Spain will start the World Cup in Qatar today with the clear objective of adding three points and avoiding surprises. Argentina's debut is a good warning. In front, the always uncomfortable Costa Rican team that has come to the meeting after completing a good qualifying phase. Still, the qualitative difference is considerable. Here my 5 tactical keys for the debut game:
Luis Enrique always likes to surprise with a name or detail in his eleven. Something that can also happen in the first team that lines up this afternoon. What is certain will be the participation of the players who, for the coach, have proven to be essential. Unai Simón in goal, Laporte in the middle, in the middle of the field Busquets, Gavi and Pedri, and a forward line in which Morata and Ferran Torres seem unbeatable in an eleven that will be structured in the fixed 4-3-3 of the Spanish combined.
The match script will be clear. Spain will carry the weight and Costa Rica will wait in the middle zone to close passing lanes, make combinative play difficult and attack quickly when they have the ball. That is, the rival will be reactive. At least until Spain manages to open the scoring. Which is why there will be many moments of a static positional attack match in which the team has to try to make it the opposite: very dynamic. It will be important that both interiors and the three forwards constantly move to offer passing lanes and to disorganize the opposing gear. An important role also for full-backs since there will be numerous situations for them to join up looking for two against one on the outside.
In the context of the game that is going to take place, the role of the pivot will be key in both phases of the game. A priori, Spain has to be little demanded in the exit of the ball but in the movement from side to side. A circulation that has to be fast. And the one who will have the most influence on it will be Busquets because, most of the time, he will be the man on whom the wingers or full-backs lean on to find the opposite side. It is vital that the pivot plays fast and accurate. As it will also be key that he jumps well under pressure and has the necessary intuition to anticipate defensively and be able to recover up front. That will allow you to link attacks.
Managing the last half hour is always important, but in a short championship and final matches like a World Cup even more so. Luis Enrique likes to use all or almost all the changes always and today, again, it will be transcendental whatever the scenario. If Spain has not managed to get the game back on track until then, it will require that the coach be correct in reading and in choosing the refreshed footballers. If, on the other hand, the team gets a context of advantage, dividing efforts according to which players and giving minutes to others who also have to be important will be super beneficial for the following matches in the group stage.
The former Real Madrid goalkeeper is still the leader of Costa Rica. His performances under the sticks explain why the Central American team is a team that concedes few goals. Also talk about the historic and experienced Bryan Ruiz (37 years old). Due to the way he plays, he is largely responsible for the fact that the Costa Rican base system has been 4-2-3-1 in recent times. And it is that the talent of his left foot demands a freedom of movement that this structure does give. He has more or less minutes, you always have to be prepared for what he can get out of his boots since he has always been a footballer with the ability to generate. But if we talk about talent and the future, we must talk about Jewison Bennette, the very young pearl of Costa Rica, just 18 years old who plays for Sunderland. Electric forward, daring and with a lot of overflow. He normally starts from the left midfielder in the 4-2-3-1. The right sector will have to be very attentive to his incursions both from the outside and into interior diagonals.
