Who Is Konstantinos Karetsas?

Greek football is set to have a golden generation coming through, and Konstantinos Karetsas could well be at the centre of it all.

The 18-year-old, who was born in Belgium, came through the academy at KRC Genk and established himself as one of the club's prodigies.

Last season, he registered three goals and 14 assists, which helped them finish third in the Belgian Pro League and qualify for the UEFA Europa League.

These performances from Karetsas attracted significant interest from European heavyweights in the summer of 2026.

Italian giants AC Milan and German club Borussia Dortmund got involved in a battle for his signature, with Dortmund ultimately winning the race for the young No. 10.

In this Konstantinos Karetsas scout report and player analysis, we analyse Karetsas' individual qualities and measure his statistical performances.

Konstantinos Karetsas Analysis At Genk

Karetsas stands tall at 1.71 metres, which allows him to have a low centre of gravity, one of the key factors behind his agility. 

This allows him to orient his body in any direction or change direction quickly, making him a tricky customer for defenders to deal with, even in tight spaces. 

Despite his limitations, Karetsas is not one to shy away from a challenge.

He averaged 4.99 duels won per 90 for Genk last season. 

However, his lack of height is definitely a hindrance when he challenges for headers.

Although he has a decent reach for headers, his numbers pale in comparison to his ground duel success rate, as he had only a 25% success rate, making it a big limitation. 

Karetsas' ability to read and occupy space is, perhaps, his strongest quality.

He constantly scans his surroundings to identify pockets of space between the opposition's line of defence, as seen in Figure 1.

With this ability, he often acted as a vertical passing option for Genk midfielders (or defenders) looking to progress the ball. 

Sometimes, if the striker drops deep to receive a pass between the lines, Karetsas would look to occupy the space vacated by the defender by making a run behind the defender.

With this quality, Karetsas gives his team different ways of progressing the ball against different types of opponents.

If the opponent chooses to sit in a low block, he could occupy the space between the lines and play through balls to the striker; if the opposition plays a high line, then he can attack the space behind the defenders.

He has a sound first touch, which constitutes another important part of his game.

He uses the inside of his foot to control the ball, but at times he uses the upper areas of his foot to move the ball along with his first touch.

Combined with his low centre of gravity, this ability allows him to shift directions easily, making him quite press-resistant. 

Karetsas was also the chief set-piece taker at Genk, especially with in-swingers off his stronger left foot.

He usually targets the near post or the central part of the box. 

Combined with this, Karetsas was also a good crosser, with his range of crossing ability extending well.

He had the ability to whip in crosses from advanced areas to catch the opposition off guard, floating balls into the far post or even early crosses into the space behind the box.

His 3.69 accurate crosses per 90 show that Karetsas was a threat to the opposition from the wide areas.

Karetsas' core strength lies in his passing.

With his earlier-mentioned ability to play between the lines, he is often entrusted by the coach to progress play and create separation in the final third. 

Karetsas usually uses inside-of-the-foot passes and applies the right power to passes.

While playing in an advanced position in the system, Nicky Hayen usually prefers his advanced midfielders to play through the ground, reflecting high passing accuracy.

His 3.35 successful long balls per 90 show that he prefers to keep the ball on the ground. 

Karetsas' standout ability is playing through balls for his teammates.

From using a simple passing technique to pierce the defence, Karetsas also uses the outside of the foot to achieve curved through balls (as seen below), which is difficult for opposition defenders to pick up.

FIFA World Cup Champions Spain have gone on a remarkable 43-game unbeaten streak since a 2-0 loss to Scotland in March 2023. 

Since that rainy night at Hampden Park, Luis de la Fuente’s men have won the Euros and this summer's World Cup, scoring some impressive goals along the way. 

While the Spaniards' build-up play and pressing system usually get the plaudits, and rightly so, the quality of their shot execution is often overlooked. 

It is also not just the shot itself but the planned synchronised movements that go into their final actions that are impressive. 

This Spain tactical theory analyses La Roja’s recent goals and gives an example of practice exercises that coaches can use to help improve their side's goal scoring based on the movements of the Spanish National Team. 

The Edge Of Box Finish 

This crossing and finishing exercise is designed to replicate the same scenarios Spain’s forward players find themselves in when in and around the box. 

The drill can be adapted in multiple ways to fit the type of finishing action that is desired by the coach.

This version of the exercise involves five shots at goal, each occurring in sequence from one another. 

You might be preparing your next coaching session, illustrating a point in your match analysis or trying to explain a movement that you spotted at the weekend.

The free soccer board gives you a digital pitch to work through those ideas, arrange the players, and show the detail that matters.

It runs smoothly in your browser, with a free diagram editor that you can use straight away, and plenty of additional tools for TFA members!

Whether you read TFA for free or support us as a member, we hope the pitch board becomes a useful part of your own coaching and analysis work.

See An Idea On The Pitch

A passing pattern is a good example of what the board can help you explain.

In the position below, pink number 6 is looking for number 8 between the blue players, with number 11 starting wide.

The aim is to find number 8 and then release number 11 into the space beyond the defence.

Useful questions include the angle of the first pass, where number 8 receives, and when the winger begins the run.

