|
Fallon, who is covering the tournament for Irish broadcaster RTE
and who works with analysts of the game for world governing body
FIFA, has been impressed by the general level of play at the
tournament in England, and says the best is yet to come.
"I think we are in for a spectacular final on Sunday, and I
cannot wait for it," she said in a telephone interview.
Holder of a UEFA Pro coaching licence, Fallon was the first
woman to coach a men's senior team in her native Ireland before
going on to work with a host of clubs and national associations,
including a stint as game analyst and strategist for Women's
Super League champions Chelsea.
She then took up her role at FIFA, where she travels to major
tournaments like the Euros to analyse developments together with
a team of experts under the guidance of former Arsenal manager
Arsene Wenger, FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development.
"Probably the biggest eye-opener at this Euros is that people
are looking at it and going, 'goodness, the women's game at the
highest level is extremely tactical'. The players are extremely
technical, technically able, and the physicality and the pace
and the tempo of the games is intense," she explained.
"I think people looking at it now are probably realising that
there is no difference really, from the highest level of the
men's game to the highest level of the women's game, in terms of
how the teams are prepared.
"The biggest gap is in resources, finances and funding, but I
think technically, tactically, physically, people can see that
the women's game is at an exceptionally high level now, and that
it's only going to continue to grow."
Fallon singled out Germany as a flexible side that have changed
tactics to beat different opponents, pointing to their ability
to aggressively press the opposition as one of their strengths.
However, free-scoring hosts England have been able to find the
time and space for their creative players to flourish, and
Fallon expects an intriguing tactical battle at Wembley.
"I think personally, that the best two teams are in the final,
so from a supporter's perspective and a neutral perspective, we
are so lucky, because that doesn't always happen. And I think
we're going to have one of, if not the best women's Euro finals
that we've ever had," Fallon said.
"It's going to be a tactical game, technical, it's going to have
moments of magic; and it's going to be physical, and it's going
to be aggressive, and it's going to be high tempo."
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
[© 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
|
