Portugal survived a high-intensity first half French barrage, and the Kingsley Coman-led second wave, to eventually win a war of attrition against their physically spent hosts. Continue reading
France ruthlessly exploited the chinks in a superior German side’s tactical armour to progress to the final of Euro 2016. Continue reading
Portugal nullified Wales’ fearsome counter-attack in the first half, before scoring two early second half goals and dominating on the break. Continue reading
“It is extremely important that every single player follows our plan. The more organised the team is, the bigger the chances to win. That is why football is the only team sport where a third division team can beat a first division team.”
The words of Lars Lagerback, manager of the Icelandic national team, extolling the virtues of meticulous planning earlier this year. On June 27, in Nice on the south coast of France, the Swede’s hard work paid a rich dividend in the form of victory over an old mentor in Roy Hodgson and a place in the Euro 2016 quarter-finals. Continue reading
Roy Hodgson’s half-time switch to a midfield diamond quickly restored parity in his side’s Euro 2016 encounter with Wales. But the England manager was very fortunate not to forfeit a deserved victory by dumping it again just 25 minutes later. Continue reading
France’s 4-2-3-1 flops
Didier Deschamps’ last dalliance with 4-2-3-1, prior to May’s warm-up friendlies, saw his France side crash to an embarrassing 1-0 defeat to Albania in June 2015.
The French manager’s memory must be as short as his passing range, as the same configuration completely failed to threaten the same unheralded opposition in the first half at Stade Vélodrome on Wednesday night. Continue reading
Tactical flexibility, long a hallmark of Michael O’Neill’s management style, became his downfall on Sunday, as his Northern Ireland side lost their opening fixture of Euro 2016 to Poland. Continue reading
Walker and Rose show France how it’s done
Like France’s Didier Deschamps, England manager Roy Hodgson selected a 4-1-4-1 system with inverted wingers for his side’s opening group game against Russia. But while the host nation’s narrowness played into Romanian hands, with ageing full backs Bacary Sagna and Patrice Evra unable to regularly provide the requisite width, their younger cross-channel equivalents looked far more dangerous. Continue reading
Set-pieces and left back zone are problems for fragile France
Prior to last Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Scotland, Didier Deschamps’ France conceded six goals in three games against the Netherlands, Russia and Cameroon. Romania, a side whose limited attacking ambition secured them only 11 goals in 10 qualification games, also managed to expose the hosts’ glaring defensive frailties. Continue reading
The Republic of Ireland’s 2-2 draw with Slovakia on Tuesday evening highlighted both the benefits and drawbacks of Martin O’Neill’s preferred 4-3-1-2 formation. Continue reading
Tactics Truck v2.0 