Pink number 8 is currently positioned between the two blue players, cutting off the passing lanes.

Move 8 into space to create a clear passing angle from number 6 and a route towards number 11.

The fixed arrow from number 6 points to the space where 8 should receive.

You can reset the players to their starting positions and compare the options without changing the original board.

Move pink number 8 into the space at the end of number 6’s arrow, then consider the pass into number 11’s run.

Being able to move the players makes this a useful starting point for a coaching discussion or for testing whether a tactical explanation is clear.

Start With The Free Board

You can open the free board and create a tactical diagram without an account.

Arrange players and the ball, draw passes and runs, add text and export the finished diagram as a PNG image.

Starting formations help you set out both teams before adjusting individual positions to suit the situation you want to show.

Player numbers, labels and tactical roles let you give the diagram the detail your audience needs.

For a coaching session, that could mean showing the support positions you want around the player on the ball.

For a piece of match analysis, it could mean illustrating how a team creates an overload or leaves a passing lane open.

You can take the resulting image into a presentation, add it to your written analysis or keep it as a reference for your next session.

What TFA Membership Adds

The member tools let you develop an idea across several phases and show how the situation changes as the players and ball move.

In our passing example, that means following the move from number 6, through number 8 and into number 11’s run beyond the defender.

Animation helps you explain the order and timing of those actions, with phase duration, playback speed and looping available to shape the presentation.

That extra detail is useful when the point you want to make depends on what happens next, such as a midfielder receiving before a defender can close the space or a winger timing a run to meet the pass.

Members also have more ways to explain the football within each phase.

Dribbles, curved arrows, shots and freehand drawing help illustrate different actions, while zones and a spotlight can draw attention to the space you are discussing.

Player body orientation lets you show the direction someone faces when receiving or preparing the next action.

For session planning, cones, mini goals, and mannequins help you lay out a practice, with training grids, smaller pitch formats, and focused pitch views to suit the exercise.

These tools give you room to develop the same idea for different purposes, from a short explanation for players to a more detailed analysis presentation.

Keep And Share The Work You Create

Members can export an animated sequence as a video for a presentation or team discussion, and use a share link so others can view and play the complete sequence.

For written analysis, members can also embed a selected phase as an interactive pitch, like the example earlier in this article.

Readers can move the players and reset the position, giving them a way to explore the idea alongside your explanation.

Your work saves automatically in the current browser, and members can keep multiple named boards there.

Those saves depend on retaining that browser’s data, so members can also export editable project files to keep a separate copy of important work or move it between devices.

You can import a project again when you want to continue editing it.

Try TFA Free Tactics Board

Open the TFA Free Tactics Board and try an idea you are working on, whether it is a pattern for your next session or a moment from your latest match analysis.

The free tools are ready to use without an account.

To access the member tools, sign in with your TFA membership email address.

We hope you enjoy putting the board to work.

Alberto Moleiro is a Spanish Villarreal winger who has been performing well and attracting plenty of interest from top clubs, namely Liverpool and Barcelona.

Although he is yet to be called up to represent the senior Spain national team, the 23-year-old has confirmed his talent consistently between last season and the start of the current campaign.

Though his goal contribution numbers have not been remarkable, especially if we compare his numbers to those of Barcelona or Real Madrid players, his talent and role within Villarreal’s attacking plans were and still are pivotal in many aspects.

Under the management of Iñigo Pérez, he was already pivotal to the new head coach’s attacking tactics and is expected to continue progressing if he keeps his good run of form going until the end of the season.

This Alberto Moleiro scout report and player analysis focuses on identifying how Moleiro has been so useful to Villarreal’s attacking strategy, while also focusing on his individual traits in terms of goalscoring, passing, and dribbling.

The aim is to evaluate his profile and try to find reasons why he has not yet been called up to the Spanish national team despite his positive performances.

Alberto Moleiro Positions & Roles At Villarreal

Moleiro is being used as a left winger at Villarreal, while he can also play with ease in the advanced playmaker position.

His abilities also allow him to do well in the right-wing position, though he has not been used in that position with Villarreal yet.

In fact, Moleiro played as a right winger at Las Palmas, knowing that he started his senior career with their B and C teams before getting to play with the senior side.

Moreover, he was also used as a second striker, notably against Real Madrid, during his time at Villarreal, and he might be considered for this position more consistently if the head coach decides to keep using the 4-4-2 formation more often.

In addition to that, Pérez has also been using Moleiro as an advanced playmaker in his 4-2-3-1 formation of late.

The following positional map confirms that Moleiro has been mainly relied on as a left winger or left midfielder in the most recent period, with a few participations as the advanced playmaker, and occasional participations as a second striker.

Alberto Moleiro Heat Map & Position Map

In terms of roles, Moleiro is a very agile winger who is excellent at dribbling and surpassing opponents, but at the same time, someone who is very efficient in breaking lines thanks to his dribbling and penetrations with the ball.

Being an explosive winger gives him the advantage over opponents and helps him to get past them; that’s what makes his progressive runs so dangerous.

Moleiro’s roles also include key passing, and that’s something that he has been improving on of late.

He also gives the impression that he is not restricted to moving on the left wing but makes sure to alternate his movements by providing passing options in midfield and asking for the ball while moving to the middle.

