1 vs 1
Played
October 17, 2012 12:30 AM IST
Estadio Vicente Calderón — Madrid
Referee:‬ F. Brych‎
Attendance:‬ 46000‎
 
   
 
 

Player Ratings: Spain 1-1 France

Goal.com rates the players at the Vicente Calderon, as Didier Deschamps' side overturned a first-half deficit to secure a point late on, courtesy of an Olivier Giroud header

By Charlie Scott

  • Iker Casillas
    34
    9
    3.00

    Iker Casillas

    The Real Madrid goalkeeper could do little about Olivier Giroud's well-taken headed equaliser, and before France scored he pulled off a couple of fine stops from Karim Benzema and Franck Ribery.

  • Arbeloa
    23
    11
    3.00

    Arbeloa

    The dependable full-back put in a good shift for his side this evening, looking strong in the tackle and getting forward to support his team's attackers whenever he could. Forced off injured early in the second-half following a challenge with Ribery.

  • Jordi Alba
    33
    19
    3.50

    Jordi Alba

    The Barcelona left-back was full of running throughout, and pinned France's right-back Mathieu Debuchy back on numerous occasions with his overlapping runs into the France penalty area.

  • Sergio Ramos
    41
    11
    3.50

    Sergio Ramos

    The Real Madrid centre-back opened the scoring for the home side with an emphatic side-foot finish, after his initial header had crashed against the right-hand post. His positioning was sound defensively against his club team-mate Karim Benzema, but he was beaten to the ball by Giroud in the dying moments as the Arsenal striker equalised for France.

  • Busquets
    19
    20
    3.00

    Busquets

    Busquets again proved his value to Vicente del Bosque by dropping in at centre-back in the absence of Gerard Pique and Carlos Puyol, and again he performed admirably, particularly up against the physical threat of Benzema, and the pace and trickery of Franck Ribery and Jeremy Menez.

  • David Silva
    17
    12
    2.00

    David Silva

    The 26-year-old suffered what looked like a hamstring injury early in the first-half and was replaced by Santi Cazorla.

  • Cesc Fàbregas
    26
    30
    3.00

    Cesc Fàbregas

    The Barcelona attacker was guilty of wasting a glorious chance to make it 2-0 before the break when Hugo Lloris saved his penalty.

  • Andrés Iniesta Luján
    24
    17
    3.00

    Andrés Iniesta Luján

    The composed midfielder put in a good performance for his side without excelling. There were times when he uncharacteristically gave the ball away in attacking areas, and handed the initiative to his side's opponents.

  • Xabi Alonso
    22
    13
    3.00

    Xabi Alonso

    The Real Madrid midfielder was comfortable in possession for La Roja, and started a number of promising attacks with some opportunistic passing. He tired in the second-half as France came back into the game.

  • Xavi
    38
    14
    3.50

    Xavi

    The veteran international was in fine form for the home side tonight, and did not deserve to be on the losing side. Metronomic with his passing as ever in the centre of the pitch for Spain.

  • Pedro
    29
    18
    3.50

    Pedro

    For the second successive match the Barcelona forward's movement caused all sorts of problems for the opposition's defence, and it was he that won the penalty late in the first-half after he dribbled his way past Laurent Koscielny.

Substitutions

  • Juanfran
    7
    27
    2.00

    Juanfran Flop of the Match

    Booked for time-wasting late on and was then guilty of giving away possession when France equalised. Looked out of depth after replacing the injured Alvaro Arbeloa.

  • Santi Cazorla
    46
    11
    3.00

    Santi Cazorla

    The Arsenal midfielder was an early introduction from the bench following Silva's injury, and slotted into the Spain midfield seamlessly. Willing to help out defensively, and proved a threat going forward in the first-half.

  • Fernando Torres
    55
    15
    3.00

    Fernando Torres

    Introduced late on and had little time to leave his impact on the game.

  • Hugo Lloris
    49
    2
    3.50

    Hugo Lloris

    The Tottenham goalkeeper pulled off a string of fine saves towards the end of the first-half to limit Spain to one goal in the opening period. His penalty save from Fabregas was superb, as was his double stop from Pedro and then Fabregas again just minutes later.

