The final analysis, part five: Iniesta takes up increasingly advanced positions before pouncing
The first sign that Andres Iniesta was the danger man came midway through the second half of normal time, when he found himself through on goal (pink), but took too long to get a shot away.
Vicente del Bosque seemed to give him license to play further up the pitch. Here (pink) he is almost level with David Villa, far more advanced than Xavi and Jesus Navas, the two players on his normal ‘line’ in the 4-2-3-1.
The same applied when the ball was deep in Spain’s half – Iniesta (pink) didn’t have much responsibility to track back, and instead stayed high up the pitch.
Spain really started to threaten after the introduction of Cesc Fabregas, as this provided two central attacking threats for Spain behind David Villa. Fabregas (blue) made a terrific run to meet an Iniesta through-ball (pink) and he should have opened the scoring. The situation below shows how those three Spanish players were effectively playing around the two Dutch centre-backs.
Eventually, Holland started paying more attention to Iniesta. Just before he went off, it seemed that Nigel de Jong (yellow) was given the job of tracking him (pink).
Bert van Marwijk decided to withdraw de Jong, however, and brought on Rafael van der Vaart. This left Holland exposed in front of their back four, and was a particularly bad move in hindsight, as John Heitinga’s red card meant the Dutch central midfielders had more defensive duties. It was van der Vaart, a playmaker, who ended up with the job of trying to tackle Iniesta for the winning goal.
The final analysis, part five: Iniesta takes up increasingly advanced positions before pouncing
i wonder why van bronckhorst was pulled.
I though it was because his ‘legs had gone’, as they say.
Navas was causing trouble down his flank too.
Very interesting points about iniesta, I find him a very fascinating player to watch from a tactical point of view as he is so versatile. I remember when he started off and he he came off the bench for barca nearly every week for barca, quite often he wasn’t very impressive at all and often looked lost. He’d play on the left of the barca front three some weeks, other times in an advanced central midfield position and sometimes in a deep central midfield role. At first it seemed like he might develop into the “new xavi” and play from deep (xavi of course now players higher up the pitch anyway) but now it seems his best moments always come when he is pushed higher up in a central role – Stamford Bridge, his performance in the Champions league final 2009 and of course in this years world cup final.
His goal scoring record is not amazing but it did improve quite a bit a few seasons back I think perhaps in rjikaard’s last season. My biggest worry if barca do sign fabregas is the talk of Iniesta being moved to an advance left hand side role. He’s a fantastic player wherever he plays but he is a supreme player in advanced central role with licence to roam.
Quality player and once again quality analysis from ZM
From what I’ve heard, Guardiola is quite keen to have Iniesta playing as an advanced midfielder rather than a forward. I agree about his positioning. Indeed, I think he would be Xavi, if there was no Xavi, if that makes sense.
That’s interesting. Looking at the not-so-distant future where Xavi has retired, and Cesc and Iniesta are both in the team, ZM thinks it will be Iniesta who will fill Xavi’s boots?
Because I know lot of people who thinks it will be Cesc to take that role… Would like to hear your thoughts on this, especially after praising Iniesta for his contribution in a more attacking (and free-roaming) role in the later part of the game…
cesc could be used in barca squad now in rotation through their many games. xavi is 30 and iniesta has suffered that terrible muscle injury from champs final causing constant injury problems since and he condidered retirement. no one knows the number of games he can play in the future?. hope he makes the next world cup.
I think he meant that Iniesta would become Xavi-like if there was no Xavi at all.
Back in the days I thought of Iniesta as a clone of Xavi, but as time was passing by, the difference became visible. Iniesta developed into a more offensive role, had his chapter of playing on the left wing, now on the right wing. Kind of traveller. But it is him, who should have played in AM position from the beginning, this World Cup (and Xavi in Xabi Alonso’s place).
Btw, isn’t Fabregas a bit too offensive for such a role? I mean, they obviously won’t find the perfect substitution for Xavi, but it really has to be someone similar. While in Arsenal Fabregas is simply running on goal and scoring, etc.
Yeah, that’s what I meant ^^. They seem different players now, but I wonder how much Iniesta’s dribbling and movement in the final third would have been realised if there was no Xavi.
