Jamaica 4-4-2 (Schneider – Campbell, A Swaby, Plummer, Blackwood – Adamolekun, C Swaby, Solaun, Asher – Shaw, Grey)

Italy 4-4-2 (Giuliani – Guagni, Gama, Linari, Bartoli – Bergamaschi, Giugliano, Cernoia, Bonansea – Sabatino, Girelli)

Italy defended in their usual 4-4-2 mid-block with their front two constantly moving to screen and cover shadow the Jamaican central midfielders. They were supported from behind, with the ball-near Italian central midfielder looking to push up and get closer to their opposite player, while the other Italian central midfielder covered space behind her.

With the pass into central midfield cut off, Jamaica’s centre-backs went for one of two options. Either they went long and Italy’s centre-backs dealt with the aerial ball, or they went out to the full-backs. When the latter happened, the near-sided Italian winger would move out to close down while the near striker would come back to help cover the pass inside.

Jamaica struggled to build attacks against Italy’s organised pressing, even though their centre-backs often had plenty of time on the ball. This was because most of their short options were either blocked or quickly closed down upon receiving.

Italy had to show more than a good pressing game here, however, as they had most of the ball possession. Fortunately for them, they showed quality in their own attacking phase. Jamaica’s strikers, who led the press in a 4-4-2 defensive shape, didn’t put intense pressure on the ball, so Italy centre-backs Gama and Linari had time to look up and pick a pass. They were rarely short on options – the central midfielders, Giugliano and Cernoia, often stayed fairly deep in build-up to offer a short pass out centrally, while the wingers came into the inside channels to offer a more progressive option.

One aspect that caused Jamaica problems was the movement of Girelli, who dropped off the frontline to overload the Jamaican midfield 3v2 and act as the free player. She was consistently found in the first half and even if pressured she held the ball in well, waited for support and was able to progress the move further by laying off to a runner or spreading wide to the wingers.

Italy’s possession was quick and direct, with few unnecessary touches or passes. There was always movement ahead of the ball, with forward runs offering a pass in behind or dragging Jamaica’s defensive lines back and creating new passing lanes. Italy always had good numbers in support of the ball to build out through short, quick passes, which along with the movement off the ball allowed them to play through the thirds effectively.

Jamaica altered their defensive setup in the second half. Grey moved from striker to right winger, Asher went from left wing to central midfield, and Sweatman came on to act as the defensive midfielder in a 4-1-4-1 shape. This helped to prevent them being overloaded by Girelli’s dropping movement as they were in the first half, but they were nonetheless unable to get any real control of the game.