Players like David Alaba were among the popular types at this European Championship, says KURIER columnist Willi Ruttensteiner
A column by Willi Ruttensteiner
The UEFA study group reflected on and evaluated the results and statistics before the final. As predicted, the coaches took a much higher risk from the round of 16 – after 2.6 goals in the group stage, the hit rate increased to 3.6 in the quarter-finals and three in the semifinals.
34 percent of all goals came from crosses and corners. All top teams have offensively oriented full-backs and wingers. Spinazzola and Alaba were named as the prototypes of this type of player, followed by Chiesa, Insigne, Mertens, Braithwaite, Thorgan Hazard or Mæhle. But only 20 percent of the hits were headed. I find it surprising that in 50 games only one goal was scored from a direct free kick.
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The trend is clearly towards three attackers, as in the case of the Spaniards with Torres, Olmo and Oyarzabal or the English with Saka, Kane and Sterling. With the requirement profile: Speed is King. Without a high speed, the chains, which are often perfectly shifting, can no longer be overcome.
For Italy's legendary coach Fabio Capello, it was clear at the UEFA meeting: This EM will go down in history as the tournament of small, agile dribblers. Eleven own goals seems like an unreal number, but there are explanations. Due to the high speed and lightning-fast finishes, there were surprising changes in the direction of the ball, some goalkeepers made blatant mistakes, the pressure was too great for overstrained defenders.
On the wrong track
Didier Deschamps and Joachim Löw won a world championship title, but nevertheless turned on the wrong track with their tactical considerations. France's move to three defenders went wrong against Switzerland. Gareth Southgate switched from four to three against Germany, a smart move to which Löw found no answer. The variants by Kasper Hjulmand, who demystified the Welsh and Czechs in the last sixteen and quarter-finals, were also extremely sophisticated: The Danish team boss suddenly switched to a back four, moved Christensen into midfield and thus created the decisive majority.
Nevertheless, it remains to be said: Whoever wins has done everything right, whoever loses is the focus of the criticism. I was impressed by the Swiss Petrovic, who acted very controlled and flawless on the sidelines and whose decisions were objectively understandable.
Last, but not least, I would like to mention three players who helped shape the European Championship for me: Pedri played all matches at a consistently high level at 18, 91 percent of his passes arrived. In two weeks the best rookie should shine at the Olympics. I see the danger of being overwhelmed with such a young professional. Italy's 22-year-old goalkeeper Donnarumma has already been entrusted with the key role of building up the game from behind by his ripped off defensive twins Bonucci / Chiellini. And how virtuoso Jorginho maintains the balance in midfield, it becomes clear why this type of player is in greater demand on the transfer market than ever before.
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Willi Ruttensteiner was sports director of the ÖFB from 2001 to 2017 and then of Israel. The 58-year-old trains the Israeli national team and is an opponent of the Austrians in the upcoming World Cup qualification.
