Quarter-finals 1 and 2 - Player of the Match

Over the course of the tournament, FIFA's Technical Study Group (TSG) are taking a closer look at the performance of the official "Player of the Match" in each game.

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Spain 1-0 Mexico

Player of the Match: (6) Ariadna Mingueza (ESP)

Spain central midfielder Ariadna Mingueza put in a hugely impressive performance in her side’s 1-0 quarter-final victory over Mexico at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2022™.

It was clear to our Technical Study Group that Mingueza had a very specific role to perform for her team in this match, and she executed it with excellent commitment and discipline. 

According to Mónica Vergara, “When her team was out of possession, she dropped in between the two centre-backs. She is learning the game, but she showed great understanding technically and tactically, because when one of centre-backs dropped in with Mexico’s centre-forward, Villanueva, she covered the space and made sure her defence was compact."

“When Spain were attacking in the final third, she stepped up to win any loose balls and get early pressure on if her team lost the ball. She was able to initiate the counter-press when Spain lost the ball,” Vergara added.

“When Spain had the ball in build-up and Mexico pressed with two players, she dropped in with the centre-backs to create a 3v2. She also received the ball between the lines and was constantly scanning to receive passes. She has a very good range of passing too. She plays short, medium and long passes,” concluded Vergara.

Anja Mittag also had words of praise for the young midfielder:

“She controlled the game. She was the playmaker. She didn’t score the goal or make the assist, but if you really watch her in a game, you see the impact she makes. This is the second time she has been named Player of the Match in this tournament and that says a lot about the type of player she is,” Mittag commented.

Colombia 0-1 Brazil 

Player of the Match: (8) Yaya (BRA)

In the second quarter-final, Brazil overcame Colombia 1-0 in a very tactical encounter at Estadio Nacional. The performance of Brazil midfielder Yaya stood out for the members of our Technical Study Group who observed the match, and she was awarded the Player of the Match.  

Speaking after the game, Anja Mittag said, “When her team were in possession, and the centre-backs had the ball, she was always moving into the space between the lines and offering to receive the ball. Her movement was very good and she was very good at controlling the ball.”

“The speed she moved at when dribbling the ball was impressive, she controlled the game and was able to switch play but was also comfortable to go 1v1. Out of possession, her positioning was good and she had a lot of interceptions. She was their midfield engine, and not just in this game. She has been very consistent for the team throughout the tournament,” Mittag concluded.

Mónica Vergara also observed the game and added, “Yaya worked from one penalty area to the other penalty area. When she got the ball, she broke lines because when she received it, she always wanted to play forward.”

“Her game intelligence is very high, she’s smart and she knows how to receive the ball between the lines. She watches her surroundings, has great vision, and was able to release her forward players into 1v1's against Colombia defence, even though they were defending in a low block,” added Vergara.

“She is a very complete player. She attacks, defends, makes attempts at goal, plays the ball short, medium and long, and switches play. She is a very explosive player,” she concluded.