This helps him avoid man-marking most of the time and create space for himself, knowing that he is a player who likes penetrations and can be very dangerous when given some space and time.

The following action highlights his tendency to drop into midfield and move internally without the ball in order to provide passing options during the build-up phase instead of remaining static on the left wing.

This dynamism and active contribution to the playmaking process make him very valuable for Villarreal, knowing that he also knows how to deal with pressure and marking when receiving the ball in tight areas.

In this action, he succeeded in avoiding marking and made sure to receive the ball in a spot that allowed him to accelerate without disturbance and quickly find the best possible vertical passing option, creating a dangerous attack thanks to his intelligent movement without the ball and quick/accurate key passing decision-making and execution.

It is also an action that highlights the player’s role in terms of vertical passing within the team, as he is considered the team’s playmaker even when he plays on the wing.

Few young German attackers have generated as much public commentary, tactical intrigue, and polarising debate in recent years as Paris Brunner.

The viral meme spawned by Florian Plettenberg's optimistic call to take Brunner to the senior Euros in 2024 reflected the immense public hype surrounding his generational youth scoring metrics.

His record across Borussia Dortmund’s academy and the Germany youth national teams was statistically staggering, marked by 16 goals in his first five U17 Bundesliga matches and exceptional international tournament runs.

As the focal point of Germany’s U17 side, he captured both the European Championship and the FIFA U17 World Cup in 2023, claiming the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player.

However, that extraordinary goalscoring output was consistently shadowed by off-the-pitch volatility, internal suspensions at Dortmund, and recurring disciplinary concerns.

Following his move to AS Monaco and a necessary developmental loan at Cercle Brugge, Brunner has engineered a massive senior breakout in Ligue 1 under head coach Filipe Luís.

He currently sits on an explosive record of six goals in seven competitive matches for Monaco, displaying senior physical adaptation alongside his elite instincts.

That momentum carried directly into his international debut for the Germany U21 team, where he marked his first cap with a decisive brace.

Yet, true to his volatile narrative, his match-winning display was immediately overshadowed by a disciplinary ban issued after he executed a provocative head-off celebration gesture toward the opposing bench.

From a recruitment perspective, Brunner represents an elite, highly complex attacking profile whose technical ceiling demands a comprehensive scouting evaluation.

In this Paris Brunner scout report and player analysis, we take a look at his patterns of play, the strengths he already can contribute to his teams, but also at the areas in which the young forward needs improvement.

Spatial Mechanics & Dynamic Off-The-Ball Movement

In evaluating Brunner's functional alignment within modern attacking structures, he cannot be categorised as a static, classical number nine who occupies central centre-backs.

He is a hyper-mobile, dynamic, broad-spectrum attacker who operates across all three channels of the offensive third to exploit spatial vacuums.

His height of 186cm provides a robust physical frame, while his dynamic movement is dictated primarily by elite linear pace and acceleration.

Brunner relies heavily on his top-end velocity to execute persistent, bending runs behind the opponent's backline, stretching defensive blocks vertically.

He actively avoids static man-marking duels, constantly dropping off the shoulders of central defenders to receive possession in half-space pockets or wide channels.

Crosses are among the most frequently used concepts for chance creation in football.

They pose a real issue for many defensive departments.

Therefore, in the following tactical analysis, we will examine the crosses from various Bundesliga matches and discuss principles for successfully defending crosses.

To do so, this tactical analysis will utilise in-game scenarios from various Bundesliga teams, including Borussia Dortmund, Union Berlin, and Borussia Mönchengladbach.

We will also present examples of common mistakes and provide principles to help avoid them.

3+1 Defending Setup

We need to examine the most threatening areas more closely to develop defensive tactics for defending crosses.

Often, in terms of shooting positions, the area in front of the goal gets divided into six zones, as seen below.

The zones closer to the goal provide a greater threat.

Therefore, they should be occupied by defenders.

Furthermore, the more central the zone, the more danger it poses.

Consequently, many attacking sides have a player occupying the space around the penalty spot.

And therefore, another player from the defending side, often a defensive midfielder, should occupy this zone.

As the lateral zones further away from the goal are less dangerous, and since there are often not enough defenders available to occupy every single zone, they remain empty.

This creates a 3+1 structure to defend crosses, as shown in the graphic above.

Each player will take responsibility for an opposition attacker within his zone.

If the ball is played into the empty areas, one of the three can move forward, or the defensive midfielder can shift into this zone.

Individual Defensive Principles

After explaining the group's tactical behaviour when defending crosses, we should examine the individual defensive principles.

Obviously, although the zones can give a broad overview of the most threatening areas, the opposition attackers still provide the greatest threat.

Only where attackers are positioned in a goal-scoring position can a goal be scored, disregarding the rare scenario of an own goal, which is often forced by an attacker nearby.

Therefore, the most important principle when defending crosses is to mark opposition attackers tightly.

The closer to the goal, the tighter opposition players need to be marked.

That is because the risk of a goal obviously rises with a decrease in distance to the goal.

In the example below of Union Berlin against Bayern Munich, the Berlin defenders are positioned close to their direct opponents and centrally in front of the goal.