  • Laurent Koscielny
    25
    10
    3.00

    Laurent Koscielny

    The Arsenal centre-back was caught out positionally by the likes of Pedro and Fabregas, particularly when he fouled Pedro in his own penalty area, which resulted in a penalty kick to Spain in the first-half. He put in a fine block on Xavi as the Barcelona man shaped to shoot midway through the second period.

  • Mathieu Debuchy
    17
    3
    3.00

    Mathieu Debuchy

    The right-back had his hands full this evening up against Pedro and Jordi Alba, and this limited his ability to get forward and help his team in attack. Put in a decent performance defensively against Spain's vibrant attacking line-up.

  • Mamadou Sakho
    15
    9
    2.50

    Mamadou Sakho

    The 22-year-old struggled with the agility of Pedro and Fabregas at times this evening, but was still dominant in the air for the away side.

  • Patrice Evra
    11
    12
    3.00

    Patrice Evra

    The Manchester United left-back linked well with Ribery down the left for Les Bleus, but was unable to get forward as much as he would have liked due to the large spells of possession that Spain enjoyed.

  • Blaise Matuidi
    12
    5
    3.00

    Blaise Matuidi

    The 25-year-old was a strong physical presence in Les Bleus' midfield, as they came into the game knowing they would not see a lot of the ball. His energetic play, and desire to chase the ball when not in possession was a key factor as France came back into the match in the second- half.

  • Franck Ribéry
    38
    3
    3.50

    Franck Ribéry

    The Bayern Munich winger upped his game after the break, and became the focal point of his side's play as they went in search of an equaliser. He caused problems for both Alba and Juanfran on either flank. Provided the assist for Giroud's late equaliser with an inch-perfect cross.

  • Jérémy Menez
    12
    6
    3.00

    Jérémy Menez

    The Paris Saint-Germain attacker looked to stretch Spain's back-line with his pace and direct running, but only really got the opportunity to do that in the second-half, following Arbeloa's injury. Was replaced by Sissoko with 20 minutes to go.

  • Maxime Gonalons
    8
    7
    3.00

    Maxime Gonalons

    The Olympique Lyonnais midfielder was full of running and endeavour in the centre of the pitch, and hassled the likes of Xavi and Iniesta well. Replaced by Valbuena in the second-half.

  • Yohan Cabaye
    20
    3
    3.00

    Yohan Cabaye

    The central midfielder was comfortable on the ball for Les Bleus, and did not look out of place against the likes of Xavi and Iniesta. Neat and tidy in possession, he always offered himself to take the ball from his defence when they looked to relieve the pressure from Spain's attack.

  • Karim Benzema
    53
    14
    3.50

    Karim Benzema Top of the Match

    The Real Madrid striker forced his club team-mate Iker Casillas into a fine save midway through the first-half with a fizzing effort, and proved a thorn in Spain's side in the second period as he attempted to drag Busquets and Ramos out of position, and get in behind the Spain defence.

Substitutions

  • Moussa Sissoko
    15
    4
    3.00

    Moussa Sissoko

    The midfielder provided a fresh set of legs after the break as his side chased the game. Robbed the ball off Juanfran and started the move that France equalised from in the final minute.

  • Mathieu Valbuena
    19
    2
    3.50

    Mathieu Valbuena

    Made a clear impact after coming on in the second-half, as his electric pace stretched a tiring Spain defence late in the game.

  • Olivier Giroud
    69
    3
    4.00

    Olivier Giroud

    The striker was his side's hero tonight as he came off the bench late on to head home the equaliser in the dying moments of the match.

Results
Group A Matchday 4
Times In IST
 
Player Ratings
Tournament
Position
Ranking
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Edin  Dzeko Edin Dzeko
Striker
Manchester City
7 0
Tomer Hemed Tomer Hemed
Striker
Mallorca
6 0
Mesut Özil Mesut Özil
Midfielder
Real Madrid
5 2
Wayne Rooney Wayne Rooney
Striker
Man. United
5 1
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Man. United
5 1