[Analyse tactique] Equipe du Sénégal : comment régler les failles défensives
Whether with or without Kalidou Koulibaly, in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation, Senegal concedes far too many chances. Against Benin, Senegal relied on the Leopards' lack of clinical finishing to keep a clean sheet. This was not the case against Sudan, where Senegal conceded in the opening minutes despite a reinforced midfield with Habib Diarra. The Lions even came close to conceding two more goals during the match. For the game against Mali, and with other important matches on the horizon (a potential semi-final berth or the upcoming clashes against France and Norway at the World Cup), Pape Thiaw must quickly find a solution. Perhaps the coach already has it on his bench.
"Attack wins games, defense wins titles." This famous phrase, attributed to Sir Alex Ferguson, continues to defy time. In Africa, it rings even truer. In knockout matches, an impenetrable defense often makes the difference.
A title contender, Senegal has been far from reassuring in this area since the start of the Africa Cup of Nations. They've already conceded two goals and missed a plethora of chances. Against Sudan, the Lions gave the unfortunate impression of struggling every time their opponents upped the tempo. The pairing of Abdoulaye Seck and Moussa Niakhaté (who was making his first appearance) came under fire. Their understanding was far from perfect, certainly, but the porous nature of Senegal's defense is a long-standing issue. It was evident against Benin and against DR Congo when Koulibaly was in the lineup, and even, by extension, against DR Congo in World Cup qualifying. The real problem seems to lie elsewhere, in the defensive system itself, or perhaps in the midfield choices.
A repositioning of Gana Guèye
In the role of ball-winner and defensive midfielder, no one can match Idrissa Gana Gueye. But to be impactful in this area, the Everton player often needs to drop deep to press the ball carrier. This can leave a gap in midfield, exposing Senegal if the first line of pressure is breached. Gueye also actively participates in the Lions' attacking play, which also leaves the defense vulnerable if possession is lost. To address this issue, Idrissa Gana Gueye needs to be partnered with another defensive player who can better contribute to pressing. This could allow the Senegalese team to plug the gaps and regain a more solid defensive foundation. For this to happen, Pape Thiaw will have to make a tough decision. Given Pape Gueye's form, having scored twice against Sudan, Habib Diarra could be the sacrificial lamb to help Senegal find better defensive balance.
Pathé Ciss, the solution for securing defense?
The ideal profile to rebalance the Senegalese midfield is Pathé Cissé. With his consistent defensive positioning, the Rayo Vallecano player could form a second line of defense behind the Gana Gueye-Pape Gueye pairing, acting as a midfield anchor. Cissé's presence would allow Gueye to utilize his marking skills to push higher up the pitch, disrupting the opposition's build-up play, and even marking or man-marking the opposing playmaker. His presence would also give Gueye more freedom in the build-up play. At Everton, David Moyes often uses him in this way, alongside Garner. Cissé is also very good on the ball. His wide range of skills, both short and long, can provide the team with more options. For his part, the presence of Pathé Ciss alongside Gana Guèye could allow Pape Guèye to be freer in his runs forward, as he never hesitates to join Senegalese attacks.
Against Mali, it doesn't take a genius to predict that the Eagles will cede possession to the Lions and counter-attack. They'll try to be compact in defense, then push forward to try and catch Senegal off guard. Without a rebalancing of their defensive system, the team could once again be very vulnerable to Mali's quick transitions. While Benin and Sudan were very wasteful in front of our goal, at this level of competition, every mistake will be punished severely. It's up to Pape Thiaw to learn from the previous matches and correct them.
Commentaires (20)
Mendy, Coulibaly, Mamadou Sarr, Malick Diouf, Krepin, Pape Gueye, Habib Diarra, Gana Gueye, Lliman Ndiaye, Jackson, Mané.
Niakaté, il faut qu'il se remette en question, il apporte moins.
Je précise que sur les 3 du 2ème rideau du milieu offensifs, 2 pourraient jouer le rôle d'ailiers
Alors que nous avons la solution sur le banc, il s’agit tout simplement de titulariser Mamadou Sarr et ce problème et derrière nous, connaissant l’histoire du football sénégalais, on fera jamais ce changement à temps.
Signé triple xxx
🇸🇳🇸🇳🇸🇳
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