Another important principle for defenders is to always keep an eye on the ball and their direct opponent.

Otherwise, it enables the attacker to slip away from the defender's back easily.

Gary Neville calls it the "one second rule", which basically says that "you cannot look at the ball or the man for more than one second".

Instead, defenders must constantly check the ball's position and their direct opponent.

Last but not least, defenders must also protect the most threatening space - the space behind the defence.

If an attacker can receive a cross there, only the goalkeeper can protect the goal.

To avoid this scenario, the defenders must stay on the inner line, which is the area between the attacker and the goal.

If the attacker then receives in front of the defender, the latter can still block the shot.

In the image below, we can see how Hoffenheim conceded a goal because their defender failed to maintain the inner line.

The opposition attacker is now positioned closer to the goal than the defender.

A fact often overlooked is that the goalkeeper also plays a key role when defending crosses.

The special ability to use the hands, unlike other players, allows the goalkeeper to defend more space within the penalty area.

Nevertheless, he obviously also has a special responsibility to protect the goal and needs to stay close to it.

A rule of thumb is that the goalkeeper is responsible for crosses into the six-yard box.

However, depending on the crosser's position, goalkeepers can decrease the space behind the back line by attacking balls out of the six-yard box.

Reducing The Far Post Threat

A tendency observed when depicting crosses from Bundesliga matches is that crosses to the far post often create threatening situations.

These crosses can be extremely dangerous as the ball-watching defenders might not recognise opposition attackers arriving at the far post.

And even if they do, the far post is often covered by the ball far full-back, who could get overloaded by two attackers.

One way to avoid this full-back underload at the far post is to communicate early.

Most often, they get into an underload situation because the centre-backs shift too far without any direct opponent to mark.

In most cases, the defenders have numerical superiority within the box.

Nevertheless, they can only use that if they communicate about the marking responsibilities.

An often committed mistake related to the far post issue is the positioning of defenders in the "no man's land".

Tactician Jerome Polenz established the term.

According to him, the "no man's land" is the area where defenders can neither block the cross nor cover the central area in front of the goal.

As a consequence, with players positioned in this area, the defensive department might lack players in the crucial areas to defend.

Blocking Crosses

Another obvious but very effective way of defending crosses is to nip the cross in the bud by blocking it as early as possible.

Ideally, the defending side would create an overload around the ball-carrier in a wide area.

Then, one can actively press while the other one screens the path into the penalty area and blocks a potential cross.

This numerical superiority near the ball obviously presents one of the easiest ways to prevent the cross from being played.

And even if the opposition can put in a cross, under the pressure of two defenders, the cross will rarely be precise.

In reality, however, we often also see 1v1 situations out wide.

In this case, the defender must execute the basic principles of a defensive duel, such as focusing on the ball rather than the opposition's movements.

By getting closer to the ball and staying in a frontal or diagonal position towards the ball rather than sideways, the defender can screen a greater area.

Clearances

A well-organised defensive setup might enable defenders to win the first ball; nevertheless, the clearance is important as well.

The most important aspect of clearances is to clear the ball into less dangerous areas and, ideally, into space where defenders can rather than attackers dominate.

Because even if a space is empty, there is still a certain probability of an attacker or defender reaching the ball first.

Data analysts use so-called Voronoi diagrams to divide the space into zones around each player, allowing them to visualise how much space each player dominates.

Reggie Walsh (5’9”, 176cm) is perhaps one of the most promising talents to have emerged from Chelsea’s Cobham academy. 

The 17-year-old, currently on loan from the Premier League giants at EFL League One side Wigan Athletic, has earned four appearances for the Blues’ first team despite his young age. 

He’s set to spend the 2026/2027 campaign out on loan with the Latics, where he’ll look to prove that he can translate his promise into output via sustained exposure to senior football. 

Chelsea already know Walsh has technical quality, but with this loan move, they’ll hope to learn whether he can make that technical proficiency count against stronger, more experienced opposition. 

As is common for players with his kind of profile, especially younger ones, Walsh has a relatively small stature; physicality would not be listed among his key strengths. 

However, while some development in that department could help, the 17-year-old’s goal should not be to turn himself into a physically dominant midfielder; rather, he just needs experience of consistently dealing with the challenges that more physical and experienced opponents pose, sufficiently rounding out his game to succeed in such scenarios. 

Alongside technical quality on the ball, Walsh is an exciting talent due to his movement and anticipation of the next action.

That ability to plan a few steps ahead and prepare himself accordingly helps Walsh to create valuable chances for his team as much as his technical skill does. 

This Reggie Walsh scout report and player analysis looks at how the youngster combines Juan Mata-like spatial intelligence with Mason Mount-esque movement and verticality to form a very interesting profile that is still translating to senior football. 

Reggie Walsh Style Of Play

So far this term, Walsh has played as a No. 10, a right central midfielder and as a left winger for Wigan Athletic. 

In all of these base positions, Walsh likes to drift into the half-spaces, peel out wide and drop deep to offer support in the build-up as he seeks out space in which to receive and impact the game. 

It’s important to note that Walsh won’t remain fixed to a particular part of the pitch; he’s a fluid midfielder who adapts to the context of his team and the opposition’s defensive structure at all times. 

