Key takeaways

1. Dont play unfit players based on reputation. You'll get found out.
2. Don't just pick your 11 notionally best players. You need to actually think about how those 11 will function effectively as a team.
3. At this level you have to be capable of carrying a threat, and giving the other team real problems, defending is not enough. If you just let the other team dominate, the very best teams are more than capable of opening you up, and you'll constantly be inviting pressure.
4. When picking the squad you need to consider the alternative formations you might play, the impact subs you will need and who might help you improve in a raft of different game situations. You can't just bubble sort the notionally best players by position.
5. All that said, Spain were just comfortably the best team and squad. Think about it - they lost possibly their two best midfielders to injury (Pedri earlier and then Rodri for the second half) and it didnt make a blind bit of difference, the lads that came on slotted right in and were brilliant. Danny Olmo for example.

Posted By: Under soil heating, Jul 15, 09:25:02