A new name will be added to the long list of deserved World Cup winners on Sunday evening, as Spain took to their first semi final on the biggest stage of international football like the Germans typically do to international tournaments. Their patient and controlled performance over their opponents left them merited occupants of a berth in the final and proclaimed favourites.
Spain’s performance has given the team more than a World Cup final place to rejoice in. It has also allowed the team, and their nation, a chance to breath a fresh sigh of relief that they have finally reached an acceptable level of fruition. Until now, Spain have stuttered through the competition and been fortunate at times to progress through their respective knockout round ties.
A beneficial offside decision and an advantageous penalty miss have aided Spain’s passage through to the semi-final, however, after a completely dominant display over Germany, a sense of momentum must be with the Spanish as we approach the final. Their authority over most aspects of the game was evident to see from the start. In the opening ten minutes, Spain had no need to grow into the game as from the whistle they had already taken the game by the scruff of the neck.
A persistence and composed ability to stick to their game plan was the paramount reasoning behind Spain’s dominance and eventual victory. At no stage did they diverge from their strategy, a credit to the development of their mental strength since the start of the tournament where panic engulfed Spain when they failed to take the lead against Switzerland.
Their build up play, though slow, came from specifically two different sources. Administrator of the game plan, Xavi, was the main outlet for any build up play as he linked defence and attack. Similarly, the ability of Gerard Piqué to surge out of defense and supply Xavi and Iniesta with the ball higher up the pitch allowed Spain to press the Germans even higher up the pitch.
Another key manner of the Spanish victory can be put down to the team changes made by coach Vincente Del Bosque. The introduction of Pedro for the misfiring Fernando Torres greatly enhanced the structure of the Spanish team. His presence, which allowed David Villa a more centralized role, gave more life to the Spanish frontline. His energy and technique caused huge problems for the Germans on the right wing, eventually forcing German coach Joachim Löw into substituting the outplayed left-back Jérôme Boateng.
Relating back to their dominance of the game, it should be really stressed as the definitive precursor to their win. Being in complete control of the game allowed Spain to essentially dictate the positioning of Germany’s deadly counter attacking force. With Spain having the upper hand early on, they were able to release their full backs into forward positions. The movements of Sergio Ramos and Joan Capdevila forced Lukas Podolski and Piotr Trochowski to track back and cover their ventures forward. Having Trochowski and Podolski sitting so deep in their own half, Germany instantly lost its speed and ability to quickly attack the wing areas. The extent of how deep into his own half Podolski had been forced was visible on the hour mark when he almost gave away a penalty for a foolish challenge on Ramos.
A disappointing element of the semi-final must be the sudden grind to a halt of this ‘New Germany’. They have been a delight to watch for most of the World Cup and given many flashes of joy. It would be harsh to criticize the principally attacking players such as Mesut Özil, Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski for their performances, as were for the most part starved of possession needed to attack. The important midfield destroyers Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira, however, were overwhelmed in midfield by Spain’s passing and allowed their opponents to ease past them on numerous occasions.
Schweinsteiger will learn a lot from this game and it will greatly aid his development as a holding midfielder, though he was prominently a sufferer of Spain’s game plan and structure. After being a total menace to his opponents in the previous two knockout games, he remained quite deep in this affair, giving Germany another less attacking outlet. His surging runs that penetrated the space between the opposition’s defence and forward lines were ineffective against this Spanish side because there was no space to exploit.
Argentina offered space in between Mascherano and forwards, while England were an organizational mess that he could maneuver through. However, Spain cover most parts of the middle third of the pitch. Xavi and Iniesta boss the area behind Villa, Xabi Alonso sits behind them, and Busquets is protection in front of the centre backs. Due to this claustrophobic midfield, Schweinsteiger and Germany were yet again stifled and outdone by Spain.
On a whole, it was disappointing Germany were outdone by an avoidable poor piece of defending from a set piece. Looking towards the final, however, Spain will no doubt be arriving as favourites. They finally achieved a certain potential and looked near to achieving total perfection in instigating their dominant game plan. It seems to be all falling into place for Spain.
Let’s not forget that the third-place game will be Klose’s teammates’ last chance to help him get a goal or two to tie or even beat the all-time record.
Great analysis-the best I’ve seen or heard. You summarized conscisely and mentioned the details of the major players and tactics. One addition-the changed/added attacking strategy of Spain in the second half-to us the deep midfield for shooting opportunities.
agree a good commentary/analysis of the match. just to add. Germany absorbed the Spanish pressure well throughout the first half playing a counterattacking match to spain’s playmaking style.
however, when given their few and far between chances to counterattack Spain did extremely well to get numbers behind the ball and stayed very organized. Thus, when Germany did get chances they seemed rushed, not comfortable on the ball and did not seek to find the additional pass which has so successfully gotten them into the semi-finals.
The second half adjustment of Spain was compelling as noted however it was not ultimately controlling on the match. Boateng was subbed at left back for Germany after having sustained constant attacks down the spanish right which seemed to shore up a key attacking point for the spanish.
At which point in the match, approximately 60 odd minutes in with the score at nil-nil Germany had a couple of their strongest chances to get behind the spanish defense, a fine save and a faded german attack when they for the first time had good numbers in their counter attack exposed the absence of Muller for picking up the yellow card in the quarter final.
And thus the stage was set for Spain to score from a corner kick by the unlikely puyet to win them the match.
The surprise was the fact that German could not sustain any pressure on the spanish after the goal and the amount of time the ball remained in the german half.
If their was a compelling blip in the spanish side it was the selfish play of Pedro to attempt to beat 2 players while Torres stood wide open in front of goal late on which might be an example of Spain’s potential fallability leading into the final with Holland.
In all these teams were worthy semi-finalists who did the beautiful game proud and provided to all a game of football lacking in simulation, hystrionics and heavy tackling, a card count of nil indicates this. But the game was in fact ladden with technical beauty, tactical complexity and chances for both teams. One can only hope the final will be played as well.