Sports

Analysis: Spain’s exit and stats show limit of pure passing game

Published

1 year ago

07/12/2022

DOHA, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) — “Pass, pass, pass, pass… Go home.” History repeats for Spain, who left the World Cup on Tuesday night following a penalty shootout against Morocco after 120 minutes of football failed to produce a goal.

Spain had over 75 percent of the ball and yet managed just two shots on target all game, with both of those efforts coming from Dani Olmo following set pieces.

There used to be an advertisement for a mark of car which said that “power without control is nothing”, Spain’s problem is that when it comes to the crunch, “control without power” is also a path to failure.

Spain coach Luis Enrique insisted before and during the tournament that he would remain true to Spain’s passing style and he continued to defend it after the final whistle.

“We dominated the game, but lacked a goal: the midfield controlled the ball, you can criticize us for not creating chances, but Morocco defended really well,” he insisted.

Defenders of the faith of Spain’s passing game will point to a 7-0 win against Costa Rica in the opening group match and a good performance against Germany, who by the way caught the first plane home, in the second.

Footballing heretics, who think that now and then, something a bit more direct can be thrown into the mix, will say how Morocco kept Spain out through hard-work and discipline and how Japan did the same.

A look at Spain’s recent World Cup record supports the heretical vision that some change is needed: after winning the 2010 in brilliant fashion in South Africa, Spain has won just three games from 11 in World Cup finals, with those wins against the footballing powerhouses of Australia, Iran and Costa Rica.

Spain went home after the group stage in Brazil, while falling in the last-16 in Russia, also going out on penalties.

Their last five matches in major knockout tournaments have all gone to extra time, with four of those, against Morocco on Tuesday, vs Switzerland and Italy in the European Championship and against Russia in 2018, also going to penalties, with Spain losing three of those four shoot outs.

All of this implies that Spain’s style of play is generally enough to see them past weaker sides as they always qualify for big tournaments with relative ease, but when they come up against bigger and better rivals in the knockout stages, they are simply unable to beat them.

Saying rivals “defended well,” can serve as an excuse for a while, but defend well is what good teams do, otherwise they would not be in the last-16. If you get to that stage, you have to present your arguments to beat them. Sometimes you need a ‘plan-B’ as well as ‘death by a thousand passes’.

Spain’s best chances against Morocco came when Athletic Club Bilbao winger, Nico Williams came on in the 75th minute. Williams immediately looked to take on his full back, rather than give a horizontal pass and Spain’s best chances, came when he got to the goal line and put the ball into the penalty area.

Incredibly, Williams was substituted for the penalties in the 118th minute, with his replacement, Pablo Sarabia then missing his spot kick.

Apart from Williams, Spain has only one other player who is able to produce something from nothing: Ansu Fati, but perhaps through fitness reasons, Enrique was unwilling to use him except in a very peripheral role. The rest of Spain’s attack was a variety on a theme: agile players who are able to pass the ball: Marcos Asensio, Sarabia, Olmo, Ferran Torres. Alvaro Morata is slightly more direct, but isn’t really a forward to attack crosses, or hold up play with his back to goal.

In fairness, Gerard Moreno, who can do that, missed out through injury, but Betis striker Borja Iglesias was left out and hardly given a chance in the run up to Qatar. It seems obvious that Enrique never really intended to change the style.

The coach’s future is in doubt as all coaches are following an early exit from the World Cup, but he has indicated, he would like to carry on and it’s clear an honest, direct and decent man will have the support and loyalty of his players.

But unless Enrique is willing to adapt his style of play to include a ‘plan B’ when it’s 0-0 in the 70th minute, the script will probably remain the same: big wins over weak rivals, followed by ‘pass, pass, pass… go home.”

Source(s): Xinhua

Sports

Asian Carrom Championship: silver for men, bronze for women

Published

1 day ago

30/04/2024

Both the men’s and women’s teams from the Maldives contigent have secured wins at the recent Asian Carrom Championship’s team events.

Held at the Social Center, Male’ City, the men’s team secured a silver medal win while the women’s team secured a bronze medal.

This was also the first time men’s team have played in a finals of an international sports tournament in the last 21 years.

Maldives men’s team faced a 3-0 defeat against India.

The women’s team managed to advance until the semi-finals, and was knocked out with a 3-0 defeat against India.

Besides the team event, the Maldives contingent secured a men’s doubles win as well. At the doubles event, Ismail Azmeen and Hassan Nazim secured silver medal wins.

Source(s): sun.mv

Sports

Ahead of Paris duel: Sancho on bumpy road to his top level

Published

1 day ago

30/04/2024

By Oliver Trust

BERLIN, April 30 (Xinhua) — Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho emphasized the importance of focusing solely on the present ahead of their critical UEFA Champions League semifinal against PSG. The 24-year-old English winger urged his team to put past achievements behind them and concentrate exclusively on the upcoming match this Wednesday.

“The group stage is a thing of the past. We shouldn’t think and talk about the final either. It’s this game now, nothing else,” Sancho said.

While fans are nostalgic about a potential repeat of the 2013 “German final” against Bayern Munich, Dortmund is keen to move past a recent disappointing 4-1 league defeat to Leipzig. The loss has added an extra layer of pressure on the team as they prepare for the semifinal.

