Impact of the three-man defence on European elite teams
For years, use of a three-man defence has been limited to just a few isolated cases and primarily connected to opposing views. Strictly defensive football like that..
Senegal’s Mané and Keita special offensive transition
In a competition like the African Cup of Nations (CAF), where the balance is traditionally shifted by the expectation of technical or athletic ..
Inter’s Roberto Gagliardini: dynamisms and tactical eclecticism
On Wednesday evening, Inter finalized an important reinforcement for its midfield with the acquisition of Roberto Gagliardini from Atalanta. The ‘nerazzurri’ invested two million Euro for the six-month loan of the player, adding another 20 for the buyback obligation..
The Wyscout Apps
It is something more than an intuitive software and than a simple to use tool available to technical staff. The Wyscout platform is a loyal co-worker…
Bundesliga’s shoot and goal accuracy in numbers
At the end of the first half of the season, the Bundesliga is now taking its winter break. We are now exactly at the half-way point, the right time to analyse the performance of the predominant strikers in the German league after 16 matches.
Mourinho’s tactical flexibility as key factor for Man United race
Understanding the culture, context, club, coach and player is shown to be fundamental today when beginning any training process and simultaneously any analysis of the game..
Diego Costa Statistics: tactical eclecticism and shot accuracy
One of the secrets of Antonio Conte’s Chelsea that took the lead in Premier League with a series of incredible, conclusive wins, is the polish that Diego Costa rediscovered …
Viktor Tsygankov: a young talent
The wings of the old days are no more, the ones that dribbled and always created numerical superiority. Anyone who agrees with this statement has never seen Viktor Tsygankov at work. The Dinamo Kiev nineteen year-old has already shown his skills in this part of the season and in Champions League on the team coached by Serhij Rebrov..
MLS Cup Final Recap: Technique and tactics behind the game
Technique, as the ninth commandment of Cruyff says, is the base. It is a simple concept in appearance only …
Goalkeeper training tips: Build-up And Attacking With a Focus On Width
Goalkeepers needs to have a clear vision of the players at their disposal to create building-up play situations. It is paramount to take note of the characteristics inherent to the players that shall translate the keeper idea for starting the building-up play supported from behind onto the pitch.
Everton vs Swansea 1-1: analysis of Ronald Koeman’s team
It all looked so rosy at Goodison Park back in mid-September.
How to study the offensive game in football: a case study of EPL teams
Any team in the World that has possession of the ball is going to try to create the best situations to be able to have success.
Bournemouth vs Sunderland: An Unexpected Win
It finally happened. After eleven games and what felt like an eternity of pain and frustration, Sunderland won a game of football.
A data analysis of Ibrahimovic play at Manchester United
In the troubles that seem to have afflicted Manchester United in Premier League, Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s slump is worrying
Are Leicester Turning The Corner?
Leicester City picked up their first away point of the season last weekend and they did it by…
Amine Harit young, gifted and french
At nineteen years of age, Amine Harit’s playing style does not hinge on dribbling, although he has excellent leg work and top shelf technique at high speed. His coach at Nantes, René Girard, does not consider him a young player to adapt little by little, but rather a footballer capable of covering all the positions in the midfield, reliable enough to be..
How Benitez is fixing Newcastle
Football is a chaotic game that, in spite of efforts from the richest clubs and certain cowed governing bodies to ensure otherwise …
Studying The Game As An Interaction
How can you identify what is effectively happening in the game?
The 4 Key Technical aspects of France strategy heading to the 2018 World Cup
Three months have passed since their defeat in the Euro2016 finals and France has hit the ground running toward the World Cup.
How to use the screen passing to score
At the second stop of the season, the only true surprise in the rankings is Chievo.
Conte’s Chelsea tactics: 3-4-3 new formation and team defence
After an excellent start, Antonio Conte’s new Chelsea approached the second Premier League stop with 13 points in…
Swansea’s Pressing vs Man City Nearly Paid Off
Poor Francesco Guidolin. The Italian manager saved Swansea from relegation last season (with a bit of help from Alan Curtish while he was fighting off serious illness) but he’s in a lot of trouble now.
How to gain control in the box area
After the defeat to Manchester City in the Theatre of Dreams, my attention quickly focused on how José Mourinho would turn around the least positive cycle…
How has Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman role changed after the injury?
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Everton: What has changed under Koeman?
By the end of his tenure, Everton were playing such miserable football that sacking Roberto Martinez became the merciful, as well as the necessary, thing to do.
