The debate in Sports media & around coffee tables is which will be the starting 11 team line-ups for France & Spain. Difficult to say as both Coaches are sure to be holding a card or two up their sleeve. But we can attempt to figure it out by intuition & with facts. In the case of Spain we can already eliminate from the team Jordi Alba injured & David Silva who will be side-lined after receiving a yellow card against Finland. Continuing with Spain Xabi Alonso & Xavi Hernandez will definitely be back, so we can more or less put forward a Spain starting 11 team.
In the French case I think that Coach Deschamps will confide & make limited changes ( if any ) & stick with the starting 11 team that gave his side a convincing 3 - 1 victory over Georgia last Tuesday.
Possible starting 11 team line-up for France:
Lloris; Jallet, Varane, Sakho, Clichy; Valbuena (Remy), Matuidi (Sissoko) Pogba, Ribery (Ménez, m.78); Benzema & Giroud.
In the Spanish case, things are not so clear. One of the big lessons of the Finland game last Tuesday was that 85-90% of ball possession means nothing if you can´t score goals. Spanish Coach Vicent Del Bosque has been using the "false striker" tactic many a time & it seems the novelty effect has worn out. Spain called up 23 players & it called my attention the lack of true strikers in his list, Spain may pay for their over emphasis on midfielders.
Having said, this Spain is a much better team with much better players than France in all positions. It´s not the first time that talent & class has saved the day & Spain will recover two World Class "maestros" of the ball in Xavi Hernandez & Xabi Alonso. The question is if Spain will start with a Number 9, or alternatively place David Villa as the Number 9 & give a start to a quick winger like Pedro or Jesus Navas to break a possible French defensive wall. One thing is clear Spain will need goals.
This is my speculated possible starting 11 team line up for Spain:
Victor Valdes, Arbeloa, Pique, Ramos, Monreal, Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, David Villa & Jesus Navas (Pedro).
In all cases, all options are being well noted & studied by the two Coaches who are the true experts. I take it for granted that little will both be surprised as they to have calculated all the possible variations & possible tactics. What I can say with absolute certainty is that next Tuesday game between France vs. Spain will be one of the Top encounters of any of the Groups in action. A game not to be missed.
Good luck to both sides.
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2 comments:
This is a little off topic since everyone is concerned with whether or not to continue with the false striker tactic but I'm curious whether Casillas will regain his starting spot automatically or if he'll need to prove his form with Madrid before getting the nod again with national team. I don't hear a ton because I don't get Fox Soccer or Bein networks here in the states. Honestly, this blog is where I get the majority of my national team news! Keep it coming!
Greg , hi mate
Vicente Del Bosque has said publicly that Iker Casillas is the Captain of Spain, vital for the squad & that he will go to the Confederations Cup regardless.
As soon as Iker is fit he will regain his spot, as long as Del Bosque es selector.
Cheers
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