Euro Semi-Finals and Colombia in Copa America
It didn’t take a genius to predict the Euro semi-finalists. Unfortunately, by finishing second, France cleared the way for England. Although England will face a tough test against the Netherlands — their toughest challenge so far — it won’t be the same as facing France in the semi-finals, which likely would have happened if France had topped their group.
In any case, England remains the biggest disappointment in the tournament. England has so far beaten Serbia (1–0) and Slovakia in a game they were losing until the 95th minute. They failed to beat either Denmark or Slovenia. It is a completely flat team, with no surprises, with a formation in which Bellingham, used to playing as a false 9 in Madrid, is constantly in the way of Kane (Southgate only changed the formation in the last game, and the team didn’t respond either).
It seems as if what Southgate lacks more than tactics or game plans is to inspire his players. Help them to believe they are the best. Because they are. Post by post they are arguably the strongest team in the world. But it’s as if they don’t believe it!
While France has been criticised a lot, Deschamps’ team has played as they’ve always done since Deschamps is the coach. They are not the kind that dominates their opponents, but one that defends extremely well and is incredibly dangerous on the counter-attack.
During this tournament, France has also been forced to take the initiative against top-class opponents like Austria and Belgium, who have closed in on them. And they have found the resources to win without relying on a diminished Mbappé. Apart from the weak match against Poland, France did not disappoint.
Spain, undoubtedly the best team of the tournament , unfortunately has a huge stain on their path. The penalty not given in favour of Germany. Frankly, I don’t understand this VAR thing. How is it possible that it helps the referee to call the penalty in favour of Germany against Denmark, where the ball brushes the nail of a Danish defender’s finger, and not the one of Cucurella?
FIFA has to do something, because this is what creates enemies of technology, and rightly so. If a referee makes a mistake, the VAR has to correct him, or at least force him to go and look at the footage. Yet another example of the misuse of the technology are the countless corner kicks missed.
Except for the incident against Germany, the Spaniards have largely dominated their opponents and have not scored more goals basically because of finishing problems, because they create chances, and constantly. Williams and Yamal are some of the best of the tournament; Rodri and Carvajal, add experience and hierarchy; Cucurella is one of the revelations of this Euro.
Coaches’ mistakes
I have been surprised by the large number of obvious mistakes made by the coaches. Or as Alfredo Relaño would define it, the large number of “coach attacks”.
Let’s start with Nagelsmann, coach of the hosts. It is absolutely unforgivable that Fullkrug has started every game on the bench. Also exposing Havertz to look bad in a role he doesn’t do well, that of 9, when he is an excellent 10 or winger. Nagelsmann also overlooked Gundogan’s poor form, having Havertz to fill that role and instead of the latter putting Fullkrug up front.
In the last game against Spain, the German coach gave away the first half by using Sane and Can instead of Wirtz and Andrich, who had a much better tournament, and had to bring them on at the start of the second half. The worst thing is that they will surely leave him, at least until the next World Cup. Bad news for German fans, who have been stumbling for two World Cups now.
In addition to what has been said about Southgate, I must add that it is absolutely incomprehensible his obstinacy in leaving Cole Palmer on the bench, England’s top scorer in the last Premier, who has always created more danger than his teammates. What best sums up Southgate was said by a journalist from The Sun: “the Three Lions boss is a reverse alchemist, turning gold into base metal”.
The other major coaching blunder is that of Portugal’s Martinez keeping a caricature of Ronaldo in the starting line-up for the entire tournament. As if it was more important that Ronaldo broke the record for the player to have scored in the most European Championships than for the team to go as far as possible!
When he wasn’t offside, Ronaldo kept missing chances, including a penalty against Slovenia in extra time. But I insist, it’s not Ronaldo’s fault. The blame lies with Martinez for putting him on, despite having several alternatives available on the bench. It would have been one thing to use Ronaldo in the last 20 minutes of a game when the defenders were tired and another to have a 39 year old player playing as a 9 for a whole game at the highest level. Martinez is responsible for Portugal playing with 10 men every game.
Other incomprehensible but more punctual mistakes have been de la Fuente’s decision to take off Yamal and Williams before the end of the match against Germany. Fortunately those who came off the bench did not do badly, but the Spanish coach was too hasty in trying to put an end to the game.
Or Montella in Turkey leaving his best player (Arda Guller) on the bench against Portugal because of an alleged physical discomfort and bringing him on when they were 3–0 down. Or Spalleti in Italy who, having so few (if any) skilful players at his disposal, never used the rocky 3–5–2 formation practised by so many teams in Italy.
I don’t include Deschamps in this list. Apart from the fiasco of not taking Benzema to the last World Cup, Deschamps always plays the best players he has available. Including Kanté, even if he was in Arabia, in the starting line-up while Tchouameni was unavailable was a good decision. Removing Dembelé from the starting line-up after the third game, another wise move. Putting Dembelé in against Portugal in the second half, another.
Deschamps doesn’t play flashy football, but he plays pragmatic football. On paper, Spain isbetter, just compare the French midfield with Spain’s, but it would be a huge mistake to be overconfident against this French team. Logic also dictates that England should beat the Netherlands, but for the opposite reason, with Southgate’s England you never know.
Copa America
I have only seen Colombia’s games. I was impressed with the games against Paraguay and Brazil. Against Paraguay, Colombia overcame a very tough defending team with two very dangerous attackers, especially Enciso, a player who showed that he is ready for the elite. I can’t explain how Costa Rica knocked them out of the tournament.
Against Brazil, I saw again a face I had not seen in Colombia. As Bielsa said, “the Colombian player now plays naturally”, which I translate as “the Colombian player no longer plays with fear”. It’s been a long time since Colombia played with fear against Argentina or Uruguay (since the exploits of Valderrama & Co), but against Brazil, for instance, I would dare to say that even in the game we recently beat them in the qualifiers, Colombian players always went into the game losing.
That day the team was able to recover and thanks to one of the best players the country has ever produced (Luis Diaz), we were able to turn it around. But mentally they also started that day losing.
The team that faced Brazil in this Copa America is the first that I have seen enter a competition (not a friendly) to play Brazil as equals, without fear. And they had more chances than Brazil to win it.
Lorenzo’s performance today is unquestionable, even if he loses the next match against Uruguay. I see a group that is much more self-confident and consolidated than the one I never saw under Pekerman. However, to go down in history they must win a Copa America or at least match what Pekerman’s team did in Brazil 2014.
Today I think that even insisting on Borré had its logic. With Borré, Lorenzo formed a 4–2–3–1, with James just behind Borré. As James doesn’t have the fitness to run the whole game, Borré filled the gap. Now Lorenzo has found a better module by playing a 4–3–3 with James as a right wing forward and Córdoba as a centre forward. Although Córdoba does not run as much as Borré, he is much more efficient in attack and his contribution in defence is not insignificant.
In addition to the great level of James, we must highlight that of Muñoz (who was already a reality), and the great novelty of Richard Ríos, a huge defensive midfielder (5–6 or 8) with excellent passing skills and long distance shot. Lorenzo has discovered a gem. Let’s hope he leaves this summer for Europe.
