Sweden 1-1 Spain: 5 Talking Points and Tactical Analysis | European Qualifiers 2019/20

Spain and Sweden played out an entertaining 1-1 stalemate in Stockholm as the visitors booked their spot at next year’s European football carnival.

The game started on expected lines with the Spaniards imposing their possession-oriented game. Slowly but surely though, Sweden came into their own and portrayed determination and grit to stand strong in the face of Spanish adversity.

In the 50th minute, the hosts’ perseverance was rewarded when Marcus Berg capitalised on a loose ball in the box to nod home the opener. Thereafter, the visitors tried to unlock a rather stubborn defensive door and they succeeded deep into stoppage time when Rodrigo Moreno popped up with an improbable equaliser.

Here is a look at the talking points from the game.

---

#5 Goalkeepers’ day out in the first half

Robin Olsen

Spain and Sweden came into the encounter having scored 18 and 17 goals respectively, thereby prompting several to expect another thrilling contest. The 2010 World Champions started off in a similar vein too when they dominated the ball at the outset and left the hosts chasing shadows.

The visitors’ build-up play looked extremely slick and they pinged the ball around with purpose. However, whenever they created goal-scoring opportunities for themselves, they were thwarted by Sweden’s Robin Olsen.

In the opening 10 minutes, the ball broke kindly for Thiago Alcantara, who strode into the penalty area. Yet, he somehow failed to make the net bulge, owing to a combination of indecisive finishing and expert goalkeeping.

Though the Spaniard was slightly wasteful, Olsen was quite brave to throw himself at the feet of the midfielder and claw the ball away from the Bayern Munich player.

A few minutes later, the Swedish goalkeeper was on hand to parry Rodri’s snap shot while he also ensured that the hosts shut out the visitors in the opening period courtesy another smart save from Gerard Moreno.

Consequently, Sweden grew into the game and carved out a few chances at the other end. Yet, akin to his goalkeeping counterpart, David de Gea turned in an immense display in the first period.

The Spaniard’s first notable piece of action was gathering Mikael Lustig’s rasping drive from distance. The shot was struck with power, meaning that de Gea had to sort out his feet quickly.

In a matter of moments though, the Manchester United keeper outdid himself when he flung his left palm to tip Robin Quaison’s effort over the bar.

Thus, the affair remained scoreless at the break, despite both sides indulging itself in some wonderful approach play. And, much of it was down to the brilliance of the goalkeeping pair.

#4 David de Gea encounters an obstacle on his road to redemption

David de Gea

Over the past couple of years, David de Gea has divided an enormous amount of opinion in Spain. While the Spaniard has been scintillating for his club, he hasn’t always translated that on the international front. Last summer, those clamours reached a crescendo after the goalkeeper’s sub-standard showing in Russia.

Consequently, De Gea lost his spot to Kepa Arrizabalaga, with the Chelsea stopper being preferred in the European qualifiers. However, the latter committed an untimely error against Norway, meaning that the former was recalled into the starting eleven in Stockholm.

The United keeper started off superbly on Tuesday and pulled off a string of fine saves. Moreover, he was a tad unfortunate to concede Sweden’s opener, especially considering the exceptional double-save he made before the goal.

However, a few moments later, De Gea went down clutching his groin and subsequently, hobbled off, thereby making way for Kepa.

Hence, one couldn’t help but feel sorry for the United keeper, in light of how he had been able to silence a few of his doubters in an astonishing first half. After all, the encounter against Sweden could’ve been the day when De Gea repaid the faith the Spanish side had shown in him.

Yet, unfortunately, it went rather pear-shaped. More interestingly though, his injury also caused more than a furrowed brow or two in Manchester.

At the weekend, the Red Devils are slated to clash with Liverpool. And, they would rather have the Spaniard fit and in form against the pace-setting Reds. Else, their season could just go further downhill.

#3 Spain’s front two fail to sparkle

Gerard Moreno

For the trip to Stockholm, Robert Moreno preferred the young duo of Gerard Moreno and Mikel Oyarzabal. Though the pair has been in good form in the La Liga, both failed to leave a substantial imprint on the game, meaning that Spain often struggle to scythe through the hosts’ rear-guard.

