'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
was an amazing game last night - the Iberian derby between La Selecao of Portugal and its neighbours La Furia Roja of Spain.
It was a match that had everything: Cristiano Ronaldo underlining his G.O.A.T credentials with a hattrick, Diego Costa battering everyone and everything to grab a brace, Isco delighting the world with his silky smooth dribbling skills, the supposed “best goalkeeper” in the world: David de Gea making howlers and so much more.
After the fiasco of the Julen Lopetegui announcement as the new Real Madrid manager and his subsequent sacking by RFEF president Luis Rubiales, it must have come as a relief when the focus switched to the actual football.
From the Spanish point of view, interim manager Fernando Hierro got his tactics and substitutions right and was only let down by bad errors from Nacho (the penalty), de Gea’s fumble and Gerard Pique’s brain fart in fouling Ronaldo for the decisive freekick.
Going into the next matches against Iran and Morocco, here are some things the manager may look to fix/try out:
#5 Get someone closer to Costa
For large parts of the match, Costa was left alone to forage Portugal’s penalty area as Isco who was supposed to be the most advanced midfielder kept dropping deep to receive the ball and assist play.
While this tactic allowed Jordi Alba and sometimes Nacho to bomb forward from the flanks, it meant that Costa was often left alone to face Pepe and Jose Fonte (the Portuguese centre-backs), though the man-beast did an amazing job.
Iran and Morocco are expected to sit deep and defend in numbers which might make Spain’s passing play through the middle more difficult to execute, as such either of Isco or David Silva will have to play as a second striker just behind Costa.
Hierro will have noted how the Iranians and Moroccans played with a 5-man midfield in their opening game and he will want to ensure that his side gets on the front foot early.
#4 Play a proper right-back
Apart from the mistake which led to the penalty, Nacho had a flawless game at right-back capped off by his superb half-volley for the third goal for Spain.
However, his instincts as a right-back were conditioned to be more defensive (he is a centre-back by trade after all) and he was often unable to get into attacking positions to either send in good crosses or act as an additional attacking outlet.
Dani Carvajal ought to be fit before the next match against Iran next week Wednesday. He would offer a bigger attacking threat from right-back than his Real Madrid teammate.
Even if Carvajal is not fit in time, Hierro can call upon Alvaro Odriozola who is just as attacking as Carvajal and is brilliant at sending in crosses from the right wing, something that Costa or Rodrigo Moreno would love to feed off.
#3 Rest one of Iniesta or Silva
The Spanish midfield had a very good outing against the Portuguese in last night’s thriller. Sergio Busquets was his usual classy, unhurried self; intercepting, starting attacks, blocking off opponents and calmly doing the dirty work. Ditto for Koke who was quietly running all over the place and helped ensure that the Portuguese midfield’s output was limited.
However, the presence of three twinkle-toed midfielders in Andres Iniesta, David Silva, and Isco ensured that while Spain kept and distributed the ball well, Costa had to come short a lot to receive the ball and be involved in the action. Alba also had to push up a lot to offer an extra attacking body as well.
Against the defensive-minded Iranians and Moroccans, Hierro should look to drop one of Iniesta or Silva (to save their legs for later in the tournament as well) and start a more direct attacking threat beside Costa.
Rodrigo has played besides Zaza many times at Valencia and his mobility and turn of pace could give Spain a semblance of the Costa-Antoine Griezmann pairing which works so well at Atletico Madrid.
Iago Aspas could also do the job well and if Hierro wants a more attacking midfielder, he has Marco Asensio to call upon.
#2 Pique may need to be replaced
Captain Sergio Ramos came to the party last night (as he usually does in big games) and was outstanding at the back. However, the same could not be said for his centre-back partner.
The Pique/Ramos pairing has been the go-to option for Spain since the retirement of Carles Puyol and while the pairing works well and both players complement each other (Pique’s reading of the game and passing ability and Ramos’ brilliance at tackling and man-marking), perhaps it is time for a change.
Too many times, Ronaldo had the beating of Pique and it was his clumsy and unnecessary foul which led to the Portuguese captain’s magnificent free-kick. The FC Barcelona man has looked really shaky in recent times for club and country and Hierro might consider the group stages as the best time to try out a new centre-back pairing.
La Furia Roja are expected to have a lot of the ball against their remaining Group B opponents, it would make sense to have either Nacho or Cesar Azpilicueta partner Ramos.
#1 De Gea is not Casillas 2.0
Iker Casillas remains Spain’s greatest ever goalkeeper and it was always going to take some doing to top what “San Iker” achieved while being numero uno for La Furia Roja.
De Gea has long been seen as the man to carry on Casillas’ legacy at the national level but the Manchester United man is yet to win over doubters that he can be the new Iker.
The man who Red Devil fans ignorantly describe as the “best goalkeeper in the world” has shown on many occasions that he has lapses in concentration and when he is not busy facing shots, he can get carried away and commit blunders.
The way Spain play: hogging the ball and moving it around to get the best possible angle, the goalkeeper is usually not called upon to make too many saves. Therefore, he has to always keep himself mentally ready to join in the action once he is needed.
This is an area that the really great goalkeepers excel at and is one that De Gea has consistently failed at (the recent friendly against Switzerland is another example). He will need to up his concentration level as his camera-friendly style which works at Manchester United will be counter-productive in Spain’s tiki-taka style.
Pepe Reina and Kepa Arrizabalaga are two very good options to have in reserve and manager Hierro should not be afraid to drop De Gea if he continues dropping clangers like he did against Ronaldo.
