Matchday three of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Group D opens with a little local difficulty: 3rd-ranked England will meet up against 20th-ranked Scotland. With such a difficult group, this is a game in which neither will be contemplating defeat. In this preview tactical analysis, we will take a look at both teams’ style of play and see what tactical match-up may unfold.
Both Shelley Kerr and Phil Neville take charge of their first tournament as a National Team manager. England and Scotland joining Argentina and Japan in Group D. Despite being ranked as the third best international women’s team behind the USA and Germany, Neville is confident his side has what it takes; “I’m absolutely convinced we can have a successful tournament. We are going to give it everything we have to make the nation proud.” On the other hand, Kerr has stated: “The landscape of women’s football in Scotland will change if we achieve what we set out to achieve at this World Cup.”
The teams had contrasting fortunes in their final pre-tournament games. Scotland playing in front of 18,555 fans at Hampden Park beat Jamaica by three goals to two. Meanwhile at the Amex Stadium England with a crowd of 20,076 backing them were surprisingly beaten one nil by New Zealand.
The defeat was Englands second in four games of their Road to France series, following Aprils one nil loss to Canada and well-deserved victories over Spain and Denmark. Whereas Scotland is unbeaten in their last five against Jamaica, Brazil, Chile, Denmark and Iceland. The only draw being against Chile.
Possible line ups
England
Telford – Bronze, Houghton, McManus and Greenwood – Staniforth, Kirby and Walsh – Parris, Taylor and Duggan
Scotland
Alexander – Smith, Beattie, Corsie and Docherty – Little and Weir – Evans, Cuthbert and Emslie – Ross.
Playing style
England, beaten in the semi-final by three times winner USA four years ago, are committed to playing from the back and building up play through the thirds. In a 4 – 3 – 3 their wingers will go high and as wide as possible to open passing channels. The attacking midfielders will try to occupy the space between the midfield and defensive blocks. Meanwhile, the full backs will support the build-up phase and again try to stretch the opposition.
Scotland, World Cup debutants, are in many ways similar, they favour a 4 2 – 3 – 1 which easily converts to a 4 – 2 – 1 – 3. Committed to a patient build up from the goalkeeper through to centre backs and looking for passes that break the opposition lines. The full backs will get forward to support the wingers or go past if space has been created. They move the opposition to isolate their wingers in a one versus one against the opposition full backs.
The “hat of the team”
“The team’s hat” is a term given to the front three players. In attack, England favour a balanced front three with two wide wingers and the main striker. This opens the oppositions with the intention of two No.10’s getting between the lines. Scotland’s variation is an inverted front three with two wingers starting wide but coming into the half spaces and central area. This means an increased emphasis is placed on the fullbacks underneath to get forward and provide width when appropriate.