Yeferson Soteldo: great dribbling skills, balance and control
Yeferson Soteldo, right or left wing for Zamora, born in 1997, already with playing time on the Venezuelan national team in the match against Colombia that qualified them for the World Cup in Russia. Nimble in short sprints, but with good stamina, excellent ball handling skills even in the spaces, maintaining remarkable control of the ball..
How Higuain skills integrate into Juventus: the goal vs Sassuolo
Gonzalo Higuain is integrating into Massimiliano Allegri’s system and Juventus is learning to take advantage of his intuition and his magnificent goal scoring skills.
How is Mike Phelan saving Hull City: tactics and key players
Hull City started the season with 12 fully fit senior players, a caretaker manager, absolutely no votes of confidence from the media, and yet with two wins…
Domenico Berardi, technique of a great forward
When the leagues resume, Domenico Berardi will not be on the pitch due to injury. Before the break, however, he managed to get to…
psg and man united formula to control the opponent and avoid counter-attack
The offensive set-up of any team shall depend on the technical quality of its executors…
Oliver Burke at RB Leipzig: strength, speed and individual technique
19 year-old Oliver Burke, sold by Nottingham Forest to RB Leipzig for €15.2 million this summer, became the most expensive Scottish player in history.
What should Arsenal expect from new-look Southampton
After what was, for the most part, yet another anxious transfer window, Arsenal’s supporters now find themselves in a curious position.
Juventus new tactical setup and key players after the transfer window
Juventus was one of the most active clubs during the summer transfer market…
Ivan Jurić’s Genoa after Gasperini: new attacking tactics and formation
The beginning of a new cycle for Genoa involves some softer and expected changes…
Ancelotti’s Bayern uses PEP Guardiola strategy vs Bremen: “Salida de balón”
Carlo Ancelotti appeared at the presentation press conference before the reporters and his new fans, stating: “I will not drastically…
Fullbacks’ role in Pep Guardiola Tactical System
At FC Barcelona Pep Guardiola started to revolutionise the way of envisaging football, through the positional play that is characteristic of him. He drew inspiration from his coaches and he evolved…
Spurs look ahead to Liverpool match with new signing Janssen and Wanyama
By the standards of this particularly excitable transfer window, Tottenham’s summer captures have been markedly low key. Maurico Pochettino…
Backline build-up: Guardiola, Emery, Sampaoli and De Boer’s teams
Guardiola, Emery and Sampaoli choose to seek superiority building up with the two centre defenders and a midfielder who drops back between the two to act as playmaker.
Manchester City new striker Gabriel Jesus
You can certainly see why Original Ronaldo (Originaldo, if you will) sees so much of himself in Manchester City’s new signing Gabriel Jesus.
Reinventing teams’ tactics: 3 top managers in the EPL
All the high-performing football teams in the world reinvent their self when new players join them. Clubs necessarily experience transformations so that this results in a sustained performance – if possible with quality play.
Awareness: How to defend on the opposite half
In order to describe how marking can best work as a fundamental defensive tactic, we used Hummels, a centre back who came up under the leadership of three great coaches…
Video analysis: Set pieces as determining factors to create scoring opportunities
The rate of set pieces in an important football event like Euro 2016 has always been a subject of interest…
Pjanic and Benatia’s Juventus: New roles, tactics and strategy vs Tottenham
Juventus is one of the big players in the European transfer market. While waiting to see the last great coup, Higuain, along with Dani Alves and Pjaca, for the first time, Allegri had the chance…
Features for goalkeeper coaches in the new Wyscout 5
It is something more than an intuitive software and than a simple to use tool available to technical staff. The Wyscout platform is a loyal co-worker…
Gabriel Jesus: Flexibility, technique and great finishing on goal
Born on 3 April 1997, Gabriel Jesus already has astonishing numbers. 54 goals in 48 matches in 2013 and 37 in 22 in 2014 at a youth level (Paulista Under 17 league). In 2015, the first season he played at Palmeiras, he scored 7 goals in 37 matches. And, above all, 15 goals in 18 games for the current season..
New Italy coach Giampiero Ventura: strategy and formation of the team
Although they particularly stress a clean ball coming from the defence, Conte and Ventura’s teams do not play…
Reviewing a game: Was England vs Iceland as bad as people said?
