Spain’s passing style has endeared them to the world. They’ve won tournaments the right way and influenced clubs across Europe to follow their example. An insistence on possession football provides a style of play that sees them frequently outplay their opponents but as more and more elegant midfielders come through the ranks of Spanish football they’ve started to implement a formation that doesn’t use a striker.
With such a vast array of pass masters who possess so much confidence that keeping the ball has become second nature, are Spain now good enough to play without a striker?
It’s certainly a revolutionary tactic but the pros and cons are there for all to see. First the positives and Spain’s excellent keeping of possession means they rarely use a target man so another midfielder who can hold onto the ball would make them even more effective. Not only would it help them keep the ball but it also opens up another position for the many midfielders waiting in the wings. Names like Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Alonso, Busquets and Martinez and all play similar positions yet manager Vicente Del Bosque has accommodated 5 of the 6 in his starting line up. This decision may have been made easier by injuries to David Villa and Fernando Torres’ lack of form but it’s certainly a risk that sets an interesting precedent given their style of play.
As for the negatives, well it’s fair to say that Spain’s endless streams of possession don’t always reap rewards. They’re admired for their patience but occasional losses like the 1-0 defeat at Wembley in November prove they can suffer when not having a plan B. David Villa played that night but despite the presence of a natural forward they still struggled to break down a resolute English defence. If a situation like this arose when playing without a no.9 then goals would be even harder to come by. Having a focus point upfront can be instrumental when so many of their passes go from left to right but never forward and the option of a player running in behind the opposition provides something different.
It’s a debate that has split the Spanish media down the middle but it’s difficult to understand why any team would play without a striker. Is it arrogance from the best team in the world or simply needs must from a team full of world class midfielders?
So far their matches at Euro 2012 have failed to resolve the issue. Cesc Fabregas and Fernando Torres appear to be battling it out for a starting berth but while the Chelsea forward would be the obvious choice for most, both he and Fabregas have two tournament goals so far. The Barcelona playmaker scored when he started the opening game against Italy but the team were less fluid in attack so Torres came on and looked threatening. The out of form striker then bagged a double against the Irish as the team looked far more balanced but it was against weaker opposition and he was replaced by Fabregas who subsequently scored himself. With so little to choose between the players, what is the most effective formation for the 2010 World Champions?
The beauty of Spain’s current position is they can pick and choose between so many players. Torres may be in and out of form and Villa may be injured but Fernando Llorente and Alvaro Negredo were prolific last season in La Liga and provide excellent attacking options. If Del Bosque was unsure of Torres’ confidence then logic would suggest either of these striking replacements could fill his boots but instead Fabregas is given their most offensive role. Cleary the manager’s insistence on pass and move football has become so essential that he’s happy to ignore top class striker’s in order to maintain possession. Prioritising his best players is understandable but is it something any team other than Barcelona could realistically implement?
Roy Hodgson was criticised for only taking 4 strikers to Poland and Ukraine so imagine the backlash he would’ve received had he played no forwards against France. It’s just not an option for other teams who either lack the required skill to play that way or would never even consider such a controversial formation.
If the emphasis is on possession football then Spain’s blueprint is the one to follow but at what point does their confidence become arrogance? If the manager is happy to put a midfielder up front then why not play 11 midfielders and never give the ball away?
Spain always used to play with a striker until circumstances dictated they try something different and 1-1 draw with Italy followed by 4-0 win over Ireland provide inconclusive evidence of how effective the formation truly is. The reigning European champions dazzle spectators with their fluid approach but ultimately goals are the aim of the game not possession. Whether you believe Fabregas is better than Torres or that Spain’s talent means they can afford to play without a forward, there’s still an underlying sense of inevitability that says no team will ever truly master a striker free style.
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