He’s at his best when given a bit of a license to roam when his team is in possession, moving in between the opposition’s defensive lines and drifting about to find space.

See the 17-year-old Chelsea product’s heat map and position map for the 2026/2027 campaign thus far, in which he’s made six appearances (five starts) for a struggling Wigan Athletic side in Figure 1. 

Reggie Walsh Heat Map & Position Map 2026/2027

Reggie Walsh Bravery In Possession

One of the things I like most about Reggie Walsh is that he’s not afraid to attempt line-breaking passes. 

He doesn’t shy away from the ball; he constantly moves about to put himself in positions where his skill set can meaningfully impact the game, and he’s not afraid to try things to help his team open up the opponent. 

Walsh is comfortable dropping to offer those in his team’s first line of possession a route to ball progression, as we see in Figure 2. 

Moving on to Figure 3 below, Walsh intelligently scans as the ball is in motion, ensuring he has a good picture of the pitch further upfield and doing so at exactly the right moment. 

This is a crucial skill for any top central midfielder and one towards which Walsh consistently demonstrates a natural inclination. 

Walsh turns before taking his first touch, readying himself to quickly release a teammate in behind. 

He attempts the through pass, but a combination of some difficulty in getting the ball out of his feet, a delayed run and strong anticipation from the defender led to a loss of possession. 

That turnover should not deter Reggie Walsh from such creative passing. 

The outcome, in this case, wasn’t ideal, but the process was strong for the most part, and he demonstrates a really encouraging, positive mentality that I like in a creative midfield profile. 

Walsh naturally looks forward and takes progressive options when they’re available. 

His scanning and vision help him to spot runners and put creative moves together in his head before executing the pass. 

In the next sequence below, we see Reggie Walsh drift out towards the wing to get away from his marker, carrying forward and skilfully carving the defence open. 

Again, Walsh rotates his body towards the opposition goal before receiving, ensuring he can take it in his stride and immediately run at the defenders. 

This time, both Walsh’s pass and the run are timed very well. 

In this second sequence, Walsh displays many of the same characteristics and qualities as in the first sequence, but with a positive outcome. 

Lastly, in the clip below, once again, Walsh’s movement and scanning are quality, as is the intent with the final pass. 

The execution is ultimately off, but he demonstrates exactly the mentality you’d want from a creative midfielder. 

Yuito Suzuki is a 24-year-old Japan international who plays his club football with Bundesliga side SC Freiburg.

Suzuki has been performing consistently well of late and has started this season in impressive form, with four goals scored in four Bundesliga games played so far.

Suzuki is expected to have an even more impressive season with Freiburg than last season, during which he scored nine goals and provided seven assists.

Suzuki can play in various attacking positions and still perform well.

Both Freiburg and the Japanese national team have been using him in different positions, and his performances and impact have usually been positive all around.

In this Yuito Suzuki scout report and player analysis piece, we explore Suzuki's importance in Freiburg’s attacking actions, his playmaking and goalscoring traits, as well as why he is succeeding in becoming even more dangerous.

Yuito Suzuki Positions & Roles At SC Freiburg

Suzuki can be considered an all-round attacking player who does not occupy a single position but who is used in multiple, including the left-wing position, the advanced playmaker, the right-winger, and the second striker too.

Being used in these positions, in various formations, means that Freiburg’s coaching staff, and Julian Schuster, in particular, are convinced that the player does not have issues coping with different challenges and can translate his game to different roles.

Thanks to his agility, quick footwork, ability to use both feet in dribbling, ball control, passing, and shooting, as well as his ability to make quick decisions while accelerating, Suzuki has shown that he can play very well either on the wings or as an advanced playmaker more centrally; he can also cope with being used as a second striker too.

Importantly, his role at Freiburg involves coming from behind and finishing inside the box, and that requires intelligent positioning and off-the-ball movement to offer suitable passing options in that area and avoid marking.

Suzuki has been particularly impressive in this aspect, as he has scored numerous goals thanks to his ability to always avoid marking and position himself in key areas that allow him to finish without too much disturbance, whether during counterattacks or in regular attacks.

His role also involves distributing the ball and being responsible for carrying the team forward to reach the box and provide passes to his teammates in attack whenever needed.

His quick and intelligent accelerations with the ball have usually helped him in achieving this role with success, as he deals well with tight spaces, mainly thanks to his quick dribbling and decision-making in such situations.

The following heat map shows that Suzuki is a player who prefers penetrating from the middle and advancing from that area more than doing so from the wings, especially since he is being used more in the advanced playmaker position right now, but he's capable from all across the attacking line.

Yuito Suzuki Heat Map 2026/2027

Yuito Suzuki Creative Positioning & Off-The-Ball Movement

This position gives Suzuki the freedom he needs in terms of movement with and without the ball, as he becomes a second striker when needed and helps a lot with the team's pressing duties too.

The 4-2-3-1 formation that Freiburg use more often has been very useful for Suzuki’s qualities, as it makes him a link between midfield and attack while quickly adding more depth inside the box at the same time.