On a few occasions, Oyarzabal found himself in promising positions. However, he wasn’t composed enough, thereby contriving to allow those opportunities to slip from his grasp. Additionally, he also got in Thiago’s way when the midfielder looked destined to make the net bulge.

More worryingly though, Oyarzabal failed to provide the required thrust to enable Spain to create space in the offensive third.

As for Moreno, the debutant fared a tad better than his strike partner but his performance too left a lot to be desired. Though his off-the-ball running opened up a few more avenues, his finishing let him down as he failed to hit the target when accorded presentable chances.

In the second half, the striker nodded wide after Dani Ceballos had set him up with a delicious cross from the right flank.

However, encouragingly for Spain, the duo is quite young and boasts the necessary time to iron out its flaws and adapt itself to the Spanish system. And though they might still go on to enjoy a brilliant career in national colours, one reckons they might not want to use the game against Sweden as a point of reference.

#2 Sweden execute their game-plan to the tee

Sweden were nearly rewarded for their exemplary tactical plan

A few days prior, Spain had been pegged back by Norway late in the game, thereby providing enough hope to Sweden as the hosts looked to rattle the Spanish cage.

However, the home side got off to the worst possible start as the visitors dominated the early exchanges and enjoyed the lion’s share of possession. Moreover, Sweden could’ve found themselves a goal or two down, had Olsen not been at his sharpest.

Yet, after riding the early storm, the hosts showcased exemplary tactical acumen to wrestle control and also mount a considerable threat.

At times, Sweden defended quite narrowly, meaning that Spain were accorded an astounding amount of room on the flanks. On the night though, that ploy worked a charm, considering the visitors’ lack of a goal-scoring forward. In the process, the Spaniards played several crosses without really causing a flutter.

Additionally, the hosts were willing to let the away side have the ball in deep areas and pressurised them only after Sweden got back into shape. Consequently, they pinched numerous balls in midfield and barged through the Spanish defensive door.

Towards the end though, they started losing concentration and that aspect came to the fore as Spain snatched a late equaliser.

However, nothing could be taken away from the expert tactics Sweden used in Stockholm. After all, not only did they contain a side of Spain’s ilk, they also hatched an adequate plan to make a difference in attack.

#1 Spain qualify for Euro 2020 but old problems resurface, again

Roberto Moreno has plenty of questions to answer

Nearly a decade ago, Spain captured the planet’s imagination with their silky and sumptuous brand of football. Capable of passing teams into submission, the Spaniards perfected the tiki-taka and served it to the entire footballing fraternity, often to the detriment of their rivals.

Since then, the Iberian outfit has proceeded on similar lines and has looked to imbibe that particular philosophy among its younger generation. However, an increase in counter-attacking football has dwindled the novelty of Spain’s immaculate approach.

Consequently, they’ve been criticised for having too much possession without really penetrating the opposition’s defence. The aforementioned deficiency was laid bare for everyone to witness at the 2014 World Cup before it reared its ugly head in Russia a year prior. And, unfortunately, those issues resurfaced against Sweden.

On Tuesday, the visitors enjoyed 75% of possession but only had 6 shots on target. Besides, they failed to trouble the hosts in the final third, meaning that Sweden could sit deep in their half before springing counter-attacks.

However, more problematically, Spain’s play looked devoid of ideas, with their midfield failing to find space in between the lines. On countless occasions, the visitors switched the play wide before coming back inside. In the process, the Spaniards kept moving from side to side without slicing through Sweden’s defence.

Moreover, they looked a calamity waiting to unravel when the hosts broke at pace, a tactic that ultimately created Sweden’s only goal of the evening.

Thus, the away side have plenty of unanswered questions moving forward; none more essential than how to utilise the humungous amount of possession they enjoy.

And, while Spain have prided themselves upon their ability to stick to their identity, even when it would’ve been easier to shunt between different styles, that could yet prove to be their undoing.

Though there is no pressing need to completely blow that approach into smithereens, they surely need to evolve a mechanism capable of withstanding everything shrewd opponents have to throw at them.