One hour before this semi-final clash, the focus was on how each side would line up. Both made significant personnel changes, and as it transpired England also had a change of shape.

Rather than do individual posts, I thought I’d analyse every single one of the World Cup quarter-finals in one fell swoop. I’ve broken this article down by game, and then by tactical aspects I’d like to explore. With graphics. Enjoy!

Italy 4-4-2 (Giuliani – Guagni, Gama, Linari, Bartoli – Bergamaschi, Giugliano, Cernoia, Bonansea – Giacinti, Girelli) China 4-4-2 (Peng – Han, Wu, Lin, Liu – Ying, Zhang, Yan, Gu – Shanshan, Shuang)

Sweden 4-4-1-1 (Lindahl – Glas, Fischer, Sembrandt, Eriksson – Jakobsson, Rubensson, Seger, Rolfo – Asllani – Blackstenius) Canada 4-2-3-1 (Labbe – Lawrence, Buchanan, Zadorsky, Chapman – Scott, Schmidt – Prince, Fleming, Beckie – Sinclair)

Spain 4-3-3 (Panos – Corredera, Paredes, Leon, Ouahabi – Losada, Virginia, Patri – L Garcia, Hermoso, Alexia) USA 4-3-3 (Naeher – O’Hara, Dahlkemper, Sauerbrunn, Dunn – Lavelle, Ertz, Mewis – Heath, Morgan, Rapinoe)

England 4-3-3 (Bardsley – Bronze, Houghton, Bright, Greenwood – Scott, Walsh, Kirby – Parris, White, Duggan) Cameroon 4-2-3-1 (Ndom – Ejangue, Awona, Johnson, Leuko – Yango, Feudjo – Nchout, Abam, Onguene – Enganamouit)

France 4-4-2 (Bouhaddi – Torrent, Mbock, Renard, Majri – Asseyi, Henry, Bussaglia, Le Sommer – Diani, Gauvin) Brazil 4-4-1-1 (Barbara – Leticia, Kathellen, Monica, Tamires – Ludmila, Formiga, Thaisa, Debinha – Marta – Cristiane)

Norway 4-2-3-1 (Hjelmseth – Wold, Mjelde, Thorisdottir, Minde – Risa, Engen – Saevik, Hansen, Reiten – Herlovsen) Australia 4-2-3-1 (Williams – Carpenter, Kennedy, Catley, Kellond-Knight – Van Egmond, Logarzo – Raso, Yallop, Foord – Kerr)

Germany 4-2-3-1 (Schult – Gwinn, Doorsun, Hegering, Schweers – Magull, Leopolz – Huth, Popp, Dabritz – Schuller) Nigeria 4-4-2 (Nnadozie – Okeke, Ebi, Ohale, Nwabuoku – Ordega, Okobi, Ayinde, Ihezuo – Oparanozie, Kanu)

Here we take a tactical look at all eight second round games: Germany v Nigeria, Norway v Australia, England v Cameroon, France v Brazil, Spain v USA, Sweden v Canada, Italy v China, and the Netherlands v Japan.