By Jack Hammett
After watching the pre-tournament friendlies and World Cup qualifiers I convinced myself that Rob Page’s “false nine” system was the way to go to give Wales the best chance of beating Switzerland in the first game out in Baku.
These are modern tactics, I thought.
Manchester City rarely play with a striker and they won the Premier League. Chelsea won the Champions League with a striker who all season long struggled to find the back of the net.
A big, threatening, imposing number-nine was a thing of the past.
Perhaps there would soon be no place for such a player in the game.
How wrong could I be?
If the opening round of fixtures has taught me anything, it’s that strikers reign supreme.
Immobile, Embolo, Pohjanpalo, Lukaku, Pandev, Gregoritsch, Weghorst, Yaremchuk, Schick; all strikers, all scored in their nations first match of the tournament.
And so too, did Kieffer Moore.
With little going for Wales in advanced areas of the pitch, our biggest opportunities came from crosses into the box for the Cardiff City striker to attack.
And after forcing a top save from Yan Sommer in the first half, Kieffer Moore returned with a vengeance and made sure not to be bettered by the Swiss number-one, second time around.
A point from this match, in the most competitive of groups, could be crucial and is a fantastic start to the campaign.
Next up is Turkey, and Moore, who should be filled with confidence, will be fancying his chances against a Turkey defence that may still be dizzy after the Italians took them apart in their three-nil opener on Friday night.
As mentioned earlier, Immobile was one of the strikers to net in the opening games, his well-taken goal in the second half against Turkey, was one of six opportunities the Lazio man had in front of the busy Çakir’s goal, but he was also key in the build-up for the other two goals.
The first, an unfortunate own goal, but after Italy found out the weakness of the Turkey defence was out wide, Berardi and Insigne, backed up by the attacking full-backs ran riot and Immobile, waiting to pounce between the posts at all times was clearly on Demiral’s mind when the cross was fired across the six-yard box and the ball, and bounced off his chest trundled its way into the back of the net.
For the third, Immobile, again, positioned in-between the posts and after a poor pass was intercepted by a good press, the ball came into Immobile, who turned and calmly laid the ball into Insigne’s path who finished expertly.
Keeping my head in check, I’m being careful not to compare the Welsh offence to the Italian front three who combined scored 56 Serie A goals this season but Wales fans should be quietly optimistic.
Wales showed plenty of character to get that point!
Kieffer Moore came up with the goods when it mattered! #beINEURO2020 #EURO2020 #WALSUI
Watch Now – https://t.co/RRmQgctETJ pic.twitter.com/dl7OUk06PQ
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) June 12, 2021
Facing off against a defence that has conceded seven in their last five games, Moore will be supported out wide by Daniel James, one of the few positive performances going forward on Saturday, and Gareth Bale, who if given the same opportunities the Italians were gifted on Friday night could land a devastating blow to Turkey’s chances of progressing to the knock-out round.
Turkey play with a boldness becoming of the youngest squad at Euro 2020 and manager Senol Gunes has employed tactics and formations for different opponents.
Systems based on 4-2-3-1, a narrow 4-4-2 diamond and 4-3-3 have all been used at various times. Gunes went for 4-1-4-1 against Italy, but veteran striker Burak Yilmaz was isolated and Turkey’s defensive approach backfired.
Full-backs Umur Meras and Zeki Celik usually add width to attacks, but the pair were camped in their own defensive third. Turkey defended too narrowly in Rome, allowing plenty of space on the outside that Italy exploited to maximum effect
This could be a stick-or-twist moment for Rob Page. Turkey threaten going forward and Wales will have to be cautious, but after securing a point against Switzerland and a tough game against Italy to come, and this is an opportunity for Wales to prove a lot of doubters wrong, just like Kieffer Moore did with me on Saturday.
