We’ve gotten to the enterprise finish of the Group Stage, with Group A ending up their schedule and sending a number residence earlier than the knockouts for the primary time. However that was overshadowed by probably the largest upset of the event to this point that blows up the draw a bit. Let’s run it via.
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Match of the day: Colombia 2 – 1 Germany
That is the largest results of the tourney, most likely extra so than Jamaica holding France to a scoreless draw — even when Colombia have extra pedigree than the Jamaicans. Germany had extensively been predicted to stroll this group, even with Colombia having some of the thrilling younger gamers within the event in Linda Caicedo. And this wasn’t any smash-and-grab the place Colombia simply obtained one effectively positioned counter or one thing. They have been full worth–tactically astute, brash to the purpose of knocking Germany completely off their stride, and ruthless when the time got here. Germany can don’t have any complaints, although they did have a good few for the ref (not completely uncalled for both, however we’ll get to that).
For many of this match, the outcome hinged on how every workforce was coping with the opposite’s main gentle, each of whom are 21 and underneath. Lena Oberdorf returned to the German workforce after lacking their opener, and it was clear that the primary bullet-point on Colombia’s to-do record was to know the place she was always. Colombia’s entrance three with Catalina Usme behind them, particularly heart ahead Mayra Ramirez, have been decided to chop off entry to Oberdorf at any time when the Germans have been attempting to construct out from the again. In actual fact, Colombia sought to disclaim Germany any time in midfield, with each of their double pivot in Lorena Bedoya and Daniela Montoya urgent proper up onto the German #8s. That is what it appeared like a whole lot of the match: Screenshot: FOX
Positive, the primary body is off a dropped ball to the German keeper, however there’s Oberdorf bracketed by Colombia. They simply weren’t going to let her have the ball.
On the opposite aspect, Germany may have handled the upper Colombia press than they have been anticipating by pushing their fullbacks larger and altering angles. However they have been terrified to do this, fearing what Caicedo and her operating buddy on the opposite aspect Girl Andrade would do if given area after a giveaway or a turnover and such. Each German fullbacks clearly had directions to maintain Caicedo in entrance of them.
What you may’t actually plan for, and Germany possibly ought to have been a bit extra ready for (contemplating that Eire pulled out the “fuck this” card 20 minutes right into a closed door pleasant with Colombia, as a result of means that Colombia was pushing them all around the subject (and outright kicking them)), was how Las Cafeteras have been solely too comfortable to get in Germany’s face. Generally lower than cleanly so. Alexandra Popp took a shot within the ribs away from the ball. Klara Bühl obtained an earful from Carolina Arias after getting the ball and most of her decrease physique tackled away from her. For a great portion of the primary half, the story was Colombia flying into Germany, generally actually, in each which means. It was chippy nevertheless it was efficient, because the Germans have been positively listening to footsteps at any time when that they had greater than a millisecond with the ball.
Colombia compelled Germany to go lengthy, which often isn’t an issue as Alexandra Popp will win most headers up prime. However Colombia was tightly drilled to get to the second balls and shut off any headers via, slicing off Germany’s wingers earlier than they might get there and outworking their midfielders to assert any headers that went backwards.
Getting again to the key protagonists, the factor about these gamers is you may plan for them, you may dedicate your techniques to stopping them, however 90 minutes is a very long time and there’s most likely going to come back a second the place they get free. Caicedo’s got here off a nook within the 53rd minute, and nobody’s going to give you a plan to cease this on any whiteboard:
No biggie, simply discover an alley that’s barely wider than the ball to select the very prime of the very prime nook. As Warren Barton stated on the printed, there are World Cup objectives that rely for greater than some extent on the board and can reside endlessly. That is a kind of, as Caicedo appears to be nitro-boosting herself down the highway to finest participant on the earth sometime quickly.
Nonetheless, Colombia’s livid urgent is the type of factor that’s actually exhausting to maintain up for a full match, they usually began to drop off someplace across the seventieth minute. Which meant they misplaced monitor of Oberdorf popping out of midfield. First, she obtained herself within the match with considered one of her trademark tackles that may solely be described as MEATY. Right here’s a great angle of it:
After which she misplaced her marker within the 88th minute and latched onto a stunning contact from Lea Schüller, baited the Colombian keeper in, and obtained a nailed-on penalty for Germany to equalize:
So all finished and dusted then. Germany get out of jail, keep accountable for the group, Colombia will get a courageous level however stays in second the place they have been typically picked to be. That is what prime tier groups do, discover a means even when they may not deserve it. It’s what Germany does particularly.