In other words, he usually makes sure to be very dynamic and aggressive in high pressing, accompanying the striker in the press during the non-possession phase and advancing in a perfect way during the attacking transitions too.

His role in counterattacks, in particular, is very useful for Freiburg as he always makes sure to advance towards the final third and propose the best passing option.

This intelligent positioning in such situations has become an easily recognisable feature that characterises the Japanese midfielder.

Freiburg have started to progressively work on this aspect and rely on it a lot during their counterattacks, especially since Suzuki’s finishing has been remarkable during this period, too.

In this action, for instance, Suzuki’s pressing, positioning, and finishing traits are highlighted in an obvious way, knowing that he was the one who intercepted a wrong pass from the opponent and quickly provided a vertical pass to his teammate.

What is more important in this action, however, is that Suzuki did not provide the pass and then stop, as some might do.

Instead, he continued his run towards the box and did not hesitate despite knowing that the striker was more likely to go alone.

However, Suzuki’s belief in the importance of accompanying the action till the end paid off as the striker resorted to providing him a pass, rewarding Suzuki for the interception, the pass, and especially the forward run.

More than 20 years on, it's still the reference point for a nation that has struggled to build on it.

Their last major tournament was the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where they went out in the Round of 16 on penalties, and they have not qualified for anything since.

What has changed recently is the quality of talent arriving.

Konstantinos Karetsas, Christos Tzolis and Giannis Konstantelias are now playing at a level where selection is a matter of competition rather than availability, which is a new problem for Greek football.

Lately, the spotlight has shone on Charalampos Kostoulas, who has taken over as Brighton & Hove Albion's leading centre-forward.

The 19-year-old has led the line and improved in visible increments week by week.

He has shown enough in the past two months to suggest the ceiling sits well above the current output.

Wherever Brighton finish this season, their willingness to pay €35m for a teenager tells you how highly they rate him.

This Charalampos Kostoulas scout report and player analysis covers his player profile, his strengths, his weaknesses, how Fabian Hürzeler is using him, along with the heights his current trajectory could take him to.

Charalampos Kostoulas Player Profile

Kostoulas is a 6'1" centre-forward, and more of a 9.5 rather than a pure No. 9.

He is a long strider with top vertical speed, and he is two-footed.

As seen in the U21s match against Germany, Charalampos Kostoulas keeps the ball under tight control.

He draws the defender in by showing the ball, then takes an extra touch to shift away, accelerate, and carry forward.

As he builds speed, the gap widens because he stays composed and in complete control, taking the right number of touches to maintain momentum and drive forward on his own.

He is comfortable dropping into the pocket, aggressive in duels, and a willing presser.

He can play across the whole front line, not just through the middle.

He is not a fixed reference point.

He plays on the half-turn, floating between the lines, drifting into the left channel, sometimes appearing in wide areas to receive the ball facing the pitch.

As seen against Manchester United, Kostoulas (No. 19) floats and drops in front of the centre-backs.

Harry Maguire hesitates, unsure whether to step in or hold his position, while Kostoulas takes advantage by turning to face goal and driving forward.

He then releases the pass at the right moment to set up a teammate for a shot.

Kostoulas constantly wants the ball at his feet, enjoys getting touches, and backs himself to draw defenders out of position and create space.

He started his senior career at Porto, having played with their B team and then had the chance to play with the senior team for two seasons before attracting the interest of Roma.

He is mainly an advanced playmaker who reminds us a little bit of the profile of João Félix.

Mora is someone who loves playing in tight spaces and under pressure; he enjoys dribbling and finding ways to get out of complicated situations.

In Serie A, that’s a very impressive quality to have against compact defences and continuous man-marking.

The dribbling qualities and the ability to deal with tight spaces is one of the main reasons why Gian Piero Gasperini and Roma wanted to sign Mora as a quality reinforcement to an already-creative attacking line.

With players like Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé, and Donyell Malen starting in the team’s attacking line, reinforcing that line with a right-footed playmaker can only help Gasperini have more variety in terms of options for the wide playmakers’ roles.

In addition to that, having a proper advanced playmaker like Mora can also push Gasperini to vary his formation more often and switch to the 3-4-1-2, relying on Mora as the advanced playmaker plus an attacking duo made up of Malen-Dybala or Malen-Soulé.

In this Rodrigo Mora scout report and player analysis, we explore the Portuguese midfielder’s potential attacking addition to Roma, how he adds more depth to the team’s forward line, along with his main strengths and weaknesses.

Rodrigo Mora Potential Roles & Positions At AS Roma

As mentioned above, Mora is mainly an advanced playmaker who can cope with various other attacking and midfield positions such as central midfield, second striker, and the right and left wing.

This means that Mora can cope with any position in attack, as he can also play in midfield when needed, giving Gasperini a wide range of choices and making himself a strong fit for the team’s starting XI.

That said, Gasperini did not want to rush the integration of Mora.

He has started using Mora progressively within the team, but he has not considered the 19-year-old a bona fide starter yet, primarily using him as a second-half substitute.

In the few games that Mora has played at Roma so far, he has mainly been used as a wide playmaker or played behind the striker.

He also facilitated Gasperini switching to the 3-4-1-2 formation at other times, with him being the advanced playmaker.

