Women’s World Cup: group stage summary
- Peter Glynn
- 21 June 2019
With the group stages of the Women’s World Cup completed, we look at 5 of the key coaching discussion points from the tournament so far.
1. VAR and communication
With the Video Assistant Referee [VAR] playing a prominent role at the tournament so far, there have been frequent breaks during games.
It has meant that coaches have had more opportunity to speak with their players - either as individuals, small groups or addressing the whole team. Similarly, the breaks in play have afforded head coaches more time to discuss their game plan with their coaching staff and access match data or video footage in the technical area.
How coaches utilise these regular breaks in play could prove to be crucial as the tournament progresses.
2. Psychological control and resilience
Scotland’s rollercoaster group game with Argentina highlighted the emotional impact VAR can have on players during the game. Scotland goalkeeper, Lee Alexander, and her teammates went from the elation of seeing a stoppage-time penalty saved to the crushing blow of conceding a retake.
Added to the time taken for the referee to consult the video screen for certain decisions the psychological skills of self-control and resilience are crucial if players are to stay composed and focused as the tournament progresses.
Recreating similar scenarios in training and deliberately awarding controversial decisions are two ways coaches can begin to prepare their players for the emotions that accompany such moments.
3. Over, through and around
Finding a way to beat a defensive block has been a frequent challenge for teams at the tournament so far. With a number of nations deploying eleven players behind the ball and affording little space beyond their back line, attackers have been forced to find creative ways of playing over, through and around opponents.
Phil Neville’s Lionesses are a good example of deploying a flexible attacking approach. Against Scotland, England gained success through clever rotation and combination play in wide areas.
With Nikita Parris drifting inside from the wing, full-back Lucy Bronze had space for her trademark forward runs on the right of England’s attack.
On the opposite flank, Beth Mead has shown the value of adopting a right-footed winger on the left of the attack. The Arsenal attacker has regularly cut inside from wide areas to deliver dangerous balls across the front of goal.
The presence of Ellen White or Jodie Taylor at the head of Neville’s frontline has allowed accurate passes to be played into the frame of the centre forward allowing others to join the attack. Additionally, passes have been played in behind opponents to utilise White or Taylor’s willingness to run into space.
With the tournament entering the knockout stages, teams will need to use a variety of ways to attack in order to find a way to win.
4. Set-piece surprise
Having the ability to execute unpredictable set-piece routines could prove to be the difference in tight knockout games.
So far there have been numerous examples of teams setting up to defend a traditional set piece only to be undone by a creative set-play.
Norway caught out Nigeria in their opening game by taking a short-corner and driving into the box to open the scoring.
Jill Ellis’s USA side have shown a willingness to vary their set-play routines with short free-kicks and passes into the box leading to goalscoring opportunities.
England have also varied their corner routine, Georgia Stanway coming close to scoring a memorable goal from the edge of the box against Japan following Toni Duggan’s pull-back.
Expect more set-piece surprises as the tournament progresses.
5. The future defender
With VAR penalising defenders for holding and pulling opponents, defending techniques will have to evolve to deal with the rule changes. As traditional one-versus-one physical battles occur less, footwork, agility, anticipation, intelligence and speed will become key skills for defenders.
Similarly, when defending in wide areas, how will the future defender adapt and change in order to block crosses without the risk of conceding a penalty?
What can coaches do during training to help prepare young players for such scenarios?
Peter Glynn is the content editor for FA Education with coaching experience in both the grassroots and professional game.
Visit The Boot Room and @StGeorgesPark for more coaching discussion articles as the tournament progresses.
