Del Bosque every time he looks at the team sheet may provide him more problems than solutions for match situations. The fact that he has a number of players who are termed “undroppable” is a cause for major concern. He has to acknowledge the fact that more than one player in his current eleven needs to be dropped to streamline his team’s game. First and foremost, David Villa. Yes, he plays as a lone striker for Valencia FC and has for Spain for a long time(and has scored more goals in national colours)but Torres is more effective as a lone striker as he doesn’t venture deep as often. This may have to do with the fact they have different roles for their respective clubs (Torres being ensured of better supply from midfield than Villa). Villa may have to play similar to Torres when he starts of at Barcelona. Spain needs a finisher in the box at all times and Torres fits this profile better. Torres is also a more direct player which is what Spain needs sometimes also highlighting the lack of variety in their attacking formations.
The defensive midfielder position is the most open to debate and it’s not too difficult to comprehend why this is so. Replacing Marcos Senna is impossible with this squad and they shouldn’t look to either. Busquets is in the team for this precise reason, to bring discipline and hard work into this flair abundant side (The most overused cliche of the year) . Xavi can definitely play alongside Alonso as the deep lying play maker which of course is the popular opinion and it could work. Passes would flow easier from defense to midfield and cut down on long pointless sideways passing that the Spanish are forced to make when the midfield is being closed down by the opposition.
This frees the three attacking players, Iniesta, Fabregas (playing in his most preferred position, one which is indisputably his own in the Premier League)and Silva to carry on with their duties. Iniesta and Silva are interchangeable and of course Navas can always be introduced for the width option. They have more options in the form of Riera and Pedro to inject some pace in midfield.
Then there is the Galactico, Sergio Ramos. Provides almost nothing going up front except the inside pass to the midfield mostly because of lack of support on the wings. He is not assured enough to track back so he stops by the half line and always looks to lay off the ball to someone who is more willing. Arbeloa might not be the best replacement but he will surely provide more going forward than Ramos. Do they need any more attacking prowess when they have the best midfield in the world? This is the world cup and no time time to get complacent. And besides, Ramos and Arbeloa are of similar defensive pedigree even though not on paper. Maybe Ramos can come in to replace Carles Puyol later in the match to play in his natural central position where he is much more assured(or used to be).
And finally to to the goalkeeper. Pepe Riena undoubtedly had a better season than Casillas and Del Bosque needs to acknowledge that right away. Hiding behind the Galactico tag is doing them no favours.
Spain clearly needs to drop the “undroppable” strategy and move on. And besides the dropped names aren’t being replaced by amateurs but seasoned professionals who have seen it and done for their clubs and would love to do the same if and when given the chance and confidence, garnered only through first team starts.

By: sibelkacem

sibelkacem — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 00:10:03 +0000

I always thought ‘inverted winger’ is the term to call right(-footed) winger playing on left wing and vice versa. Like Robben on the right.

You mean neither Iniesta nor Silva are natural wingers? True. Iniesta is CM forced to play on wing in FCB, I believe Silva is also CM, but he played on so many positions in Valencia that it is hard to say
Jesus Navas is playing very wide and relies on his speed, which I failed to see in the match. Btw, I felt that all the passing to him by his teammates late in the game was a bit artificial and forced by coach or maybe the players felt that was their last resort. That’s why ZM found him ’shining’.

Good point regarding stretchening the game for CMs to have the space in the middle.

By: sibelkacem

sibelkacem — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 23:51:18 +0000

Check out the ‘diagrams’ section for info regarding diagrams.
It is obviously not precise to the last centimetre, but the point is – the diagram is constructed FUNCTIONALLY. Example: why Xabi Alonso is placed a little bit higher than Busquets? Do you get it now?
Cheers

By: Leo

Leo — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 11:25:56 +0000

Well, Ramos probably stopped venturing forward because he had a rib injury. He said after the game: “I had a pain in the ribs and I could hardly move, I hope it’s in the muscle and not the bone. I was fortunate to have the support of Navas, the rib is still feeling a bit sore.”

It could also be because Ramos didn’t want to get caught out like he did at the Confederations Cup but that’s unlikely. Although it might be the reason, Capdevila (La Liga’s top scoring defender) also didn’t go forward; he was also caught out against the US.

By: Leo

Leo — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 11:20:28 +0000

Like he did against Iceland (in a friendly), the Italy (at the Euros), the US (at the Confeds Cup) and Switzerland yesterday? Those are 4 of Spain’s 5 draws or defeats in their last 48 matches. Torres was fit in 3 of those. And he did nothing.

It is better for Spain when Fabregas is on the field than Torres. We saw this when Fabregas subbed in in the Italy game. They looked much more like scoring with him on.

And if a team does decide to do an INTER against them, Llorente is a better option. He consistently comes up top in La Liga’s most goals scored from headers list.