Three weeks have passed now since Iceland beat England in Nice. But was it really as bad a performance as…
Ante Ćorić: Ball control, through passes and dribbling
His time has come!!! At eleven years of age Ante Ćorić tried out for Chelsea and Bayern Munich and both teams would have been happy to have him in their youth line up, but he surprised everyone by deciding to transfer to Red Bull Salzburg. Now Napoli, Fiorentina, Milan, Liverpool and other European superpowers seem to be taking an interest..
Set pieces as determining factors to create scoring opportunities: Euro 2016 by numbers
Of the 108 goals scored (an average of 2.12 per match), 28 stemmed from…
The play that decided Euro 2016 final
Éder goal seems to be the result of individual achievement, but in all reality, it actively involves a fair number of players on both teams.
Portuguese tactical resilience
Fernando Santos managed to fit his best players into the right positions in a balanced and sustained manner, even though there had been tactical indecisions and changes within the team.
Euro 2016 final: Where it went wrong for France?
The final of the European Championships was, it is fair to say, no classic. But it could have been even worse. It should have been even worse.
Wales tactical analysis: Highs and lows of the team
It cannot be said that Wales does not have a certain taste for history. In 1958, the last time they participated in a large international competition until Euro 2016, a goal by Pelè…
4 ways to get the most out of your Wyscout platform
Tools like Wyscout can make it easier to at least keep abreast of the important things. And here are four ways it helps me.
Evolution of Chile’s pressing from Marcelo Bielsa to Juan Antonio Pizzi
For the second year in a row, Chile has won Copa América in the final against Argentina. The first two titles in Chile’s history have roots…
Twin strikers: Combined movements in the central area and defensive mistakes
The choice made by Italy and France, respectively against Spain and Iceland, was to focus on offensive development in the central area in order to…
Building-up with 3 centre-backs
There are different approaches at the start of the offensive process (1st phase): while some coaches prefer a more fixed backline…
Germany offensive strategy: Line-up and pressing
Germany had qualified for Euro 2016 as the first team in Group D, but only the Czech Republic – of the winning formations in a group – had conceded more goals (14 compared with 9).
Three types of goalkeeper’s offensive transition
The offensive transition phase with a counter attack that starts with the goalkeeper is much more articulated and requires organisation…
Conte’s great tactical performance behind Italy’s win over Spain
It seems strange now to recall Antonio Conte’s gloomy forecasts for his nation this summer. Far from a lone voice, the Italy boss….
Russia’s exit from Euro 2016: Analysis of game plan and goals in the group stage matches
They were placed in the complicated “B” group with teams like England, Wales and Slovakia. But there is no doubt that Russia’s performance at Euro 2016 was disappointing.
Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey: Solidity and tactical balance
If the man of the hour for Wales’ miracle is Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey is playing a role that is just as fundamental.
Portugal team tactical identity at Euro 2016
In Portugal’s first two games their opponents’ pragmatism (Iceland and Austria) enabled the coach Fernando Santos to see they must have greater judgement in the offensive third.
Positional play and build up: Diaz role in Chile’s team
Looking at the images from the Mexico-Chile match, it is clear how the key to interpretation for Chile revolves around Diaz. We can identify two build-up models that combine continuously: positional play and building up.
Spain team analysis: Tactics, formation and weaknesses vs Czech Republic
Spain’s start at European championship was brilliant (13 matches undefeated), but the 1-0 against Czech Republic confirmed a few difficulties in the scoring phase for La Roja.
Match analysis: Belgium vs Italy
So much for the theory that Italy were heading for yet another early tournament exit. Having been knocked out in the group stages of the last two World Cups, the chances are that this will be an altogether more pleasant summer for Italy. Manager Antonio Conte takes tactical preparation very seriously.
Defence in situations of (apparent) inferiority: 2 v 1+ GK
The complex approach to the game of football forces us to face a series of questions and priorities. Collective tactic and Individual tactic or Individual tactic and Collective tactic? Which order? Which priority? When the order of the items is changed, the result – in this case – changes, and not by a little.
Individual movements to confuse the opposing team
It often happens during important competitions like the ones that are currently taking place – Copa America and Euro 2016 in particular – that the curiosity about which play strategies will prevail works its way into football enthusiasts’ debates. What is sometimes forgotten is that the individual plays will be the ones that really make the difference. And quite often, even if the most superficial spectators do not realise it, every single play is the result, especially for the most organised teams, of specific drills that are run dozens and dozens of times in training.
Belgium weak points without Kompany and Lombaerts
Belgium is one of the most awaited teams at Euro 2016. And yet, a problem that cannot be ignored came up for coach Wilmots just a few months from the French tournament: the injuries of
Kompany and Lombaerts, the starting centre players. Wilmots’ idea was to come to Euro 2016 with a four-man defence with Vertonghen and Alderweireld as backs, as has been the case in
recent years.
