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Denmark’s counter-attack play turns match upside down in the second half

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Semi-final FRA-DEN, 17 August 2011
 
The semi-final between Denmark and France proved a real high-speed game of this Youth World Championship. For a long time France configured in a flexible, active 5:1 defence, at times in a 3:3 defence, that proved quite successful. The team had gained a clear 6-goal lead on minute 37 (20:14). 
In the course of the second half, Denmark’s 6:0 defence improved to get better prepared for the French attack. A big advantage was that the Danish coach put in all 16 players and changed players consequently, rather following a rotation system. You could observe a clear physical and psychological advantage for the Danish players towards the end of the game. Consequently the defence actively gained the ball to institute precise counter-attacks of the 1st wave in particular!
 
 
The picture row shows how the goal to let the Danish team into the lead for the first time on minute 50 (23:22) was scored. The goal scorer, Nicolai Pedersen, was one of the youngest players of the tournament (born in 1994!). He scored this crucial goal and became his team’s top scorer in the semi-final (8 goals in total). A real talent for the future!
 
After crossing the right back (FRA) acts in a 2-on-2 situation in the centre.  The pivot is blocking the left inside defender while the right inside defender tackles the right back who is preparing for a jump.  
The right half defender also acting offensively creates open space to the outside for the pivot. The right back plays a bounce pass to the pivot.  Denmark’s inside defender acts ball-based to run behind the pivot and thus manages to intercept the bounce pass. 
With a dive the inside defender manages to intercept the pass. He is able to immediately take the ball.  Three players from Denmark immediately switch over to a counter-attack. 

 

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Pass to a player in the centre. Danish players are running on the wings in the 1st wave of the counter-attack.   Acting against the offensively acting defender the player in the centre feeds the player who is free on the left wing.  
A long pass to the opponent’s end to feed the sprinting Danish player 
Running at full speed the Danish player tries to catch the ball single-handed.  He catches the ball single-handed and is able to continue his sprint without a real body turn. 
   
 The defender is unable to preent the opponent from breaking free. so the opponent may shoot at the goal. 
   
 Jump into the goal area with a high arm position. He has every opportunity to score a goal.