Goalkeeper Watch Week One – David Marshall’s Masterclass

Goalkeepers are a funny bunch – often unnoticed, often underappreciated, and often misunderstood. Goalkeeper Watch shines the spotlight – good, or bad – on the men between the sticks.

In the first edition of Goalkeeper Watch, we’re taking a look at the top shot-stopper from the recent international break. 

International fixtures are a chance for goalkeepers from lower league sides to face players from the world’s top teams. For some, this brings out their best, and for others, the difference in standard clearly shows.

The recent international matches saw, amongst other games, England face off against the Republic of Ireland at Wembley, Scotland secure their place at a major tournament for the first time in 22 years, and ‘big boys’ Spain, Portugal, Italy, and the Netherlands all in action.

With around 70 goals scored over the EURO 2021 Play-Offs and friendly matches, it probably wasn’t goalkeepers who were leaving the majority of games as the Man of the Match. However, there was one goalkeeper who went a step further than just MOTM, arguably writing his name into a certain country’s footballing history books.

Scotland’s David Marshall.

Marshall’s performances over the course of the 2019/20 campaign and his start to the 2020/21 season haven’t reflected his clubs’ forms. The Scotsman was a ray of light in a Wigan Athletic season that was clouded by financial issues and ultimately ending in relegation.

Likewise, during Derby County’s abysmal start to the 2020/21 campaign, Marshall has been a saving grace for the Rams. Without him between the sticks, it is likely that Derby would have been worse off than they are currently.

As he enters the twilight years of his career, Marshall continues to see off the challenge of Rangers’ John McLaughlin, and veteran Craig Gordon of Hearts – both excellent goalkeepers in their own right.

Scotland’s game against Serbia may have been cold in terms of weather, but Steve Clarke’s men were burning with motivation on the pitch.

In goal, David Marshall represented a calm, experienced head, who would likely prove to be crucial during the match and, boy, was he crucial.

During the ninety minutes of regular time, Marshall had little to do. However, what seemed for 89 minutes like a fairly comfortable clean sheet was ruined by Luka Jovic’s 89th-minute equaliser. From a goalkeeping point of view, Marshall was beaten by a well-placed header – powered into the floor before bouncing into the top corner.

It would be extremely harsh to criticise Marshall for this concession. However, one aspect that may have hampered his ability to reach the header may be the fact that he took a slight jump before setting. This jump occurred just as Jovic made contact with the ball, meaning that Marshall could have been slightly off-balance before diving, and also a little too late to make a proper step into the save.

Credit – Sky Sports Football – Scotland vs Serbia – Marshall jumps before setting as Jovic makes contact with the ball.

Serbia’s equaliser isn’t what Marshall will remember nor any Scotland fan.

With Serbia full of confidence and pushing for an equaliser, Marshall was forced into action again in extra-time. His good starting position was vital in tipping a long-range effort around the post – not too high, and more or less central – keeping the scoreline level.

If he was a step further to his left, he would have needed to generate more power from a bigger step into the save to reach the ball. In other words, Serbia would likely have scored.

However, Marshall’s real moment of glory came during the penalty shootout. With the score at 5-4 to Scotland, prolific goalscorer Aleksandar Mitrovic was most definitely the man that Serbia both needed and wanted to take such a crucial penalty.

Despite the odds firmly stacked against him, Marshall got a strong left hand behind Mitrovic’s low penalty, sending Scotland to Euro 2021.

A few tense seconds of a VAR check immediately followed the save. Marshall had hardly heard the referee blow the final whistle when he was bundled in true shootout style by the rest of the Scotland team.

“I just hoped and prayed that it didn’t go to a retake because the lads were already on their way. They didn’t know it was being checked probably. When you’ve waited 22 years what’s another four or five seconds?”- David Marshall on his penalty save via BBC Sport.