FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
After 28 dramatic days and more than 80 hours of football, 24 teams have been reduced to two. Only one match left to play. Spain and England prepare for the battle at Berlin's Olympiastadion on Sunday evening, where they will meet for the first time since 2018 for the European crown, a final that produces a series of very interesting narratives.
How can Spain's explosive wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams be stopped? Has England become an unpredictable national team? Can England deprive the Spanish midfield?
The impact of the bench of "Three Lions" has been really brilliant. We will find out the strengths and weaknesses of the teams, the duels that will make the difference and many other aspects that could prove important. Below you will find your ultimate tactical guide for the Euro 2024 final.
After beating France 2-1 in the semi-finals, Luis de la Fuentes' side became the first in history to win their first six matches at a European tournament. "La Furia Rojas" needed "extra-time" to win against Germany, but against every other opponent they have demonstrated superiority within 90 minutes. With nine different goalscorers, Spain's danger has come from all over the team, but it's clear why they possess so much threat.
Williams and Yamal have ignited the tournament on either side of the attack, with their clever runs and consistent dribbling, pushing the team into the final 30 metres. The dynamic duo are responsible for 46% of Spain's dribbles at Euro 2024.
The talented Yamal became the youngest scorer in European Championship history (16 years, 362 days) after his impressive finish against France. It was a finish that could easily be declared the goal of the European Championship and it cannot be said that France were not warned.
Yamal's tendency to get inside on his best foot and shoot into the far corner has taken on shades of the goalscoring typology of Arjen Robben. Beyond his shooting, Yamal's creativity has stood out the most. No Spanish player has created more chances from open play than Yamal, with 11.
And his frequent services at the second post have proven to be the most dangerous. Opponents should not be surprised, as such identical services at the second pillar Yamal has also given to Barcelona in the last 12 months.
While Yamal received plaudits for his right-back performance against France, it is Spain's left-back where most attacks are built. Against the Roosters, 59% of offensive touches came on the left wing. While 30% of the other touches in the attack on the right wing. Why does something like this happen? Because of the qualities that the Spaniards have on each side of the field. While Yamal excels in one-on-one duels, Williams combines well with Marc Cucurella, who is constantly over-positioned to become a passing point.
How can England prevent the Spanish attack in the attacking phase? With great difficulty. England's flexibility to move into a five-man defense in both the quarter-finals and semi-finals will also be crucial against Spain as they look to cover space across the width of the pitch. In particular, the energy of Bukayo Saka will be required to protect England's right flank against Spain's numerous left-back rotations.
Saka was praised by Southgate for his defensive discipline against the Netherlands, showing a lot of responsibility in the game without the ball. Communication with Kyle Walker was key to that solid performance against the Netherlands. On the other hand, England must mobilize and attack Spain's left flank and attack Cucurella's defensive shortcomings, especially with the danger that Saka has shown in this European.
Cucurella has had a good season but has not been convincing at club level since joining Chelsea in 2022. Of Spain's chances, 42% have come on the left flank, compared to 24% on the other. . Almost every England player has faced Cucurella in the Premier League and they are familiar with his weak point without possession.
A decision to target the left-back could prove to be a winner. Spain's wing-forwards have grabbed the spotlight, but it's the midfield that has allowed them to hit top gear. The duo Rodri-Ruiz has been almost perfect, at first giving the right freedom to Pedro and then to Dani Olmo, to find the spaces between the lines.
Rodri has been performing at the height of his powers for the past 18 months, with an impressive consistency that viewers can often take for granted. Spain's No.16 has completed 403 passes this tournament with a completion rate of 94%. Coupled with Ruiz's frequent forays into the area and technical qualities, Rodri has the capacity to organize the attack or act as a pressure reliever, stepping up or down as he sees fit.
You can be sure that this fearsome duo will have their mark on the Spanish attack in the final as well. Therefore, stopping that pair in the midfield can help England a lot.
Si mund ta bëjë Anglia këtë? Gjermania dha një sinjal shumë të mirë në pjesën e parë me Spanjën se si mesfusha e tyre mund të ndalohet, me mesfushorët si Gundogan dhe Emre Can që markuan një për një Rodrin dhe Fabian Ruiz, duke privuar dyshe nga diktimi i lojës.
Kishte shumë moment kur Gjermania ushtroi presing në mënyrë agresive. Kjo e detyroi portierin e Spanjës, Unai Simon, për të tentur dhe topat gjatë, shpesh duke e humbur zotërimin e topit.
