If ever there was a game of football to demonstrate the importance of set pieces, this was it: Sweden versus Italy, July 29th 2023, Wellington.
In the 20 minutes of one of the most eagerly anticipated games of the World Cup 2023 group stage, Sweden were a shambles. Yet at half-time, they were 3-0 up, had won the game, and had effectively wrapped up Group G thanks to the goal-difference boost too. The difference, quite obviously, was set pieces.
First, we shouldn’t overlook what happened during the opening period. In a World Cup that has thus far been mundane tactically, with most of the big sides playing similar 4-3-3 systems and relying heavily on the flanks for their attacking, Milena Bertolini used an unusual approach that completely flummoxed Sweden.
Describing it in traditional formation terms would be tricky, but this was something of a cross between a diamond midfield and a 4-2-3-1. It involved Giulia Dragoni playing as a No 10, left-back Lisa Boattin pushed high to allow left-winger Barbara Bonansea to become a second striker, and — most dangerously of all — Sofia Cantore used in a strange hybrid role: a centre-midfielder on the right without possession and a touchline-hugging right winger in possession. Sweden’s left-back Jonna Andersson was being regularly…