Germany’s strategy without Philipp Lahm
For the first time since the 2002 World Cup, Germany will play in an international tournament without Philipp Lahm. The German national team lost not only its captain, but also a tactically fundamental player who left no heirs. After all, can a back be replaced who, according to Pep Guardiola, has the same football intelligence as Iniesta?
Analysis of euro 2016 teams: Ukraine
When you’re this close to the start of a major international tournament, most avenues have already been explored. We know the favourites: France; Spain and Germany. We know the nations that have it within them to win, but probably won’t: Belgium; Italy and England. We know the dark horses: Austria; Croatia and Poland. We even know the minnows: Albania; Hungary and Northern Ireland. But what about the middle ground? What about the teams with just a puncher’s chance of glory? What about Ukraine?
England’s 3 moves to defend from a corner kick
Great international events have always been a time of growth and innovation. At the threshold of this Euro 2016 competition, it would have been difficult to hypothesise any significant changes because, without even realising it, we have gone through a change of an era over the last two years, coinciding with the last World Cup. Germany was the country able to absorb the Spanish influence and transform it into a football style with vertical possession, sprinting and aggressiveness.
France offensive strategy at Euro 2016
The 2015/2016 season was Karim Benzema’s best since he has been with Real Madrid. He scored a goal every 83 minutes in la Liga, in addition to the 4 on the path toward La Undecima. Under normal circumstances, after a year like that, Benzema would no doubt have been the star of the home Euro 2016 for the favoured French team.
Analysis of Euro 2016 teams: Italy
Claudio Marchisio’s injury and the decision not to call up Andrea Pirlo triggered a bit of debate on Antonio Conte’s choices in view of Euro 2016. Also considering the fact that Marco Verratti is out, Italy has without a doubt lost three very high quality elements in the midfield.
Analysis of Euro 2016 teams: Slovakia
It has been assumed in some quarters that England have an easy first round group in France. Russia are old, so the argument goes, Wales are too reliant on Gareth Bale and Slovakia are…well…Slovakia.
Principles of a fluid and complete team
After meeting Foggia on the first day of Coppa Italia, I am seeing a more mature team, more aware of their own qualities. A team that I would define as fluid, able to mould endlessly with respect to the various play situations.
Tactical analysis of the Champions League final
Football is the most seen sport worldwide and it doesn’t share out its glory. Real Madrid won! The 11 times Champions of Europe, 5 times of which were in the last 20 years…remarkable. What were the most significant tactical aspects in this Spanish final of the Champions League?
Alvaro Morata technical strengths and weaknesses
The first question the Juventus football transfer market must answer is the fate of Alvaro Morata, in the hands of Real Madrid because of the “buy back” option included two years ago in the player’s transfer contract by the bianconeri.
What would Italy strategy be if Giampiero Ventura takes over as coach after Conte?
At the end of the European Cup, Antonio Conte’s adventure on the Italian national team’s bench came to an end. As things stand, the name of his successor has not yet been announced. But there is no doubt, as journalistic indiscretions will confirm, that the most likely candidate is Giampiero Ventura.
Nemanja Mihajlović: Speed, ball control and excellent resistance
Nemanja Mihajlović (born in Niš on 19 January 1996) is a Serbian footballer, a midfielder for Partizan Belgrade. He made his début on the Rad first team in the 2012-2013 season against Donji Srem Pećinci. He scored the first goal of his senior career against Borac Čačak. During the winter transfer window, Mihajlović was scouted by the French club AS Saint-Étienne.
5 types of throw-ins and defensive techniques
We have classified 5 types of throw-ins (long, to change game play area, to win the finishing area, to develop the strong side and fast solution) and we asked ourselves what the difficulties are in defending this solution.
Tactical analysis of Uefa Europa League final
Same formation (4-2-3-1), very different game strategy. The Europa League final between Liverpool and Seville was an exciting contest, not only between the players on the pitch, but also between Jurgen Klopp and Unai Emery.
Analysis of trident tactical formation and set up
In Italy, 4-3-3 is a formation historically associated with Zdenek Zeman, who believed that it was the best way to set up the pitch in order to continuously form triangles and generate multiple passing solutions. In recent seasons, a Zeman pupil has been emerging who, after years of work at Sassuolo, managed to forge his own way, finding a balance between the defensive and offensive phases: Eusebio di Francesco.
