Spain 2 England 1: Euro 2024 tactical analysis

Spain won a record fourth men’s European Championship, at England’s expense, with a commanding display in the Euro 2024 final. England did their best to stifle the Spanish in Berlin, but the tournament’s best team kept their composure to claim victory with a late winner. After Spain won three major tournaments in a row between 2008-2012, a new generation of Spanish players have now written their names in football history.

England were likely content to have gone in 0-0 at half-time, having restricted a possession-dominant Spain to few chances. Just minutes after the interval, however, they were carved open as Nico Williams fired the favourites in front. Having survived a rough spell without conceding further – and after Gareth Southgate replaced Harry Kane and Kobbie Mainoo with Ollie Watkins and Cole Palmer, respectively – England then drew level thanks to a Palmer finish on 73 minutes.

It was a moment that may have rocked lesser teams, but Spain responded by taking control of the game again. With minutes remaining, Luis de la Fuente’s side progressed down England’s right, and Marc Cucurella crossed for substitute Mikel Oyarzabal to slide home the winner.

England – who had come from behind in their three previous knockout games – almost forced extra-time, but Declan Rice and Marc Guéhi had headers cleared off the line, as Spain showed defensive resolve to match their quality with the ball.

How the managers saw it

“We have more versatility in our game [compared to recent years], taking advantage of the characteristics of the players that we have,” said Spain’s coach, De la Fuente. “We have pace on the wings, control and possession in the middle and a very solid defence – that has given us a lot of balance in all areas of the game.”

“We didn’t keep the ball well enough,” said Southgate. “You have to keep the ball when you win it back. In the end, that’s the bit that takes more out of your legs.”

Below, our UEFA-licensed coaches have analysed the key tactical points from Spain’s victory…

 

England’s block limits Spain in the first half

Spain started the game in a 4-3-3 shape, dominating the ball throughout the first half. With Rodri as the single pivot, they used wide trios to attack around England’s mid-block, as their full-backs, number eights and wingers rotated, attempting to drag and disrupt England’s deeper, player-oriented marking (below). Centre-forward Álvaro Morata occasionally dropped deeper, attempting to drag England’s centre-backs out of line and create gaps for narrow runners. To England’s credit, though, they tracked these runs and defended well in the first half.

England started with a 4-2-3-1 shape without the ball, ensuring that the back four had enough defensive width and cover to deal with Spain’s very wide wingers. Ahead, Rice and Kobbie Mainoo tracked and covered Spain’s number eights (below). Phil Foden did an excellent job marking his Manchester City teammate, Rodri, limiting the Spaniard’s ability to play forward and through England’s lines. Out of possession, Jude Bellingham was used wide left and Bukayo Saka wide right, positioned to track any Spanish full-back runs, while Harry Kane was the high screen at the top of the block. With their organised and disciplined block, England limited Spain throughout the first half, although they created little themselves.

Spain’s switch to a double pivot

England’s good work in the first period was undone in the opening moments of the second half. With Rodri forced off at half-time due to injury, De la Fuente added a second pivot, as Martín Zubimendi slotted in alongside Fabian Ruiz. That meant that Foden was now in a 2v1 against the Spain pivots, while Mainoo and Rice failed to adapt to the new number 10 positioning of Dani Olmo. When Spain advanced on their right, Olmo’s movement towards Kyle Walker left the England right-back covering two players. As Spain attacked down the right, Olmo narrowed and ran forward, with Walker naturally tucking inside. This freed Williams, who was found by a switch from Lamine Yamal, to put Spain ahead.

With England failing to adapt to Spain’s new attacking structure, their block was penetrated repeatedly in the opening stages of the second half. Mainoo joined Foden in marking the Spanish pivots to limit their output, but their right-side helped free Olmo. Right-back Dani Carvajal began advancing much higher, with Yamal narrowing. This meant Olmo could stay in the left inside-channel, still overloading Walker, while Rice covered neither side (below). Olmo then had a huge chance to double Spain’s lead, as England continued to struggle with the impact of De la Fuente’s half-time changes.

The pros and cons of England’s changes

England desperately needed some energy, which 61st-minute substitute Watkins provided with immediate, direct runs beyond the Spanish centre-backs. Although he didn’t create much for himself, Watkins did open up bigger spaces between the lines for Foden, Bellingham and Palmer. Luke Shaw overlapped from the left, working around Foden’s narrowed movements, while Saka held the width on the right (below). Palmer’s superb strike levelled the game, but while Southgate’s changes increased England’s energy and got them a goal, they also helped Spain’s central midfielders.

Where possible, Palmer and Watkins pressed high in a 4-4-2, jumping on to the Spanish centre-backs. Rice covered number 10 Olmo, especially when the Spaniard was central. This left Bellingham – who replaced Mainoo in a more central role, when Palmer was introduced – often overloaded in a 2v1 against the Spanish pivots. As such, Spain regularly found their spare pivot, via passes through, and balls over England’s front-line press. The spare pivot would then set back into the free pivot to bring Spain out and into another attack.

Southgate’s changes had given England some much needed energy and prompted an equaliser. However, they also gave the best passing team in the tournament a free central midfielder. Spain took full advantage, regaining control of the game, and ultimately worked the ball into their front line with relative ease to score a deserved winner. 

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