“The venue and that both again have reached the last four rounds is triggering memories. It’s good for German football and it is a curious fact,” Neuer said.

The final in 2024 is set to take place at Wembley, the same venue as in 2013, adding to the sense of deja vu. However, Sancho, currently on loan from Manchester United, is battling fitness issues as he struggles to return to his best form.

“We all know about his skills and options. But at present, he has to deal with Ups and Downs. We are trying to help him and give him time, but to perform every three days on the highest level remains a challenge,” BVB coach Edin Terzic said.

Terzic added Sancho’s training performance is encouraging, and “we are convinced he is reaching his top level shortly.”

Despite his struggles, Sancho recently became the first Englishman to score 40 goals in the German Bundesliga, surpassing Tony Woodcock’s record of 39.

The striker called his 1-0 lead a “bitter-sweet moment” as Leipzig later turned the game in its favor.

The stage of the Champions League might deliver the opportunity to set a mark for Sancho as his harvest has been far from satisfying so far.

Two goals and two assists in 15 competitive games don’t seem to meet the expectations of the club and the player.

Sancho’s future in Dortmund’s shirt remains uncertain. Some reports speak of United’s intention to allow his stay with the Black and Yellows, while other media talk about a possible return in case the Red Devils trigger the departure of current under-fire coach Erik Ten Hag.

For now, Sancho remains focused on the immediate task against PSG. “We need to perform perfectly over 90 minutes on Wednesday, so we have a week later,” he asserted, viewing the Champions League as a potential turning point to overcome recent challenges and possibly reignite discussions of a historic final at Wembley.

Source(s): Xinhua

Sports

Two horses race for title in Premier League as Arsenal and Man City both win

Published

3 days ago

29/04/2024

LONDON, April 28 (Xinhua) — Arsenal and Manchester City solidified their positions as the primary contenders for the Premier League title this weekend, with each securing crucial victories, while Liverpool’s title hopes diminished after dropping points.

Arsenal survived a late comeback from Tottenham to win 3-2 away to its neighbor after it had stormed into a 3-0 first half lead.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg headed into his own net after 15 minutes and Tottenham then had a goal ruled out by VAR and two penalty appeals turned down before Bukayo Saka finished off a move inspired by Kai Havertz after 27 minutes.

Havertz then headed in a corner to put Arsenal 3-0 up at the break, but it had to survive a Spurs fightback after Cristian Romero pulled a goal back after a dreadful clearance from David Raya.

Son Heung-Min scored a penalty after Declan Rice caught Ben Davies three minutes from time, but Arsenal held firm for the win.

That put the pressure on Manchester City for its visit to Nottingham Forest, but it kept its nerve to win a 32nd-minute header from Josko Gvardiol before Erling Haaland confirmed his return from injury with City’s second goal 19 minutes from time.

Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes slipped away with a 2-2 draw away to West Ham on Saturday.

Jarrod Bowen nodded West Ham ahead two minutes before halftime, Andy Robertson leveled with a snapshot in the 47th minute and Liverpool went ahead with 25 minutes left to play after Cody Gakpo’s shot went in after several deflections.

Poor Liverpool defending allowed Michail Antonio to head in a 77th-minute equalizer, and the game ended after a pitch-side argument between striker Mohamed Salah and coach Jurgen Klopp as Salah was preparing to come on as a late substitute.

Aston Villa surrendered a 2-0 lead at home to Chelsea after Marc Cucurella deflected a shot into his own net and Morgan Rogers doubled its lead with a low shot shortly before halftime.

Chelsea was a different side after the break, with Noni Madueke giving it a lifeline, before Conor Gallagher’s 81st minute screamer, and only a VAR decision to rule Axel Disasi’s injury time effort robbed it of a win.

Tottenham’s defeat means Villa is fourth with a seven-point lead over its nearest rivals, who has two games in hand.

Manchester United remains sixth but dropped points in a 1-1 draw at home to Burnley, who keep its survival hopes intact after Zeki Amdouni’s 87th-minute penalty committed by the otherwise impressive Andre Onana canceled out Antony’s 79th-minute opener for United.

Newcastle United is a point behind United after confirming Sheffield United’s return to the Championship with a 5-1 thrashing.

Anel Ahmedhodzic gave Sheffield a fifth-minute lead before Newcastle ran riot.

Alexander Isak equalized in the 26th minute and three goals in 15 second half minutes from Bruno Guimaraes, Isak and an own goal make it 4-1 before Callum Wilson scored Newcastle’s fifth in the 72nd minute.

Hwang Hee-Chan and Toti Gomes gave Wolverhampton a 2-1 win at home to Luton, for whom Carlton Morris scored an 80th-minute consolation goal.

Both Everton and Brentford are safe from relegation after Idrissa Gueye’s 60th-minute goal gave Everton a 1-0 win at home to Brentford, although Nottingham Forest’s defeat means Brentford is also safe.

Bournemouth moved into the top half of the table on Sunday with a 3-0 win at home to Brighton thanks to goals from Marcos Senesi, Enes Unal and Justin Kluivert which have given the club a new top-flight record total of 48 points.

Saturday also saw Fulham and Crystal Palace drew 1-1 in a game between two sides with nothing to play for other than South London pride.

Source(s): Xinhua