Analysis of Euro 2016 teams: Romania
Romania’s strengths are obvious to anyone who has taken a glance at their qualifying campaign. They finished their group unbeaten, having conceded only two goals in ten games. And when you watch them, it doesn’t take long to see why.
Analysis of Higuain play: Positional superiority and counter-movement
36 goals in Serie A. No one like him in the history of the Italian league. This is Gonzalo Higuaín’s incredible score in the premiership league. A player who, under Sarri’s direction, found his second youth, showing the world how, as an excellent player, with hard work and the support of a great team, you can become a top player.
Aïssa Mandi: A complete centre back
Aïssa Mandi (Châlons-en-Champagne, 21 October 1991) is an Algerian naturalised French footballer, defender for Reims, French Ligue 1 and the Algerian national team. He is a right footed centre back but he also adapts well with his left.
Why Sevilla is ready to re-write Europa League history
Sevilla are re-writing the history of European football by reaching the final of the Europa League. During their previous two matches the team, led by Unai Emery, was victorious.
Let’s have a closer look at the second semi-final of their Europa League game with Shakhtar Donetsk and see where Sevilla’s strength truly lies.
Suso’s movements in Genoa scheme
Jesús Fernández Suso, who joined Genoa on loan from Milan last January, is just the last name in the list of players relaunched by Gian Piero Gasperini (among the others, Marco Borriello, Thiago Motta and Diego Milito, or more recently M’Baye Niang, Diego Perotti and Leonardo Pavoletti). Suso played a big part in Genoa’s good results in the second part of the season, which saw the Rossoblu climbing the league table from the 17th to the 10th place.
Analysis of Euro 2016 teams: Albania
Of all the teams heading to France for the European Championships, Albania have surely the most fascinating back story. They’ve never qualified for a major tournament before. They’ve only ever
qualified for two youth tournaments before.
How to create space into the opposite half of the pitch
A vital behaviour in players that occupy areas between backlines and that appear in spaces on the wings is without doubt, playing with the “blind” side of players that come out to apply pressure on the player in possession of the ball. Besiktas managed to apply this principle at some points during the game.
How to prepare offensive strategy studying the opposing goalkeeper
In today’s article we would like to offer a point of view that can help you plan out your week. Video analysis and studying the opposing team are no longer new
ideas, but nevertheless, analysing the tactics chosen by the goalkeeper does not always lead to adequate measures.
Hakim Ziyech: A real number 10
Hakim Ziyech, born in 1993, pure talent, already a technical point of reference on the Moroccan National team, as well as on Twente, quickly rose to idol status for fans of the Dutch team. Last year he ended his rookie season in a Tukkers jersey with 11 goals and the most assists of anyone in the entire league.
Analysis of André Gomes: How could he fit into Juventus?
Juventus, fresh from winning its fifth consecutive championship shield, is making plans for next season.
Portland Timbers find their groove in a 2-1 success over Toronto FC
As title defences go, Portland Timbers effort had thus far fallen into the ‘Chelsea’ category. Victors over Columbus Crew on the opening day of the season (a replay of the 2015 final and with the same score too) gave a false read for the weeks ahead.
Space and movement as key-factors to improve performance
A Roma team fully in the running for second place that, under Spalletti’s direction, has rediscovered energy and organisation, so much that they have brought home eleven consecutive wins.
Match analysis: Atlético Madrid vs Bayern Munich 1-0
Due to various reasons there are teams that rebuild their squads. In some cases they decide to change or rebuild because the performance that they have obtained has been below the created expectations.
Statistical analysis of Casemiro impact on Real Madrid performance
The demanding Santiago Bernabeu fans are often divided over his importance. But Casemiro’s contribution to the cause of a Real Madrid that is astonishingly back in the race for the Liga and in the Champions League semi-finals can be anything but overlooked.
Jorginho’s role in Sarri’s tactical scheme
If a team bases its game play on precise mechanisms practised during training, and if the opposing teams come onto the pitch with the specific intent of blocking those mechanisms, a coach finds himself in a crucial dilemma: either find a solution or be forced to distort your game play.
Impressive LA Galaxy win over Real Salt Lake
For the uninitiated, there is much that separates Major League Soccer from other notable leagues around the world. There is the single entity business structure, the draft system, the designated star player policies. But most of all, in these opening weeks, there is the sense that no team is considerably better than any other. At least, that was the case until this weekend when LA Galaxy faced the undefeated Real Salt Lake and pulled their pants down in front of everyone.