EURO 2016 MATCH ANALYSIS: ITALY VS SPAIN

MATCH ANALYSIS: ITALY vs SPAIN

Pure tactical masterclass put on display by Antonio Conte and the Azzuri versus the new generation of Spaniards led by an aging Vincent Del Bosque. The Italians dominated possession in the key moments of the game and relied on their defensive nous in the closing moments to see off a famous win. Out of a bunch of whom not much was expected, Italian pride is on a high.

FORMATIONS

Conte reverted to the base of his title winning Juventus team with Buffon in goal, Bonucci, Barzagli and Chiellini in a back three. De Rossi played at the base of a midfield three with Parolo and Giachierini as two box-to-box runners.  Eder partnered Pelle upfront with De Scilgio and Florenzi as wing backs in 3-5-2.

The Spaniards kept the same line up for the fourth game of the tournament playing in a 4-3-3. De Gea in

THE ITALIAN’S TACTICAL MASTERCLASS

Antonio Conte went against the grain of what the Spaniards expected as regards strategy for this game. Against Belguim in the group stage, he got the Azzurri to defend deep and counter attack quickly. It was a long ball from Bonucci that found Giachierini for the first goal of that game.

Conte’s formation was a 3-5-2 on paper but transitioned to a 3-3-4 when they were in possession of the ball. The inglorious bastards (Bonucci, Barzagli and Chiellini) otherwise known as the ‘BBC’ maintained the width of the box,  with De Rossi staying behind the first line of Spanish pressure to receive. The box to box midfielders pushed high up occupying the half spaces while the wing backs stayed high and wide hugging the touchline. Both centre forwards stuck close together in the central space.  This distribution gave the Spaniard an interesting conundrum to solve.

Italy’s transition to a 3-3-4 in possession

Both teams employed a high pressing game with Spain’s front three playing high up against the Italian back three. However Italy were able to ensure successful build up by getting Buffon and De Rossi involved at the right moments to create a situational 5v3.

Italy’s situational build up 5v3

The aim was to get De Rossi on the ball  and he ran the show from deep, playmaking for the Italians. Once on the ball he had to choice to either

a) play wide to the wing backs  if the Spanish full backs stayed tight alongside their centre backs

DE ROSSI OPTIONS TO PLAY WIDE TO WING BACKS

b) play penetrating passes along the sides of the Spainish centre backs into the path of the box to box midfielders who had run off Iniesta and Fabregas. This option was selected when the Spanish full backs got tight on the Italian wing backs

DE ROSSI PLAYS INTO THE HALF SPACES FOR THE BOX TO BOX RUNNERS TO EXPLOIT IF SPANISH FULLBACKS GOT TIGHT TO THE WING BACKS

c) play into Pelle ‘the big striker’ with Eder, Parolo and Giachierini making support and third man runs off him. This option was usually available when Spain tried to limit De Rossi influence on the ball by sending either Fabregas or Iniesta to get tight on him with Busquets picking up the man.

DE ROSSI PLAYS INTO THE HALF SPACES FOR THE BOX TO BOX RUNNERS TO EXPLOIT IF SPANISH FULLBACKS GOT TIGHT TO THE WING BACKS

The option De Rossi choose was dependent on how Spain’s No 4 Busquets and the full backs choose to position themselves in relation to the Italian offense.  De Rossi bossed the game and though he only played for 55 minutes he was by far the man of the match.

However, it was from a set piece that Italy got the first goal. The Italians looked to utilize crosses, corners and free kicks given Spanish susceptibility at these. The Italian crosses from out wide in open play often targeted the man been tracked by Jordi Alba.

SPANIARDS LACK OF AN EFFECTIVE PLAN B 

The Spaniards did not have a plan B and their plan A has been torn to shreds by a tactical plan set out by Conte. The Spaniards didn’t get anyone close to De Rossi to break his influence in the first half. Save for De Gea’s heroics, the Spaniards would have lost by more than three goal margin.

The injury he sustained in the second half helped the Spaniards regain some control. However Del Bosque didn’t get his substitutions right as they were like for like and the system was not adapted to give the Italians something to think about . It looks to be the end of the road for De Bosque however there is a lot of positive optimism for the Spanish side. Only time will tell .

SUMMARY 

Conte took away possession control from the Spaniards in what was a tactical masterclass. Spain beat the Italians four years ago however it is the Azzurris who are celebrating a famous win this year.

MATCH STATS (courtesy of StatZone)