Cooking the proper meal requires contemporary elements and following the correct recipe to the letter. Circumstances would possibly have an effect on the ultimate style however, if all goes nicely, then it needs to be as scrumptious as Spain’s efficiency of their 1-0 victory towards Italy.
As with all of Spain’s meals below chef de cuisine Luis de la Fuente, the expertise centered on attacking the extensive areas, with Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal serving down the wings.
However De la Fuente’s kitchen adjusts the menu on the night time relying on the visitors.
For one sitting, it’s combos down the flanks between the winger, the full-back and the No 8. On one other, it’s Spain placing their wingers in one-versus-one conditions, the place the dribbling of Williams and Yamal thrives. The meal delivered to Luciano Spalletti’s Italy was a style of chalk-on-the-boots wingers having Italy’s full-backs, Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Federico Dimarco, on toast.
For top-quality elements to style good, they want the right recipe. Placing Williams and Yamal in remoted conditions towards Italy’s full-backs wanted the correct motion contained in the penalty space to enrich it, in order that when Spain’s wingers get the higher of Di Lorenzo or Dimarco, there are a number of crossing choices.
De la Fuente’s aspect had been more practical down the left wing, the place Williams grilled Di Lorenzo all through the night time. Contained in the penalty space, Pedri joined Alvaro Morata, with Jorginho dropping to help Italy’s again 4 when Spain had been attacking the flanks.
As soon as Williams dribbled previous Di Lorenzo, the motion of Morata, Pedri and Yamal manipulated the rest of Italy’s line of defense.
From a central place, Morata moved in the direction of the close to submit to assault that space from Alessandro Bastoni’s blind aspect. Pedri positioned himself within the cutback zone and Yamal began extensive however moved inside to be a risk in the direction of the again submit.
The roles of Morata, Pedri and Yamal pressured Jorginho, Dimarco and Riccardo Calafiori to reply a multiple-choice take a look at.
On this instance beneath, Williams cuts inside to get the higher of Italy’s right-back, which forces Jorginho to react, with Morata, Pedri and Yamal presenting three passing choices to Spain’s left winger: Morata in the direction of the close to submit, Pedri within the cutback zone, and Yamal in the direction of the again submit.
The area Pedri has close to the penalty spot forces Calafiori to maneuver ahead to stop the cutback — however in return, it forces Dimarco to drop deeper to guard the again submit.
Because of this Yamal can transfer inside, in entrance of the six-yard field. Sadly for Spain, Jorginho reacts shortly and manages to intercept Williams’ cross to Pedri.
In one other instance, the ball is circulated to Williams in a one-versus-one scenario towards Di Lorenzo, with Morata nearer to Calafiori, Pedri behind him, and Yamal on the opposite aspect.
As Williams runs at Di Lorenzo and dribbles in the direction of the byline, Morata’s sprint in the direction of the close to submit drags Calafiori with him, rising the central area.
Yamal strikes inside to be an possibility in the direction of the again submit nevertheless it’s Pedri who advantages from Morata’s motion. Tracked by Jorginho, the Barcelona midfielder frees himself by feinting in the direction of the close to submit after which attacking the central zone…
… the place Williams places the cross. Yamal’s positioning can be important to this assault as a result of his presence in the direction of the again submit prevents Dimarco from protecting for Calafiori by completely committing to defending the cross.
The entire above permits Pedri a free header, which is tipped over the bar by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Within the second half, Spalletti moved Federico Chiesa to the left wing and launched Andrea Cambiaso on the correct to double up with Di Lorenzo towards Williams, however this meant that Spain’s left-back, Marc Cucurella, might advance as nicely.
In the meantime, Morata continued to place himself close to Calafiori when the ball was out extensive, with Pedri behind him and Yamal on the opposite wing.
Right here, the double-team towards Williams permits Cucurella to make an underlapping run which is tracked by Bryan Cristante, who changed Jorginho at half-time. Pedri, Morata and Yamal had been of their anticipated positions contained in the penalty space.
As soon as Williams performs the ball to Cucurella behind Italy’s defence, Morata sprints in the direction of the close to submit to assault Bastoni from his blind aspect and pressure Calafiori into a choice to both drop or transfer up in the direction of Pedri, who’s in place for the cutback.
Morata’s run throughout Calafiori and from Bastoni’s blind aspect is harmful sufficient that Calafiori chooses to drop, leaving Pedri free, with Dimarco defending the again submit towards Yamal. Accordingly, Cucurella performs the cutback into Pedri…
… who misses the goal.
Ultimately, Spain’s assaults down the left wing led to the winner.
Right here, it’s the identical scenario, with Pedri, Morata and Yamal within the right positions, however the Barcelona midfielder is marked by Nicolo Barella. Cucurella’s presence places Williams in a one-versus-one towards Di Lorenzo…
… which Spain’s left winger wins but once more. As Williams strikes in the direction of the byline, Morata assaults the close to submit, Pedri stays within the cutback zone and Yamal adjusts his place on the again submit in case the cross reaches him.
The positioning of Morata permits him to flick the ball throughout objective and a fingertip contact from Donnarumma brings the ball nearer to Calafiori, who was already shifting backwards and mistakenly places it into his personal web.
The positioning and motion of Pedri, Morata and Yamal contained in the penalty space offered Italy with a dilemma and supplied Williams with a number of crossing choices. Spain’s technique, by way of assault the crosses, complemented their particular person high quality and performed to its strengths.
The scoreline could not have performed justice to their efficiency, however Spain definitely had the correct elements and recipe to cook dinner up a storm towards Italy.
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