What makes Mora a very special player at Roma and in Serie A overall is the fact that he is very creative and quick in terms of dribbling as well as acceleration.

These quick yet intelligent dribbling and acceleration decisions inside the final third make Mora stand out as an extremely dangerous player against any defence, and he will progressively prove that in Serie A once he starts getting sufficient playing time.

In addition to that, using both feet in delicate and crucial situations is another aspect that makes Mora very complicated to stop and very unpredictable for goalkeepers and defenders.

He showed during his time at Porto that he can be extremely dangerous inside the final third mainly thanks to the combination of quick dribbling/accelerations and unexpected shooting decisions.

He often knows when to resort to left-footed shooting and when to use his right foot for finishing, depending on the situation and on the possible shooting trajectories available to him.

Being able to quickly make such decisions and still execute his curved shots with precision also confirms that Mora does not underestimate things inside the final third and keeps his concentration levels very high in these situations, and that was already proved on numerous occasions.

Mora has the type of profile that Serie A teams and defenders in particular fear and want to avoid facing, as he has the creativity, flair, dribbling skills, quick decision-making in tight spaces, and the accurate finishing needed to disturb any defence.

In fact, Mora will soon put Gasperini in trouble (the kind of trouble that head coaches love), as performing convincingly and scoring goals in Serie A would eventually make Gasperini think twice about the starting wide playmakers and maybe start alternating between Mora and Soulé or Mora and Dybala more often.

Mora’s roles will certainly depend on his position each time, but what is certain is that Gasperini still wants Mora to make more of an effort from a defensive perspective, as that’s what is more likely preventing the Italian head coach from relying on the youngster more regularly.

If Mora succeeds in understanding the need for consistent, disciplined execution of man-marking and active/effective contribution in the defensive phase, he will certainly earn the trust of his head coach, knowing that the defensive duties represent Mora’s area of improvement.

Apart from that, Mora can be very useful whether in terms of key passing, breaking lines through dribbling and accelerations, finishing from outside or inside the box, and providing passing options inside the final third.

Furthermore, Mora has already started proving himself in Serie A in terms of goalscoring but is yet to provide assists.

Rodrigo Mora Heat Map & Position Map

For all his creativity and ability to produce chances, finishing had previously been one area preventing his output from matching his level.

Our report from last season highlighted issues including shot selection, decision-making and the locations from which he attempted to finish.

Those tendencies sometimes led Yamal towards difficult attempts when better options were available, limiting his goalscoring efficiency despite his technical quality.

This season, his attacking production has taken another step forward.

In this Lamine Yamal data analysis, we will examine what has changed in Yamal’s goalscoring profile, analysing his shot selection, finishing, chance quality and overall attacking output to identify the factors behind his improved productivity.

How Lamine Yamal Transformed His Shot Selection To Improve Goalscoring Efficiency

The central issue identified in Lamine Yamal’s earlier goalscoring profile wasn't a lack of shooting volume, but his ability to convert that volume into goals.

His technical quality allowed him to create and attempt shots from a wide variety of situations, although too many of those attempts came from low-value locations.

The 2025/2026 season represented something of a transition between that previous profile and the player we are seeing now, with his output already improving significantly.

In 2026/2027, the change has become far more evident, with Yamal taking fewer low-value attempts and producing shots from situations that offer a substantially greater probability of scoring.

Across the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 seasons, Yamal attempted a remarkable 277 shots, yet scored only 19 goals, despite accumulating 21.5 xG.

Lamine Yamal xG Map At Barcelona In La Liga & UEFA Champions League 2023/2024-2024/2025

His average xG per shot was just 0.08, highlighting the fundamental issue behind his relatively modest conversion.

The problem was therefore not simply finishing the chances he created, but the quality of the opportunities he chose to finish.

A large proportion of his shooting volume came from positions with limited scoring probability, because he was attempting from considerable distances outside the penalty area or taking on finishes from angles and situations where the expected value of the shot was low.

This meant that even with an extremely high volume of attempts, the underlying chance quality remained limited.

His 277 shots produced only 21.5 xG, meaning the sheer quantity of attempts didn't translate into a similarly strong goalscoring expectation.

This was particularly important for a player capable of influencing attacks in so many other ways, because shooting was often competing with potentially more productive decisions in possession.

The 2026/2027 season has brought a significant change to this profile.

Across his seven La Liga appearances and one Champions League match, Yamal has recorded 48 shots and 6.42 xG, while scoring eight goals.

Lamine Yamal xG Map At Barcelona In La Liga & UEFA Champions League 2026/2027

The most important change is the increase in xG per shot to approximately 0.15, almost double his 0.08 average across 2023/2024 and 2024/2025.

This indicates that the transformation is occurring before the finishing stage; the shots themselves are now coming from substantially better situations.

Yamal hasn't simply become more clinical; he is increasingly selecting opportunities with greater scoring potential.

His shooting volume remains high, but the locations and circumstances of those attempts have improved, bringing him closer to the penalty area and into situations where the probability of scoring is considerably higher.

Shooting also appears to have become less dominant as his first attacking solution.

Yamal is increasingly willing to prioritise diagonal passes, combinations and actions that convert attacks into higher-quality chances for teammates.

