 |
 |
 |
| Friday, 22 June 2012 01:10 | ||||||||||||||||||
Portugal 1-0 Czech Republic tactical breakdown Portugal and the Czech Republic were the first teams battling it out for a place on the Euros 2012 semi-finals. Sure enough, we were presented with a more timid approach from both teams, since this was a winner-take-all contest and none of them wanted to depart the tournamen after getting this far.
In these stages of the competition, it is rather obvious that everyone has done their homework and, more often than not, the two elevens try to cancel their opponent's strengths, rather than showing their own. Therefore, the sight of centre-backs hoofing the ball forward was rather unoriginal and not exactly unexpected, given the little space both midfields had to operate in.
With Dadira deputising for Rosicky (who was not fit enough to start), the Czech manager Michal Bilek tried to pack the centre of the field and make his team narrow, somewhat emulating what he had done against Russia. Paulo Bento responded by bringing both Nani and Ronaldo inside, hoping the full-backs would take the outside routes. Portugal started out poorly and, much like in the match versus Germany, often misplaced (simple) passes, which undermined one the main strengths of the Selecção: the quick transitions into attack. In fact, the Czechs took control of the game for the first 25 minutes, exploiting preferentially the wings, as expected.
Both Raúl Meireles and João Moutinho were too wary of leaving their original positions and giving away the midfield battle, a fear that went on until the 25th minute, when Moutinho finally appeared a bit higher up and fed Ronaldo a perfect through ball. Even though the referee ended up blowing the whistle for Ronaldo's foul, it was the wake-up call that the team needed.
It was hard to tell whether Paulo Bento chose to keep Meireles on the left side of the midfield because that is where he ended the match against Holland or because he was looking to exploit the Gebre-Selessie's possible forward movement. Either way, it meant that Portugal were (only marginally) more dangerous down the left wing, particularly after the 25th minute, when Coentrão started feeling more at ease and began motoring up and down the field, with Ronaldo more and more central.
Bento's instructions and corrections at half time were clearly spot on. The first play of the second half resembled a Portuguese shot across the bow for the Czechs. In less than 30 seconds, Meireles did what Portugal still hadn't done thus far - something a midfielder is supposed to do in a 4x3x3 (especially if the striker is not that mobile, as is Hugo Almeida's case). Besides getting the ball between the Czech lines, he then proceeded by taking up the space vacated by Ronaldo, who was already waiting for a possible cross. This play would be a symmetrical replica of Ronaldo's goal.
With the team fired up, every sector of the team was closer to one another, allowing midfielders and defenders to play higher up and collect their opponent's clearances. Even though the Portuguese pressure was not stifling in all fairness, it did wear the Czechs down, to the point where there were actually very few breakaways from Bilak's men.
Despite the numerous shots (mostly off target), Portugal weren't being able to finish their opponent off, which could prove costly down the road. With the Czechs worn down and apparently not appreciative of their odds, it seemed the Portuguese goal would be just a matter of time. And indeed, the goal came from the inevitable Ronaldo, eager to make up for his two shots that had previously hit the woodwork. Moutinho penetrated the channel, much like Meireles had done in the first play of the second half, and crossed for an unstoppable header from the Real Madrid forward. Game over. by Vasco Mota Pereira
Vasco runs http://aboladovasco.blogspot.com/
and http://combinationplay.blogspot.com/, two blogs exclusively about football. Chalkboards created via the Stats Zone app, available for free in the App Store. |
I understand under the pressure of the game that split second decisions have to be made but as noted in some of the comments with examples we need to make some better decisions with the ball. I think sometimes we just need to make the simple play which is the extra pass. Better decision making will improve the quality of our scoring chances. Against better teams, the scoring chances will be reduced which means better decision making is critical.
I also agree that from other posts that Meireles has been our worse player. He does give up the ball too easy and a few times in our defending half. His timing and thinking seems to be off, I will not fault his work rate. We will need Meireless at some point to make a positive play in the tournament.
Does not matter if its La Roja or Les Bleus next.....Selecção is the best!!
Ronaldo is also victim of this, at some point in the first half FIVE Czech players were closing in on him. So what did Ronaldo do? Do the sensible thing and pass the ball (in this case Postiga who was completely unmarked) or trying to go through the five players. Naturally he picked the latter.
Or how about Perreira at the end of the match with Cech being out of the goal, either shoot or pass the ball but he did neither and lost the ball.
Better decision leads to better goal scoring opportunities and naturally this also leads to more goals.
What made this so frustrating to watch is that they nearly held us off for the full 90 minutes, so we still have to improve when it comes to facing teams that utilize the "bus parking" strategy. Golden chances were just blatantly thrown away by players such as Raul Meireles. We just can't have stuff like that happen in games where we don't see much of the net due to the clogged side of our opponents field. On a positive note, our next opponents won't be utilizing this strategy so we'll be able to feast off of the counter-attack like we've been normally doing.
Still, i do see finishing as this teams biggest issue and i gradually hope it improves in time for Spain or France as it will need to in order for us to win.