Monday, 2 June 2014

England vs Spain Men's goals

In their first game for both team's, neither team managed to break the deadlock and it finished tied. Whilst Cortes made some key stops, there wasn't any real times when the goalkeepers were really tested to draw out some amazing saves.

England's goal
Brogdon's goal had precision and power to beat Spain for their first goal conceded. Wide and low to Corte's left, it was a tricky shot to deal with anyway. And the clogging of the D by other English players to his left post would have affected his decision making/reactions as he expected the chance for a deflection or pass. Organising his defence to leave more room to move and to narrow Brogdon's angle of space to move into would have assisted in responding to the shot. Rather than moving simply laterally, attacking the shot with a dive as football/soccer goalkeepers would, via the basics, could also have helped a little.

Barry Middleton could have made it 2, but his shot clipped the outside of Cortes' left post, before Cortes made an athletic jumping save to tip the ball over the crossbar with his glove hand. Helping make up for his height, this stop was also crucial as it was in a difficult spot to reach above his helmet, just under the bar. Showing that staying deep requires not being passive, Cortes made great movements with good agility to get across his goalmouth to stop the following attempts.

Spain's goal
Unfortunately for England, Spain's comeback goal was something English football fans would know more about from their goalkeepers. Pinner and his defence left a ball into the D; assuming the England defender had got enough on it, and with the 'own goal rule' removed now, felt it wasn't enough danger. But, it was, and the points will be paid for later down the stretch as it effects placings in the table. Hopefully Holcombe won't be seeing this in September, but schoolboy errors like this can't be allowed at this level. Communicating even at the basic level to make sure that the defender deals with it properly is better than nothing.

Sure, it was the slightest of touches, but it just proves the need to deal with anything, whether or not it seems 'safe'. But Pinner's change in style, where he seems flat footed like David Seaman's critics would complain about, isn't helping. Negative and not proactive, staying deep like this meant he couldn't reach the ball with his foot, even though he did have the time and space to react. Pushing out on the diagonal with the foot in a split would have stood him a better chance than anything.



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