Match 16: Spain-Switzerland (Pre-Match)

Durban - Moses Mabhida
Wednesday kickoff
16:00 Central European
10am eastern/7am pacific U.S.


Recent form last six international results
• SPAIN: WWWWWW
6-0 Poland (H)
1-0 Korea Republic (N)
3-2 Saudi Arabia (N)
2-0 France (A)
5-1 Austria (A)
2-1 Argentina (H)
• SWITZERLAND: WDLLLD
1-1 Italy (H)
0-1 Costa Rica (H)
1-3 Uruguay (H)
0-1 Norway (H)
0-0 Israel (H)
3-0 Luxembourg (A)


Last meeting
2 July 1994
FIFA World Cup in Washington D.C.
Spain 3-0 Switzerland
1-0 Hierro 14'
2-0 Luis Enrique 73'
3-0 Beguiristáin (pen) 86'


History
Matches: 18
Spain wins: 15
Switzerland wins: 0
Draws: 3
Goals scored: Spain 45, Switzerland 15​

 

I wonder if Torres will start and we go back to a 4-4-2 or we'll just have Mata or Pedro come in for Iniesta.

The tension is killing me, Spain is always in the last group of every tournament.

 

He will stick with the 4-2-3-1 which is what he plans to use throughout the tourney and what has been used in practice.

 

Well in the Confederations Cup he used a 4-4-2. He needs to have an alternate formation because playing a 4-2-3-1 against 'bunker' teams like Italy will not work.

Anyways, article on MARCA says this is the probable line-up:
----------------Casillas-------------------
--Ramos---Puyol-------Pique---Capdevilla--
----------------Busquets-----------------
-----------Xavi-----------Xabi------------
---Silva----------------------------Mata---
----------------David Villa-----------------

Iniesta might play, Del Bosque is still deciding. It would be stupid if he plays him, Swizterland's form speaks for itself.

 

Iniesta wants to play, even if it is only for a half to get loose. Xabi is practically playing alongside Busquets and Xavi will push forward more into the hole, making the formation more accurately a 4-2-3-1.

The plan is to use these tactics, and if it is still 0-0 at the 60 minute mark, than bring in the more direct offensive weapons. By that time, the opposition should be tired of chasing around the Spanish players, and the game should be more open.

DB clearly wants to mitigate any counters by playing a double pivot. I agree with this. Coming out guns a blazing and getting stuck with a counter attack goal off that bat would be devastating in the knockouts. Xabi or Busquets cannot play at the back of the mid by themselves without giving chances to the opposition on the counter. Neither are Senna. It also frees up Xavi to go forward where he is more dangerous.

 

Sounds good in theory but from what I see the two holding mids get into each others way, hopefully as the tournament goes along they will learn how to play it together.

 

Not only that, but have one striker makes it easy for the opposing defense to mark him out of the game. Having 2 strikers with the calibre of Villa and Torres keeps their hands full. I guess adding a 2nd striker when needed is plan B.

 

Going back to the Euro and Confederations Cup, Spain has always played better in the 4-2-3-1 rather than the 4-4-2. No one dared however to bench one of either Villa or Torres, until now, where we have an injury as an excuse.

 

i just don't get why spain would put defensive mids against the most defensive side in this world cup

 

Del Bosque has been using this in all of his friendlies. Unless we are in need of a goal he will have this formation against every team he faces. I will say that Xabi Alonso is a great passer of the ball so he will still contribute in the offensive end.

 

Spain isn't going to change their tactics game to game. They have a system and will stick to it. This is the system that will be used in the knock out rounds, so might as well go with it from the start. If they need more offense, they can make the changes in the 2nd half, which is what would happen in the knock out games too.

I see no point altering the tactics in the group stages, and then using a completely different set of tactics later. The World Cup is over in a flash, so you only change formations if what you have isn't working. This is the same tactics that put 6 past Poland in the friendly

 

I don't know what the system of the swiss team will be tonight... 2 weeks ago it all looked like a 4-4-2 with Barnetta, Inler, Huggel, Behrami in midfield and Frei and Nkufo in attack. Now Frei and Berhami are out injured and Barnetta is not a fix starter any more...
It could be either a 4-4-2 with Derdyiok in attack today or a 4-4-1-1 with either Derdyiok or Yakin behind Nkufo or a 4-2-3-1 with either Schwegler, Yakin or Barnetta in central midfield or a 4-1-4-1 with Huggel in front of the defense

So,it looks like
Nkufo
Gelson/Padalino/Barnetta - Schwegler/Yakin/Derdyiok/Barnetta - Barnetta/Shaqiri
Huggel-Inler
Ziegler-Grichting-Senderos-Lichtsteiner
Benaglio

 

Is Fernando Torres match fit? Is he gonna start?

 

4-0 to Spain. Sorry Swiss but your team is highly overrated.

 

Full lineup not available but MARCA reporting that Iniesta is a-go and will be in the starting eleven.

 

Starting lineup according to MARCA, yet to be confirmed by fifa.com:


[LINEUP-4-5-1]Villa, Iniesta, Silva, Busquets, Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Capdevila, Puyol, Piqué, Sergio Ramos, Casillas[/LINEUP-4-5-1]

Substitutes:
Reina, Valdés, Albiol, Marchena, Arbeloa, Javi Martínez, Cesc, Mata, Navas, Pedro, Torres, Llorente

 

FIFA has posted both lineups.

Derdiyok starts ahead of Schwegler for Switzerland.

Spanish lineup I posted is confirmed.

 

Marca put Magnin in the swiss starting line up never ever... he was not in the 23 and only selected last minute to replace the injured Spycher, but Hitzfeld would never let him play in this match... but we now that from Marca... remember the CL match between Zurich and Real when they put Zurich defenders in attack and attackers in defense in their line up and you always see it in their champions league lineups if they put players in the supposed starting XI which are injured since months even players from the best teams in Europe. But for Marca the world ends outside of Madrid anyway

 

MARCA's predicted lineups are often off base. I really never pay much attention to them and wait until they get the official lineups.

 

Please Espana. This WC is in need of another dominating performance and alot of people are looking up to you guys to bring the entertainment only Germany and Argentina have brought. Let's GO!

 

I think Switzerland can get a draw.