UEFA Women’s EURO Final Preview: England v Spain
It will be a game of luck, with both teams statistically capable of beating each other. It will be a game of who can score first and who can clear their defensive lines. It will be a game of who takes their chances and who is brave enough. Overall, it will be an interesting game with pure emotions playing a huge factor.
One year and year months later, there is a repeat of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final. The world-class Spain against England. The Lionesses are in their third consecutive major tournament final under head coach, Sarina Wiegman, despite their recent performances in the last few years.
England: a tactical overview
England will struggle defensively in this game with the Spanish maestro midfield: Aitana Bonmatí, Alexia Putellas and Patri Guijarro. It will be difficult for the Lionesses to gain possession and control of the game, even more so when you factor in Barcelona’s Claudia Pina and Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey. Both wingers who take on pivotal roles in the midfielder, which allows them to control the ball and link up with the three central midfielders.
Typically, Wiegman’s England hold a high line, which will allow the faster Spanish attackers to get into the space behind and cause problems for the Lionesses. Particularly with the fullbacks, Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood, being encouraged to join the attack as secondary wingers, this could leave gaps for the Spanish to exploit throughout the ninety minutes.
With their controlled build-up and visionary balls along the channels essential to their tactical game plan, England must execute their passes and possession play perfectly to break the opposition’s strong back four. By focusing primarily on the long passes from Hannah Hampton, Jess Carter, Leah Williamson and Greenwood, space will be opened up for the English attackers. Thus, England will have the opportunity to attack even if they don’t have possession.
Arsenal striker, Alessia Russo, will benefit from this long passing tactic, as she is the not the traditional striker; she has a vision of connecting the play with her teammates and is not hungry for goals herself. She does not occupy the space in front of the goal, which is typical of a number nine. She is prepared to work the play through the field and work with her teammates to do so. This makes her the perfect player in a Lionesses’ shirt.
Spain: a tactical overview
Spain too will face challenges against a hungry opposition in England. Attacking at every opportunity and imposing themselves on England will be in place from the first minute. They perform with an exceptional ability to win the ball back with a high press, as a result of their starting lineup: five attacking midfielders/wingers/strikers among the six forward. This will once again keep England on their toes, as any inaccurate passing will lead to a Spanish threat.
Regarding the English defence, they faced many challenges throughout the tournament, not always communicating with one another in crucial moments. Spain will be ready to pounce on any inconsistency or mistakes from the Lionesses, with the number nine, Ester Gonzáles known for her clinical and unpredictable finishes. Given her recent form in this tournament, Montse Tomé’s squad rely on her to be ready for any ball sent forward and into the oppositions box.
Another thing to consider is the driven mentality that Spain must have when they consider the talent on the English bench. Both Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang are ones to watch. They are game changers. Their ability to secure outstanding goals and assists is unmatched, especially with their record of saving the Lionesses in the dying minutes. Wiegman will no doubt have them in her plans for the second half, as they aim to retain their trophy.
Who will lift the trophy?
While ultimately Spain has an advantage over England in the tactical battle, Wiegman’s squad would not go down without a fight. Time and time again Spain have showcased what they can achieve and how they will fight to win a game. But this summer, the Lionesses have shown courage and resilience to progress through the knockouts in style, only minutes before they would have been heading home.
Whilst Spain overcame England to win the World Cup in 2023, the Lionesses pulled off an incredible performance to beat their international rivals in the UEFA Women’s Nations League earlier this year. With a rich history as opponents, the final result could go either way. It all goes down to the performance on the day.
Neither team has had an easy path to the final, with matches going into extra time and penalties. Tired legs and mental challenges will play a part. Every player has to showcase their individual brilliance and put on the performance of a lifetime to leave another major tournament as champions.
Overall, regardless of tactics or who executes the game plan and individual performances better, this promises to be an unpredictably brilliant final and the perfect end the EUROs this summer.