The changes which took place in women’s football in the last 10 years are mind-boggling.
At the highest level of international football players are technically, tactically and physically superior compared to only ten years ago.
Gone are the days when physically dominant teams would hit long ball and beat up on opponents. Of course, there is difference between hitting long ball and playing the ball forward, with a bit of quality, when circumstances warrant it.
Comparing women’s football today to pre-1999, four critical things stand out:
1. Team shape and defending are crucial.
World Champions, Germany, base their game on this and are best at it.
You need to be a compact unit; you need to have a good team shape and tactical plan at the top of women’s football. And it all starts from defending if you want to succeed.
2. Don’t give the ball away.
The game today is based on possession and organization. If you give the ball away against quality opponent you won’t see it for a long while. For teams like Germany, just gaining possession and keeping the ball creates pressure on opponents.
3. Your errors will be punished.
Whether its World Cup or European Championship, mistakes are crucial.
Gone are the days when you could make 3-4 mistakes in a match and get away with it. Players and teams of today can’t afford to misplace a pass or give away a half chance. You can’t even for a second lose your concentration or be out of shape. When individual or collective errors are made, teams like Germany and USA don’t let you get away with it, you get punished, and there are no second chances.
Not conceding goals is of utmost importance as even Germans learned in Augsburg a month ago.
4. Importance of set pieces.
Open play is unlikely to win you a game against the best teams. For most coaches and teams, free-kicks, corners and penalties offer key moments when matches can be won.
The women’s game is developing at such rapid pace that it is very exciting to see where it will be in just 5 years time.
