ZonalMarking.net's Michael Cox uses FourFourTwo's Euro 2012 StatsZone app to demonstrate the role played by Real Madrid fullback Alvaro Arbeloa in Spain's back four
In an ideal world, Vicente del Bosque wouldnâÂÂt be starting with Alvaro Arbeloa at right-back.
ThatâÂÂs a harsh assessment of the Real Madrid full-backâÂÂs ability, but itâÂÂs true â had Carles Puyol been fit, he would have joined Gerard Pique at the back, with Sergio Ramos playing at right-back, where he played throughout SpainâÂÂs tournament victories in Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010.
But Arbeloa has kept his place ahead of Atletico right-back Juanfran, and has started all four of SpainâÂÂs matches at Euro 2012 so far. He is not a spectacular player, but instead a very functional one. His versatility means heâÂÂs assured of his place in the squad â more so than some of SpainâÂÂs bigger names, and besides, his experience means heâÂÂs not overawed by the matches.
While he hasnâÂÂt looked out of place playing for Liverpool and Real Madrid, heâÂÂs struggled in a couple of SpainâÂÂs matches so far. Defensively, there are no problems â and Spain enjoy such a large proportion of possession, Arbeloae rarely has to perform any particularly taxing tasks in his own third. But his passing has often been slow, frustrating SpainâÂÂs creative players, who want the ball played into their feet more quickly.
Another problem has been his poor pressing. In SpainâÂÂs opening game against Italy, Xavi Hernandez could be seen shouting at Arbeloa to move forward quicker, to pressure Emanuele Giaccherini in possession. Arbeloa eventually did so â but by the time he did, it was too late in XaviâÂÂs book. This was slightly unfair on Arbeloa â he was a full-back in a back four, while Giaccherini was a wing-back, with more license to push high up the pitch. ArbeloaâÂÂs pressing seemed leisurely in comparison, but he did have a different tactical role in the side.
Since then, his pressing has improved â but more interestingly, so has his distribution and his attacking positioning. Against France, for example, Laurent Blanc tried to shut down Jordi Alba by deploying two right-backs, Mathieu Debuchy and Anthony Reveillere, in tandem. That evidently failed, as DebuchyâÂÂs slip allowed Alba to cross for Xabi AlonsoâÂÂs opening goal.
But it was equally interesting what France did on the opposite flank. Franck Ribery, whether because of managerial instructions or pure laziness, had no interest in tracking Arbeloa. The Bayern winger stayed high up the pitch, the closest man in support of Karim Benzema. Arbeloa would have been informed by the Spanish coaching staff (who put considerable effort into scouting individual opponents) that Ribery had counter-attacked past Ukraine right-back Oleg Husiev in FranceâÂÂs second match, setting up the winner. He could have been cautious.
Instead, Arbeloa motored forward, stretched the play, and provided the constant out-ball on the right, generally found by Xavi or Xabi AlonsoâÂÂs long diagonal passes. He may not have been involved in play as often as Alba, but the distance on the passes shows that his positioning allowed Spain to switch the angle of attack, moving France across the pitch.
Of course, Arbeloa isnâÂÂt as naturally attacking as Alba, a former winger. âÂÂThe manager asks me to be aware when Jordi Alba attacks, to cover,â Arbeloa told Sid Lowe of the Guardian. âÂÂI go on to the pitch focusing on trying to be defensively perfect. That's my first objectiveâ¦the quality of your runs up the wing is more important than the quantity.âÂÂ
Tonight will be the biggest test of ArbeloaâÂÂs tournament, as he faces club teammate Cristiano Ronaldo. In ArbeloaâÂÂs Liverpool days, he famously did a fine job on Lionel Messi when playing at left-back, taking advantage of MessiâÂÂs tendency to come inside onto ArbeloaâÂÂs stronger right foot. This challenge will be very different â the reverse, in fact.
It will be fascinating to see how Arbeloa plays against Ronaldo. Will he remain cautious and stay close to Gerard Pique, denying Ronaldo space in that zone? Does he stick very tight to Ronaldo, as the Czech RepublicâÂÂs Theodor Gebre-Selassie did in PortugalâÂÂs previous game? Or is he even braver, and do what he did against Ribery â pushing forward and trying to force Ronaldo back?
As Portugal play no true attacking midfielder, Sergio Busquets would be able to move across and cover.
Ronaldo is clever and varied with his positioning â against the Czechs he got away from the man-marking but drifting into the centre of the pitch much more frequently than he did against Holland.
Arbeloa is the most important player when it comes to stopping Ronaldo â but Spain will need to deal with him as a team.
ANALYSIS Italian intelligence the real test for Gerrard
Euro 2012 Stats Zone is a free-download app from FourFourTwo powered by stats from Opta, updated LIVE in-play during allEuro 2012 matches. Stats Zone is brought to youin association with Coral
DOWNLOAD STATS ZONE (users outside the UK download here)
Read more about Stats Zone
Download Premier League & Champions League Stats Zone 2011/12
