It solely took a second for Jamaica’s plan to unravel. After retaining three clear sheets of their historic development from the group phases, a objective was all it took for his or her World Cup dream to lastly seem out of attain. As Deneisha Blackwood was caught underneath the excessive ball, Colombia discovered the standard they’d lengthy been trying to find: Catalina Usme cushioned it completely on her left foot and a step later, it was guided into the far nook.
For the primary time in 4 matches at this World Cup, Jamaica and goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer conceded, and if this last-16 tie desperately wanted a objective, so did Colombia’s total method. After taking the lead, they lastly started to appear like the workforce that shocked Germany in topping Group H, and who will now look to do the identical towards England within the quarter-finals. Playing Jamaica didn’t swimsuit them. Facing the Lionesses would possibly.
When Colombia shocked the World Cup and beat Germany, it was a victory constructed on how successfully they disrupted the two-time champions once they had been in possession. Not having as a lot of the ball allowed Colombia to choose, press and frustrate. But within the last-16 it was Jamaica who had been succeeding in irritating them.
Jamaica barely left their half when the sport was goalless, sitting deep and cancelling Colombia out with their defensive form and resilience. Colombia had been confronted with having to create their very own impetus, they struggled for fluency in a poor recreation and Jamaica’s plan, for 51 minutes not less than, was working.
But then Usme struck and as Jamaica had been pressured to open up, Colombia had been launched. They turned the facet that England won’t take pleasure in going through, as Linda Caicedo confirmed the glimpses that the Lionesses have to someway management. Colombia instantly regarded extra threatening as Caicedo, a nimble and electrical dribbler from the left, had area to weave and drive. A objective up, Colombia had been in a position to mix their combativeness in midfield with the 18-year-old’s pace and high quality in assault.
It ought to concern England, who had been disrupted by Haiti of their opening recreation whereas being stretched by Michelle Dumornay. They are prone to face an analogous problem in Colombia, but the South American facet, who reached the ultimate of final 12 months’s Copa America, have a a lot sharper and extra skilled edge.
Of course, England have since settled on a brand new formation since that ragged opening show towards Haiti and Dumornay, though the way forward for Sarina Wiegman’s 3-5-2 may be now into account on account of Lauren James’ suspension. What the system has given England is bigger defensive solidity and the Lionesses have but to concede from open play on the World Cup.
They got here underneath important spells of strain towards Nigeria, however England nonetheless didn’t concede as many high-quality probabilities than they did towards Haiti. Wiegman’s facet have been much less open and extra disciplined with Jess Carter and Alex Greenwood alongside Millie Bright. Even as Nigeria focused the perimeters of England’s again three, in what was a wonderful tactical efficiency from Randy Waldrum’s facet, Carter and Greenwood’s particular person defending was distinctive.
It will must be once more on Saturday, with Carter going through the eye-catching Caicedo and Greenwood prone to face the unpredictable Mayra Ramírez, who has licence to roam inside from the best channel. If England do hold their 3-5-2 and look to manage possession, Lucy Bronze and Rachel Daly will once more be requested to push excessive and extensive, leaving Carter and Greenwood with one other match of appreciable defensive accountability.
Jamaica would have been a very totally different take a look at and had they defeated Colombia, Lorne Donaldson’s facet would have performed the identical approach towards England. That they reached the last-16 in any respect was credit score to their outstanding defensive organisation nevertheless it solely took a second for that to slide as Blackwood was caught underneath the swap to the far publish. Jamaica completed the World Cup having scored as soon as and conceded as soon as – that they reached the last-16 in any respect was a outstanding achievement.
Jamaica’s late assault on the Colombia objective was too little and too late. Drew Spence’s header that sneaked previous the publish was the closest they got here, however Jamaica might remorse not displaying extra journey within the first half and so they struggled to deliver Khadija Shaw into the match. The Lionesses would have been extra assured going through a low block, though it’s aso honest to query whether or not Wiegman’s facet would have been anyplace close to as harmful with out James once they thrashed China 6-1 within the group phases.
But that efficiency and Wiegman’s deployment of 3-5-2 got here with China in thoughts. The England supervisor wanted a response after two uninspiring 1-0 wins towards Haiti and Denmark, and so discovered the formation that unlocked one thing new and unpredictable from England whereas exploiting China’s stubborn system. Now James’ suspension has given Wiegman a purpose to go on the entrance foot once more, and to make the modifications that may cowl for the absence of their star ahead, however to choose holes in Colombia as properly.
And with their quarter-final opponent set, Wiegman and England can get to work.