I think you guys are underestimating Fabregas, and I can see you have not followed Fabregas development. Until one and half seasons ago, Fabregas was playing much deeper in a 442 formation until 2008/2009 in about March 2009, in which time Wenger changed formation to a 4231 (owing to lack of personnel and to improve offense), which he is still using albeit slightly refined to a 433. So, I do not understand when you talk of Fabregas being too attack minded as if he cannot adopt to a new situation.
One thing you must realise is that Fabregas is a very intelligent player who can adopt to any changes the manager thinks is best for the team. If you have paid any attention on Arsenal and Fabregas in the seasons gone (i.e. before 2009/2010), he had played deeper for Arsenal but much advanced for Spain (present position) cue Germany 2006 and Euro 2008. In both Germany 2006 and Euro 2008, the best balls to Torres in which he scored beautiful goals came from Fabregas when he was on.
I believe that in terms of supplying the final ball in the last third, he is second to none, not Iniesta or Xavi (in fact nobody in the present Barca or Spain set up). He is quick to spot runners and can deliver quickly, deceptively but precisely from any position. He does that for Arsenal from anywhere on the pitch i.e. even from deeper positions (watch how Arsenal played pre 2009/2010 seasons). If he plays with Villa or Iniesta, these two would score loads of goals, particularly Villa who makes lots of runs from the left. I am sure it is for this reason that Guardiola wants him because both Iniesta and Xavi cannot supply him with timely and precisely weighted passes as Fabregas can (of course the other reason is as Xavi’s replacement), he also is a much more of a goal threat than Xavi and Iniesta are. He can even re-invent the Guardiola or if you wish, Pirlo (of AC Milan) deep lying play maker role.
I think the best way to use Fabregas if he moves to Barca is for him to either play ahead of two holding midfielders (one of them not being strictly restricted in movement ala Diaby for Arsenal but a better one) or Bousquetes and Xavi. I am sure Guardiola would find a place for Fabregas, and I am sure it wont be on the bench as he would be wasted there. He can live with the bench in the national set up but I do not believe he can do the same at club level, unless its only for a flitting period e.g. a season.
indeed, this is why they bought villa to replace henry, and sold yaya.
iniesta, while fantastic on the left, is better still given a free role. of course sometimes iniesta is *exactly* what you want on the left. this is why they wanted cesc too.
I’ve watched Iniesta progress from the 2005-2006 season and his development has been impressive. There was a lack of confidence at first under Rijkaard, it seemed, particularly with shots at goal (he has no left foot when it comes to shots with the laces). It took him awhile to get used to the left side. Xavi’s absence from injury that season was a boon for Andres, giving him loads of time in matches.
As for Iniesta being Xavi’s replacement, I can see that. Both have that same vision, placing the pass that takes droves of defenders out of the equation. Both are very good shots at goal (Xavi a shade better). Iniesta is a better dribbler, but Xavi shields the ball better. Both are composed players.
Barcelona are fortunate to have two such players. Products of la Masia as well.
People are saying that iniesta will replace xavi, or cesc will etc but i dont think that is the case. All 3 are wonderful players, but all play subtley different positions and i dont think either cesc or iniesta is disciplined enough to play the xavi role (both are better charging forward and taking on defenders). The truth is barca may struggle after xavi retires, we may not see a player like him again in a long time.
Actually, I think Barca will be fine, once Xavi retires, to NOT have someone in the Xavi role at all! IF they sign Cesc, I think Barce will play a formation like this:
———-Valdes———-
——–Puyol-Pique——-
Dani Alves———-Abidal
———Busquets———
—–Iniesta-Fabregas—–
Messi—————-Pedro
———-Villa———–
And to think, eight of them are Spanish…
I agree, thats what i was getting at, they would need to alter their style of play slightly.
The problem with Iniesta and Fabregas both playing “in the hole” is it occupies space that messi loves to run into, and leaves defensive uncertainties. If one at at time runs forward, then they can combine with Leo to devastating effect, while still maintaining control of midfield.
And Messi had to play in the centre a couple of times. When it comes to Someone’s system, Iniesta moves to the right as soon as Messi runs into the “hole”.
There were rumours about Özil and Barca a few weeks ago (now Özil and Real). Is their any chance that Barca buys someone even if Fabregas comes back?
The whole Iniesta-Fabregas combination is a very interesting tactical dilemma. Everyone remembers the failure of Deco-Xavi-Iniesta, so Barca need a holder. As is often pointed out on this website, Busquets has made this role his own.
however, playing Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta, and Fabregas in the middle would potentially lead to central congestion, a huge mistake when teams park the bus. So assuming the standard 3 man midfield, destroyer, passer, and direct running goal threat, Barca will spend 40 million for a player who must share time with Iniesta and Xavi.
