Spain
- System of play: 4-2-3-1; 4 flat defence, 2 defensive midfielders, 3 offensive midfielders (1 playmaker and 2 wide players) and one striker.
- Strong points: Good organisation and good utilization of space having four players on the sides (Aguilera and Etxeberria on the right and Sergi and Luis Enrique on the left). Technical quality, speed and quality of building up excellently. 4 offensive players very fast, good dribblers with good crosses and finishing. Also good in the air.
- Outstanding players: Luis Enrique (21), Hierro (6), Nadal (20), Morientes (7)
Defence:
- No offside tactics.
- Zonal marking and allows having a free man to give cover. Good pressing in midfield, especially on the sides.
- No sweeper.
- Heading very good in defence. Very skilful, good mobility and fast in switching play from defence to attack.
- Always eight players in defence and at times only Morientes did not participate defending. Good work by midfield (especially Hierro and Amor).
Attack:
- Two ways for building-up attacks: 1) Work on the wings with Luiz Enrique and Etxeberria and supported by Aguilera and Sergi to get in crosses. 2) Quick combination through the middle with Morientes, Alfonso, Luiz Enrique and Etxeberria. Can construct slowly when building-up and then switch tempo to fast offensive play. Good in counter attacks.
- Good shooting abilities, especially by Hierro (long range shots). Good dribbling quality mainly by Luiz Enrique, Morientes, Etxeberria and Alfonso. First half: recuperation of balls in opposing half. Whole team, except Morientes, in teams defending.
- Good support from three offensive midfielders with Hierro and Amor playing closer and giving support from behind.
- Good quality in the technique and speed of the actions. Able to move with precise passing. Much movement without ball to create space.
Summary:
Very strong team, good defence and does very well in the recuperation of the ball.
Attack very fast and precisely. Created many opportunities .
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Bulgaria
- System of play: 5-3-2, switched to 4-3-3 after 28 minutes. Started with a sweeper, 2 man markers and two defenders on the side. Two defensive midfielders and one playmaker (Balakov) plus two strikers. Later switched to one sweeper, three defenders, three midfielders (one defensive and two offensive) and three forwards.
- Strong points: Not in this game.
- Outstanding players: -
Defence:
- Towards the end of the game, they tried to play the offside trap, when Spanish forwards had numerical superiority. Sweeper Ivanov came up to catch them offside.
- They tried man marking but failed because of the high quality of the Spanish players. Then the defence reverted to zonal marking.
- Sweeper playing mainly behind the defensive line. He did only defensive duties and went up only for standard situations.
- Average skill on heading and other techniques.
- Defence was not supported at all by attackers. Midfielders participated partly in defensive work.
Attack:
- Tried to build-up with long balls to the strikers in the first half but were unsuccessful. In 2nd half, they tried to use short passes and build-up over the wings (right side). Good performance by Borimirov and Iliev who were very mobile.
- In this game not many shooting attempts; heading was no strong point of the team; dribbling skill only by Kostadinov.
- Support for attack mainly from Balakov as well as Borimirov and Iliev (2nd half-time). Defence did not support attack at all.
Summary:
A team without spirit. Very static without movement, creativity and surprising
elements.
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LENS -
Spain's Luis Enrique (L) celebrates his goal against
Bulgaria with team mates in Lens June 24. Spain defeated Bulgaria 6-1 in their group D
match in the World Cup finals.
Photo Desmond Boylan REUTERS