These are all stuff you’d say should you hadn’t been taking note of the defiance Colombia performed with all match. Throw in some curious German marking:
You possibly can see Manuel Vanegas on the penalty spot with no German wherever close to her, as they’re all marking zonally throughout the six. A workforce isn’t anticipating to get beat from a header from 12 yards, however that activity turns into simpler after they have a free run at it. Intelligent little bit of play from Colombia who use the three gamers in entrance of Vanegas to maintain the Germans from getting out to this ball cleanly. However because of this groups that mark zonally often use the additional gamers to man-mark farther up within the field, to forestall precisely this.
And now the draw will get a bit goofy. Colombia doesn’t have a simple activity of their final recreation in opposition to Morocco, however all they want is a draw to win the group. Germany might want to match no matter Morocco does, however are taking a look at getting dumped right into a Spherical of 16 in opposition to any of France, Brazil, and even Jamaica, after which 1 / 4 in opposition to whoever wins the group between Canada, Australia, or Nigeria. Which could be the simpler route than the potential quarter in opposition to England they have been lining up, assuming England may even subject a workforce by that time.
It was a real pleasure of a match, proper on par with France-Brazil the day earlier than, and a outcome that shakes your entire competitors. And it proves that the actually nice gamers are going to discover a means, irrespective of the planning that goes in opposition to them.
Different outcomes: Norway 6 – 0 Philippines
On the opposite aspect of the tactical spectrum, we’ve got the Philippines. Whereas this was nonetheless a match within the first 20 minutes, there was clearly a plan to play in a low block, and use their two forwards of their 4-4-2 to chop off entry to the midfield and make Norway go large. However you must listen to do this, and the Philippines regularly lose sight of Vilde Bøe Risa on the base of Norway’s midfield, permitting her to get the ball and switch, which meant she was kicking Norway’s assault into excessive gear constantly, with both a merely five-yard cross or huge switches out to the fullbacks who have been allowed to get ahead as soon as Risa obtained the ball. She may additionally put in crosses like this:
Maybe a whole lot of sound and ink will likely be linked to Caroline Graham Hansen getting pissed off and taking it out on the opposition, after she was dropped to the bench in Norway’s second recreation and wasn’t shy about discussing how she felt about it. Which led to this Hadoken:
Recreation. Set. Match.
Norway would possibly contemplate will spend the time till their Spherical of 16 match placing Ada Hegerberg via a Clockwork Orange model remedy to get her in the identical mindset.
Switzerland 0 – 0 New Zealand
This was 90 minutes of Switzerland figuring out they didn’t must placed on a present and daring New Zealand to do it, as a result of they needed to. Particularly as phrase got here down that Norway was tonking the Philippines, New Zealand wanted a purpose. However because of this you don’t lose to the Philippines at residence after which suppose you will have any proper to undergo.
New Zealand have been no much less toothless in opposition to a Switzerland aspect that principally stored an outstretched hand on their brow. Géraldine Reuteler, Lia Wäitl, and Coumba Sow, the three midfielders behind #10 Romana Bachmann, principally shaped one wall in entrance of Switzerland’s protection, which was forming its personal wall. New Zealand ran out of solutions when groups found out that their solely actual ploy was to attempt to get Hannah Wilkinson in behind, which Norway allow them to do with ease. As soon as that dried up, there was nothing. Three photographs heading in the right direction in a recreation they needed to win just about tells the entire story, and even within the eightieth minute the Ferns weren’t throwing a large number of gamers ahead. It’s harsh, however they obtained what they deserved.
Morocco 1 – 0 Korea Republic
Some wins don’t actually should be damaged down tactically or statistically, they imply greater than that:
Not solely the primary Arab nation to qualify, however the first to notch a win. For nations like Morocco that have truly invested a lot into their program, you’d need them to have tangible markers to why it’s value it and to drive the work that comes forward. Effectively, right here you go.
Objective of the Day
Hansen’s belter would have received this on most days. Haug’s looped volley to open the scoring for Norway would too. Ibtissam Jraidi’s would on one other day merely for it’s which means. However come on…
Know her now and for a great lengthy whereas.