Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter
Spain’s players at the Women’s World Cup have found a way around Fifa ’s new rules designed to stop interference with defensive walls on free-kicks.
The new rules, which came into effect on 1 June, state that players from the attacking team are no longer allowed to stand within one metre of the defensive wall.
During the first half of their Group B match against South Africa, three Spain players – Jennifer Hermoso, Virginia Torrecilla and Amanda Sempedro – circumvented this rule change by forming a wall of their own.
The Spanish wall initially stood one metre in front of the South Africans to block their view of the free-kick.
Then, as the free-kick was taken by Maria Pilar Leon, her three Spain team-mates dispersed quickly to move out of the ball’s way and distract the South African defenders.
Show all 46 1 /46Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Ranked and rated: Women's World Cup kits The kits for the 2019 World Cup have started to be released ... but which one is your favourite?
Nike
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated France home They say: “A bespoke navy kit with rose gold logos.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated France away They say: “Predominantly white with an all-over graphic hexagon print.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated South Korea home They say: “A classic red design with dark blue shorts and red socks.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated South Korea away They say: “Predominantly white, with a bold blue and red graphic print subtly inspired by a tiger pattern and the Taegeuk symbol.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Norway home They say: “A graphic gradient design that draws inspiration from classic Norwegian ski jumpers.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Norway away They say: “A jersey featuring patterns of differently sized blue and red hoops.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Nigeria home They say: “An eclectic combination of bright green, white and black in an especially bold design.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Nigeria away They say: “A clean design in dark green with subtle zigzag print.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Germany home They say: “Draws inspiration from the iconic 1990s design.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Germany away They say: “A wine red base with white logos.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated China PR home They say: “Traditional red with volt accents.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated China PR away They say: “Inspired by the team’s Steel Roses nickname.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Spain home They say: “A Glitch interpretation of the classic 1994 strip.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated South Africa home They say: “Yellow with powerful green graphic print.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated South Africa away They say: “Green with unique all-over print.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Australia home They say: “Combines different shades of yellow, white and green in a brush stroke design.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Australia away They say: “Dark green with lime green and yellow accents.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Italy home They say: “Based on Puma's new evoKNIT template.” Our verdict: If this shirt was an ice cream flavour, it would be vanilla.
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Italy away They say: “A classic white strip.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Brazil home They say: “A diverse and bespoke kit design.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Brazil away They say: “Blue with yellow and a bespoke star print.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Jamaica home They say: “Vibrant yellow with striking black, green and yellow application.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Jamaica away They say: “Black with a graphic that pays homage to the vivid culture of Jamaica.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated England home They say: “Clean look with red cuffs and back panel.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated England away They say: “Dark red with rose pattern.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Scotland home They say: “Simplistic design in traditional colours.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Scotland away They say: “Pink with black applications.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Argentina home They say: “Two sky blue stripes with unique brush stroke effect.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Argentina away They say: “A modern interpretation of the iconic 1993 design.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Japan home and away They say: Bespoke kits to be released very soon.
Getty Images
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Cameroon home and away They say: Nothing much. Cameroon are yet to sign a kit deal for the tournament.
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Canada home They say: “Predominantly red with white swoosh.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Canada away They say: “White with black logos and red numbers.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated New Zealand home They say: “White with black trim and fern.”
AFP/Getty Images
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated New Zealand away They say: “A reversion of the colour scheme in black with white detailing.”
Getty Images
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Netherlands home They say: “Predominantly orange featuring 'Orange Quartz' Swooshes.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Netherlands away They say: “Bright turquoise with gradient graphic print.”
Getty Images
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated United States home They say: “White with bold red and blue cuffs.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated United States away They say: “Speed red with bright blue brandings.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Thailand home They say: “A Warrix design: blue with thin zigzag stripes on the sleeves.”
Getty Images
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Thailand away They say: “Crimson red with black collar detailing.”
Getty Images
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Chile home They say: A clean design with zigzag knit pattern on the sleeves.”
Getty Images
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Chile away They say: “A bold graphic print that combines tapered red and blue stripes.”
Getty Images
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Sweden home They say: “Featuring a pattern of horizontal lines that creates an optical effect.”
Women's World Cup kits ranked and rated Sweden away They say: “Blue with yellow detailing.”
Getty Images
León’s attempt at goal was off target, dropping a few inches over the crossbar, but Spain went on to win 3-1 with Hermoso scoring twice from the penalty spot.
The new rules designed to stop interference with defensive walls will be enforced across both the men’s and women’s game from hereon, including next season’s Premier League and Champions League.
World football’s rule-making body, the the International Football Association Board (IFAB), decided to change the rules as attacking players in the wall caused “management problems” and “wasted time”.
“There is no legitimate tactical justification for attackers to be in the ‘wall’ and their presence is against the ‘spirit of the game’ and often damages the image of the game,” their report said.
IFAB has also changed the rules regarding handball, which can now be punished even if the offence is not deliberate, and goal kicks no longer need to leave the penalty area.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies