With the exception of their opener against Italy, Spain have managed to defeat every side they have faced at the European Championships. While their victory against Ireland was easy, they showed plenty of industry characterised by sticking to their passing principles against Croatia, which, despite the best efforts of Slaven Bilic’s men, paid off.
France were always going to come up second-best against the Roja and while they did put up a fight by attacking when they had the ball and defending stoutly when they were without it, but they were always going to come up second best. Spain face Portugal next, and their Iberian neighbours have looked scintillating this competition. Spain beat Portugal at the 2010 World Cup, and Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. will prove to be a stern test – one of the biggest at the tournament – this time around as well. The Portuguese style of play could undo Spain, as they are great on the counter-attack.
- The Spanish defence is still to be seriously tested at Poland-Ukraine
Only Antonio di Natale has managed to ripple Iker Casillas‘ net, but that seems to be an isolated incident. Croatia’s Ivan Rakitic came closest to opening Croatia’s account against Spain, but a brilliant save from the Real Madrid custodian meant he has kept three clean-sheets in four games. That was the only effort on target which posed any threat to Vincent del Bosque’s side.
But the Irish, despite their attacking potential in Aiden McGeady, Damian Duff and Robbie Keane, were toothless against the Spanish. Ditto the French, who threatened, but never caused a serious problem.
The French have some of the best flair players at Polkraine, but even Franck Ribery, Florent Malouda et al were unable to pose a serious threat to the Spanish rearguard. The best shot on target came from distance from a Yoann Cabaye free-kick, and Iker Casillas’ job of being a spectator was only made easier as Karim Benzema was left largely isolated in attack.
3.) Laurent Blanc is the man to lead France forward…
Despite crashing out in the quarter-finals, Laurent Blanc has revolutionised the French squad. Before Les Bleus defeat to Sweden, France had gone on a 23-game unbeaten run. He had brought a level of confidence that was not present in the French squad under Raymond Domenech. He’s brought the best out of Franck Ribery, who was severely underwhelming under Domenech.
He also proved that he was boss, as he omitted all the players – with the exception of keeper Cedric Carrasso – who had taken part at the World Cup in South Africa. After the defeat of Sweden in Donetsk, the press got wind of a dressing-room bust-up between Alou Diarra and Samir Nasri. Both are important to France, but Blanc showed he was boss and dropped the two of them from the game against Spain. He has instilled a discipline which underlines that the team always comes first.
4.)…but he needs to get his tactics right
Laurent Blanc has tinkered with his team right from the start of the tournament. He needs to stick to a tried and tested starting eleven. The French have some great players, and are definitely capable of taking the game to the opposition. Why then was Florent Malouda, an out-and-out winger, played in a central role? If the system worked against England and Ukraine, why was there the need to field two holding midfielders against Sweden?
Against Spain, Mathieu Debuchy was played on the wing, when the likes of Jeremy Menez, Marvin Martin and Mathieu Valbuena were left on the bench. As an ardent follower of Ligue 1, I can vouch for the fact that they all track back to help their defenders. Olivier Giroud was sparingly used, when it has been proved time and time again that a little-and-big striker combo has reaped rewards in the past. In addition, Karim Benzema was left isolated for large periods of the tournament.
5.) Samir Nasri needs to learn from the debacle in 2010
Samir Nasri is an integral cog of this France side, but he needs to get his act together. If he is to play under Laurent Blanc, the 24-year-old will need to learn not to let emotions cloud his better judgement. He was dropped from the game against Spain because of what he said to Alou Diarra in the dressing-room.
After the Spain game, a French journalist caught up with him in the dressing-room, and asked him how he felt. He unleashed a torrent of abuse at the journalist with a string of four-letter worlds (rhymes with ‘luck’) before stating that the press always wrote ‘[email protected] stories’ about his team, ending by saying that the press would now say he had a bad upbringing.
He then threw down a challenge to the journalist, saying “Now you can say that I’ve been badly brought up! Come over there and let’s fix this.” This is not the first time he has been in hot water with the press, with his ‘shut your gob’ celebration apparently directed at England assistant manager Gary Neville during the England game receiving shellacking from former footballers and the press.
Little did it occur to him that this outburst had occured on the birthday of his idol, Zinedine Zidane
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