I think most people will agree that playing Iniesta forward and left will interfere with David Villa’s preferred space, and will not give true width. I think the solution is to develop both Iniesta and Fabregas to replace Xavi (who, sadly, is on the wrong side of 30) as the passing playmaker, and they can alternate during games, one providing the direct runs, the other acting as the safety valve. Fabregas and Iniesta would need to work on shooting from distance, to help draw the backline out and create space behind for Villa/Pedro/Messi.
Unmatched as Xavi is in his role, a more dynamic midfield could help to open up packed defenses, and generate the worry that opens space for Messi.
The more I think about it, the more I’m fearing Barca if they sign Fabregas
xavi can play for 4 or 5 more years at top level depending on rotation just look at scholes, a similar player, who is 35 and still has a part to play at man united. xavi does not rely on pace or physicality which fade with age. just consistant passing and possesion of the ball.
You should also do an analysis of WHERE Iniesta was when he got his first touch. When he collected the ball in the final 1/3 in the middle channel Spain was at their most dangerous. And that was throughout the entire tourney…not just the last couple of matches.
The irony of ironies – the Dutch coach makes his first offensive/positive substitution of the tournament, De Jong off for Van Der Vaart, and Holland quickly concedes.
Iniesta certainly has the vision and range of passing comparable to Xavi, but his explosive dribbling and hunger for goals really make him a great wide option. He also thrived out left for Spain in the European championships, but as time wores on and he loses his first step, he could slot back to a creative center mid.
correct me if i’m wrong but wasn’t de zeeuw was substituted for vdv in the semi-final.
You really don’t know what you’re talking about (at least in the first paragraph), considering van der Vaart was introduced in place of de Jong’s stand-in before the restart of Holland/Uruguay. Also, it was quite some time between the substitution and the goal.
The so-called negativity of the Dutch side is largely a media creation, since they love to play opposites off of each other. People were talking of the Dutch as if they were as cynical and brutal as Argentina 78. While they certainly had bad moments (de Jong’s tackle which for all the world should have been a red card) they also played better against Spain than anyone else, and if Robben had on target, the media would be praising how positive and adventurous they were.
As for Iniesta: Amen.
Probably, you don’t know what you’re talking about: the goal came 15 minutes after the substitution… Do you think it is quite long time between those two events? In the meantime, Holland received a red card as a result of the huge hole in the centre of the midfield after De Jong was sent out.
In most cases, the media judges upon the result, but even if Holland was World cup winner this wouldn’t change the fact that this Holland team was one of the worst Holland teams we’ve ever seen in the living memory and this would be historically unfair.
Concerning Spain, for sure it wasn’t a dream-team. Many teams tried to “steal” the victory against Spain – I can remember Portugal, Paraguay and Germany having chances to make a goal and then things would be totally different. The main problem of Spain was scoring and when this is the case and you ‘re behind then it is very difficult to reverse the match (remember Switzerland). Holland troubled Spain a lot, but this had to do with the tough way they faced their opponents and that Webb allowed this to happen.
Quick question on the goal. Why was no one from the Holland defense closer to Iniesta? In the video above, I see six orange shirts at the back but Iniesta is on his own on the right hand side. No one from Holland was tight on him when the ball was played. It looks like the closest defender had just slipped, thereby playing Iniesta onside. That defender got up and rushed forward, presumably to try to spring an offside trap, but it left Iniesta completely unmarked when he received the ball inside the penalty area. Was this a lack of concentration? Or the fact that they were down to 10 men? Or something else?
If I can ask one more question, why do great players let the ball bobble up on their first touch? This meant that Iniesta had to volley the ball to score, and everyone applauded his skills. Wouldn’t it be easier, though less spectacular, to keep the ball on the ground with the first touch?
By the way, great website and much kudos to its anonymous creators.
He might have preferred the volley, but most probably he was almost exhausted so he wasn’t able to control the ball precisely when receiving.
Maybe it’s the best way to do it with the Jabulani? Or the only one after 116 mins…
Great post.
The Netherlands gave a tough competition to Spain and awarded to the second place in the FIFA 2010.
FIFA 2010 was full of excitement,
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