WWC Day 10 & 11 - Defending is dead but narrative is alive

The best days of defending are behind us but who cares if the goals are this good

In this issue:

• The lost art of defending

• The stunning goals stealing the show

It’s a double edition of Go with the Flo today as time was against me yesterday, so I’ve bundled up the Day 10 and 11 newsletters.

Saturday’s action was defined by one key theme - corners. Across three games there were five goals scored from them. Sweden bagged three against Italy, French captain Wendie Renard’s match-winning header against Brazil came from a corner as did Jamaica’s goal against Panama. On Sunday, there wasn’t as much corner chaos but Colombia’s stunning stoppage time winner against Germany was thanks to a Manuela Vanegas header from the edge of the box.

For a long time I’ve been scratching my head at some of the shocking defending I witnessed across the 2022-23 season, in men’s and women’s football. Defending set pieces is a weakness for many sides (Leicester men you’re a special mess) and it can be a hard art to master. Once a team shows a weakness opposition will target them and that’s exactly what Sweden did against Italy.

Organisation is crucial, it requires leadership and instruction, something it seems Italy definitely don’t have, especially without captain Sara Gama who was dropped before the tournament. There also needs to be in-game problem solving which isn’t easy for coaches or players.

But to see so much bad defending in such a short space of time was particularly frustrating. Germany defended the 97th-minute corner against Colombia with a zonal marking approach. There were eight Germany players standing in front of the goalkeeper Frohms and five Colombian players lingering towards the edge of the box. All of Germany’s defenders were slow to react to the ball coming in and were left stranded as Vanegas was unmarked and not under any pressure.

It’s not only the right set up and adjustments that are needed but also a commitment to clearing the danger. Even teams like England, that want to build from the back and play with the ball are getting much better, mainly thanks to Millie Bright, at recognising when the ball just needs to be booted into “Row Z” and out of any threatening area. We’ve seen plenty of examples in this World Cup where a team hasn’t dealt with a long ball, cross or delivery into the box and it leaves the opposition with the chance to nick a goal.

This rant probably seems very Graeme Souness, I’m sorry that bad defending has unlocked the inner grumpy old football man in me. But, as a QPR fan, I feel like there is nothing I’ve seen more in my life than bad defending and it has become my life’s work trying to fight it.

While defenders are struggling at this World Cup, the narrative gods are absolutely thriving. We’ve had some big shocks and some spectacular goals.

How about those screamers

In other more positive news, teenage sensation Linda Caicedo scored another classic to add to her collection at the Women’s World Cup. She scored a brilliant solo goal in the opening game against South Korea (although the goalie’s final touch basically pushed it into the back of the net) and followed it up with a sensational finish against Germany.

This is the goal that everyone is talking about right now, a goal that could be the best of the tournament and certainly is the best so far.

Feast your eyes.

Colombia have quickly become the people’s team after such a breathtaking play and a group stage win over the favourites. Colombia go top of the group with that win over Germany and although they haven’t guaranteed their spot in the round of 16, as they need to get a point against Morocco, things are looking good for this young and fearless team.

Linda Caicedo has an amazing story, having made her international debut at just 14, then being diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 15, and going on now to become the second-youngest South American goalscorer at a Women’s World Cup, with Brazilian legend Marta being slightly younger.

Something to read….

Nouhaila Benzina: The hijabi-wearing Moroccan making World Cup history