Alex Keble provides tactical insight for round two of the Euro 2020 group stage, including Portugal v Germany.
Spain v Poland - Pedri's energy provides edge
- Saturday, 20:00 BST on BBC One
- Estadio La Cartuja - Seville, Spain
There’s a lot of pressure on this game after Poland fell to a surprise defeat to Slovakia on Monday while Spain, struggling with a Covid-19 outbreak, slogged to a 0-0 draw with Sweden.
Neither team can afford to lose this game and, given Luis Enrique’s side can comfortably dominate possession through a silky midfield, that probably means a repeat of their Sweden match as Poland look to sit deep and absorb pressure.
The Spaniards did create plenty on that occasion, but missed opportunity after opportunity, with Alvaro Morata and Gerard Moreno both squandering good chances (xG: ESP 2.89 - 1.19 SWE).
The defining tactical feature of the game will be watching Pedri attempt to inject energy and forward momentum into the team; he was the one bright spark against Sweden and the player most responsible for enacting the Luis Enrique philosophy of verticality over the tiki-taka of the Vicente del Bosque years.
Importantly, a red card to key defensive midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak means Poland are now softer in exactly the areas Pedri plays in.
Robert Lewandoski continued his poor goalscoring form in international tournaments (his last came against Portugal in Euro 2016, 33 shots ago), a record that says more about the quality of his team-mates than any personal deficiency.
With Spain likely to hold 75% possession, the Bayern Munich striker will hardly get any service at all.
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