Nëse Anglia mund të ruajë të njëjtin nivel disipline gjatë gjithë ndeshjes, duke zbritur Bellingham dhe Foden për mesfushorët spanjoll, mund të ndalojë Spanjën në ndërtimin e zakonshëm.
Spanja paraqet një rrezik të dyfishtë në strategjinë e saj. Nëse tenton t’i presësh në mbrojtje, ata mund të ndëshkojnë me zotërimin e dendur të topit, nëse provon t’i afrohesh me presing, ata mund të të godasin me vertikalitetin e tyre në thellësi.
Spanja mund të jetë favorite për finalen, por Anglia do të mbërrijë në Berlin si një skuadër me më shumë eksperiencë në turnetë e fundit madhor. Spanjollët nuk kanë arritur një finale Europiani që prej 2012, kur e fituan atë. Ndërkohë që Southgate ka siguruar dy finale radhazi dhe kësaj radhe anglezët do të tentojnë që të lënë pas krahëve zhgënjimin e Euro 2021, kur u mundën nga Italia.
Një vlerësim diplomatik do të ishte se Anglia ka qenë konfuze këtë verë. Ka pasur moment ku ka treguar kohezion të plotë në zotërimin e topit – veçanërisht në pjesën e parë kundër holandezëve – por përfundimi kryesor ka qenë se skuadra e Southgate ka treguar pikat e forta në momentet individuale dhe jo në performancën e tyre të përgjithshme.
Shpejtësia e lojës përpara të Anglisë ka qenë një burim i madh zhgënjimi midis tifozëve dhe numrat mbështesin ankesat e tyre. Nëse krahasojmë stilin e Anglisë me 23 skuadrat e tjera të mbetura, qasja e tyre në zotërimin e topit ka qenë e kujdesshme dhe pa treguar rrezikshmërinë e duhur në metrat e fundit. Nga të gjitha 16 shtetet e fundit që mbetën në fazën me eliminim, vetëm Rumania dhe Gjeorgjia kanë pasur një shifër më të ulët të golave të pritshëm (0,7) ndërkohë që Anglia e ka (0,72.) Skuadra me shifrën më të mirë të golave të pritshëm? Spanja që gjeneron një numër prej 1,8 golash për ndeshje në gjashtë takimet e tyre.
Taktikisht, Southgate është gjykuar shpesh, por ndryshimi që i ka bërë sistemit në dy ndeshjet e fundit ka treguar një bazament më të mirë, sidomos me efikasitetin e treguar në presingun e ushtruar lart. Një zhvendosje në 3-4-2-1 i përshtatur më së miri Sakas, Fodenit dhe Jude Bellinghamit, duke dhuruar më shumë ekuilibër në sulm dhe më shumë soliditet në mbrojtje.
While things haven't gone right for Harry Kane yet. The captain of England scored the important goal of the draw against the Netherlands, scoring his goal in all six elimination stages, four of which he scored in the last European Championship. The activation of Waktins proved decisive for England against the Netherlands. Watkins' run for the second goal behind the backs of the opposition showed the contrast with Harry Kane, with the captain not making the same runs. Against Spain, England may need both options, a player who can drop down and stay in central areas and a player who can add depth to the team by penetrating beyond the Spanish defence.
Southgate's replacements have been criticized this summer. But against Slovakia and the Netherlands, his moves proved successful. Like the activation of Toney against Slovakia and Palmer and Watkins against the Netherlands.
England has not shown complete fluency in the circulation of the ball and dominating the matches, but they have reached the final. In a tournament where small details make a difference and individual qualities count for a lot, pragmatism can go a long way.
At club level, Real Madrid has shown a similar structure in the successful runs in the Champions League. Both De La Fuente and Gareth Southgate deserve plaudits for their dedication, from managing the national team's age groups to the first team.
De La Fuente led Spain to win the European Championship in 2015 with the U-19 and in 2019 with the U-21 team. On Sunday, he has the opportunity to complete a "treble" with the first team.
Meanwhile, Southgate's involvement with the FA dates back to 2013, managing the Under-21 side at Euro 2015, before taking over the first team in 2016. Both managers have been crucial in promoting youngsters within their squads. national team and should be praised for the performance of their national teams in Euro 2024. May the best team win!/ SuperSport
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