Unleashing England's Tactical Brilliance: A Stunning Showdown Awaits in the Women's World Cup Final against Spain

England are on the verge of World Cup triumph, but what strategic adjustments should be implemented against the formidable Spain team in the final on Sunday? The Lionesses secured their place in the upcoming clash with a convincing 3-1 triumph against co-hosts Australia, while Spain required a late goal from Olga Carmona to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Sweden.

In order for England to bring back the trophy, they must defeat a resilient Spain team that came close to eliminating them in the last summer's European Championships with a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory. What are the strengths and weaknesses of La Roja, and how can they be overcome?

Spain's preferred style of football

Spain's preferred formation of choice is the 4-3-3 shape, a configuration that enables them to smoothly shift possession and effortlessly transition from defensive to offensive play.

To support this style, the defensive line is composed of Olga Carmona, Laia Codina, Irene Paredes, and Ona Batlle, who work together to create constant overlaps and execute clever inverted passes.

The midfield trio of Aitana Bonmati, Teresa Abelleira, and Alexia Putellas have the ability to exploit England's vulnerabilities on the counter-attack with their quick and powerful ball-carrying abilities.

Jenni Hermoso, Alba Redondo, and Mariona Caldentey form the front three and pose a significant challenge to defenders, especially Hermoso, who can seamlessly transition into the number 10 role.

Where La Roja's strengths lie

Spain excel in the half-spaces, utilizing them to their advantage. This strategic positioning allows them to patiently exploit any openings, no matter how small, and swiftly capitalize on them.

The flanks bring immense delight, especially when their full-backs display overlapping bursts. Batlle stands out as one of the key creators, skillfully utilizing her forward advances to disrupt the opposition on the left side. Hayley Raso of Australia also created a similar disruptive force for Lucy Bronze in the semi-final clash on Wednesday.

This pressurised Millie Bright to shift across and provide additional support, effectively stretching the entire backline and exposing more areas to exploit.

England's transition to a back four during defensive plays may not hold significant importance. The wingers of Spain swiftly maneuver the ball, requiring Wiegman's defensive trio to remain astute and impervious to any diversionary tactics.

Moreover, in closer proximity to the opponent's territory, an imminent threat arises in the dynamic duo of Bonmati and Hermoso. These two players exhibit a remarkable ability to seamlessly exchange passes while dribbling with electrifying speed.

La Roja's midfield operates seamlessly, forming cohesive triangles of possession to eliminate any obstacles and initiate a chain reaction down the field - a strategy that certain squad players capitalize on better than others.

Caldentey and Redondo are deserving of recognition in this regard. The former seamlessly transitions in and out of midfield as required, while the latter frequently becomes the primary target for full-backs on the left side in offensive formations.

Caldentey's success within Barcelona's championship-winning team and Redondo's position as Europe's top scorer make it clear that Wiegman cannot afford to take any risks. Both Bright and Jess Carter must strive to avoid careless turnovers when initiating plays from the defensive line, as they have occasionally done throughout this tournament.

Weaknesses in Vilda's approach to games

Japan demonstrated a successful strategy for nullifying Spain's prowess, leaving them devoid of power on the field.

Employing a highly organized 5-4-1 formation, Japan effectively neutralized La Roja's favored attacking approach, preventing the utilization of full-back overloads and impeding their renowned tiki-taka passing game.

The game unravelled precisely how Futoshi Ikeda had planned: four goals scored and not a sniff for their opponents, despite offering up 77 per cent of possession.

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Japan's Hinata Miyazawa celebrates with team-mates after scoring against Spain. Will England follow the Nadeshiko's blueprint?

Spain's repeated ventures into the attacking territory constantly exposed them to an ineffective high defensive line.

A more formidable team could have successfully thwarted Japan's strategic scheme, as Sweden demonstrated in the subsequent match. Nonetheless, the groundwork had already been established.

No other team has been able to replicate their success, or frustrate them so remarkably when they have possession of the ball. Additionally, Vilda's team has shown vulnerability in defending corners and free-kicks, as they lack the physical prowess to effectively counter opposing teams' aerial advantage.

This is an area where England has the potential to capitalize on their adversaries. The proficiency of Alex Greenwood's set-piece delivery has been flawless throughout the tournament. The combined attacking prowess of Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo consistently posed a threat behind the Australian defense, and another exceptional cross could have an equally devastating impact against Spain.

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Alex Greenwood's crosses could be the key that unlocks Spain's defence

How the Lionesses might be able to break through

When Wiegman identifies a system that suits her, she embraces it without hesitation - regardless of the return of crucial players.

Not long ago, amidst concerns of Kiera Walsh's absence from the World Cup, Wiegman made a strategic adjustment by implementing a three-man defense line, supported by two defensive midfielders in the center to provide coverage.

The Lionesses were able to maintain their shape even after Walsh made her return, allowing them to have two attackers upfront with Russo and Hemp. In the quarter-final match against Colombia on Saturday, the dynamic pair collaborated to lead the team to a 2-1 victory, successfully nullifying Leicy Santos' early goal.

Hemp scored a goal with the skill of a poacher, while Russo unleashed a strong shot. In the match against Australia, they switched roles and played a crucial role in reaching Sunday's final.

This attacking setup is successful because Russo, despite being the physical center-forward, is also skilled at making quick runs. On the other hand, Hemp, known for her intricate dribbling, is incredibly difficult to defend against due to her strength. This combination of unpredictability, adaptability, and difficulty to counter makes them a formidable pair.

The next chance to demonstrate this will be against a team known for their possession-focused playstyle and defensive positioning.

However, as the Lionesses illustrated in their match against Colombia, there is always a way to penetrate the opposition's defense and create history with a single kick.

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