The team will have to draw conclusions from their first two games: the lack of goals is their big problem
The team led by Jorge Vilda is obliged to score points against Denmark to reach the quarterfinals
They say that you learn from defeats and the Spanish team has no choice but to do so if they want to stay alive in this European Championship. On Saturday the ticket to the quarterfinals against Denmark is played and it is only worth scoring.
The first games against Finland and Germany left us with five lessons that Spain will have to take into account to face what is to come competitively.
1.- Approach
Jorge Vilda has already introduced some modifications to Germany regarding his eleven special gala. He left Esther González and Irene Guerrero on the bench and brought in Sheila García and Laia Aleixandri in their place. The Catalan started as a pivot and Patri did it on the inside left. Sheila was located on the far left and Lucia at the point of attack. A brave but risky bet. The team improved and felt comfortable dominating the game against Germany, but several shortcomings were once again evidentso the selector should keep making changes to the approach until he hits the key.
2.- Lack of punch
The main problem of the Spanish team continues to be the lack of goals. That precision, efficiency and definition after the last pass punished a Spain that generated but did not transform. Lucía had the clearest one on one against Frohms and failed. The ‘9’ position is not her natural position and Vilda explained that she opted for it to attract the defenses. But the team needs another forward profile inside the area, one of those who have the goal between eyebrows. Like Claudia Pina, Amaiur or Esther, although the Madrilenian forgave too much in the match against Finland.
3.- More dynamism
A key aspect to reach that goal that the Spanish team needs so much is the imbalance at the ends. Mariona has been the leader of the attack from the left in these games, and Athenea and Marta Cardona, when they have entered, have contributed that overflow and dribbling that attracted the defenses and freed the center forward. An interesting option would be for both to start from the wingers and for Mariona to move down to Alexia’s inside left to have more room for creation. In that sense, Patri would recover the position of ‘6’. Although Aleixandri’s performance was more than remarkable, the Spaniard continues to be the most complete pivot on the current scene, both in defense and attack.
4.- Alternation on the sides
Leila’s role in this European Championship has gone from less to more, especially in attack. Even so, defensively he leaves too many free spaces that teams as fast or physical as Germany and Finland take advantage of to dump their counterattacks there. Taking into account the excellent level of a tireless Ona Batlle both in the right and left lanes and Sheila’s good role on the wing, the logical option would be to place the United winger on the left and the Atlético winger on the right. The team would gain defensive solidity and more gunpowder for the attack.
5.- Believe
All the players already said it in the interviews and press conferences prior to the tournament: they arrived with the maximum enthusiasm and desire for England but with caution because they have not yet won anything at an absolute level. But Added to this prudence was the pressure of wanting to break with history and do it without Alexia or Jenni Hermoso.. The team has to believe in its possibilities and be 100% focused during each of the ninety minutes. A detail can leave you out.
Denmark has not started this European Championship on the right foot. They were thrashed by Germany in a bad team match and couldn’t get past Finland until Harder appeared. It is a team that needs to make too many moves to get close to the area and here Spain, due to their style of play, have an opportunity to hurt them with high pressure and ball control. It is an all or nothing match. It’s just worth scoring. And you have to come out better than ever.