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September 19 – Spain’s tactical evolution is one of the standout findings from UEFA’s Euro 2024 Technical Report that details tactical trends and developments from the tournament.
The report details that Champions Spain’s approach to wide play has changed since utilising inside-forwards during their 2012 Euro victory, instead opting for wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams who looked to provide genuine width, with defenders struggling to compete with their two-way attacking style.
Statistics show that Williams, particularly effective on the left, consistently threatened defenders and worked closely with full-back Marc Cucurella. Their underlapping runs allowed Spain to vary their attack, either by Williams cutting inside and Cucurella advancing, or Williams staying wide while Cucurella moved centrally.
Speaking to UEFA, Spain Coach De La Fuente said: “Fundamentally, it was about having an idea that we were faithful to. We started working on it over a year and a half ago and it was about sticking to this approach as well as adapting it to the players, in order to develop this style of play. I think that our style was clear to see – it was perfectly executed by the players themselves.
Nico Williams of Spain celebrates scoring his team’s first goal in the final against England
“I’m convinced that football has always been about having good wingers because at the end of the day you’re looking for lots of width and more penetration. Fundamentally, a good winger makes the team more unpredictable because the opposition don’t know how to defend against them, whether to follow the touchline or stop the cross.”
The report uncovers a trend of teams increasingly bypassing pressing opponents by playing long from goal kicks, with the average second pass following a goal kick travelling 47.9 meters.
Slovakia’s win over Belgium is a prime example, as their centre-backs avoided short passes under pressure, opting for direct passes to…
Source link : https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2024/09/19/uefa-technical-report-details-smart-use-width-impact-subs-two-keys-euro2024-success/
Author : Paul Nicholson
Publish date : 2024-09-19 09:25:38
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