That broader decision-making can also help explain the extraordinary start made by Raphinha, who had already scored 12 La Liga goals after seven matches, with Yamal directly assisting four of them.

The change in Yamal’s profile is therefore about more than improving his own conversion; by choosing when not to shoot, he can improve the quality of his own attempts while simultaneously increasing the attacking output of those around him.

Lamine Yamal Chance Creation Has Reached Another Level

Alongside the clear improvement in his shot quality, one of the biggest changes in Lamine Yamal’s profile during the 2026/2027 season has been his chance creation.

He has produced 28 chances across La Liga and the Champions League so far, including 24 in La Liga and four in Europe, while registering six assists in just eight appearances.

The act of receiving the ball to feet has become almost second nature.

From grassroots football to the professional elite, this pass-to-feet dynamic has evolved into the base unit of build-up play.

In this tactical theory piece, we will examine how this stylistic evolution is reshaping attacking behaviour across modern systems.

Forwards drop in, midfielders move closer, wingers tuck inside, everything seems geared towards immediate possession control, even if it means sacrificing attacking depth.

Teams like Real Madrid, with platers susch as Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Vinícius Júnior, embody this trend at the highest level.

Too often, sides focus on neat construction, favouring short combinations and keeping the ball on the ground, even when a single vertical run could dismantle a defensive line.

But if receiving into the feet ensures order, control, and positional superiority, why do so many teams still struggle to generate clear scoring chances?

The answer may lie in what’s missing: the run-in behind, the blind movement, the space attacked before the touch.

In other words, that unstructured but lethal verticality that is often absent in today’s over-orchestrated systems.

How Positional Play Has Reshaped Attacking Behaviour

By 2025, receiving to feet is no longer just an option; it’s a collective reflex, deeply ingrained in the principles of positional play.

Possession revolves around short connections, close support, and continuous rotations, which, while offering stability, often limit attacking variation.

Positional superiority, once a weapon, becomes a constraint.

Even when space is available to exploit, teams remain fixated on the ball.

The outcome is a sterile manoeuvre that struggles to break lines or unsettle defensive blocks.

And it’s precisely this absence of disorder that renders even the most elegant build-up sterile.

El Blancos in 2025 offer a clear example.

Although technically gifted and full of individual flair, Real Madrid's attack can sometimes become hollow due to an excess of connections.

Mbappé, Bellingham, and Vinícius frequently come short, crowding the playmaker’s zone, leaving the box empty and the final pass lacking weight.

The ball circulates but never cuts through.

The players seek feet, not space.

Mbappé comes short to receive the ball, while every teammate around him remains static, offering options only to his feet.

Vinícius stays wide, preparing for a potential one-v-one, but no runner threatens the space in behind.

As a result, a vast central zone remains unoccupied, the positional structure is maintained, but the attack loses any element of depth or surprise.

Yet, when Real Madrid chooses attacking depth, the entire dynamic changes.

Vinícius’ runs in behind, Bellingham’s central surges, and Mbappé’s explosive carries add direction and urgency.

Possession becomes a weapon, no longer just a framework.

Technical quality expresses itself through movement, not merely through control.

Our Real Madrid tactical analysis shows the true impact of attacking depth.

Raúl Asencio bypasses the first pressing line with a pass to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who quickly plays a line-breaking ball for Vinícius, who makes a diagonal run in behind.

The lack of static reference points, enabled by positional interchange between Vinícius and Mbappé, destabilises the defensive block.

With just two passes, the structure is dismantled, and the attack gains vertical acceleration.

Historical Shift: From Verticality To Structure

It hasn’t always been like this.

In the 1990s, verticality wasn’t a contingency but a guiding principle.

Teams built attacks on the idea that movement must precede the pass.

Players would run into space, and the ball would follow.

Marcello Lippi’s Juventus paired the ball-playing intelligence of Zinedine Zidane and Alessandro Del Piero with Filippo Inzaghi’s relentless runs in behind.

Similarly, Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United blended Paul Scholes' vertical vision with the dynamic movement of Ryan Giggs and Dwight Yorke, who constantly looked to break the line.

It was a less codified football, but one capable of striking decisively.

The turning point came with Pep Guardiola.

His Barcelona elevated possession into a philosophy, based on rational occupation of space, manipulation of pressing schemes, and territorial control.

But the founding principle, using the ball to disorganise the opponent, has been diluted in many modern interpretations, where control often replaces incisiveness.

The Tactical Value Of The Run In Behind

In response to this collective tendency, renewed value is found in the action that breaks the pattern: the run in behind.

Far from being an outdated idea, attacking space is one of the most modern and disruptive behaviours in football.

When everything gravitates around the ball, a sudden movement towards goal forces the defensive line to abandon its ideal shape.

The true impact of depth is not measured in metres covered, but in the type of problem it creates: it breaks connections, demands split-second decisions, and unravels what seemed structurally under control.

This principle can manifest in different forms.

One of the most frequent is the diagonal run made by the right-winger or left-winger behind the full-back.

Starting wide, the player cuts inside as the ball reaches the final third, targeting the blindside gap between full-back and centre-back.

Its effectiveness lies precisely in its subtlety, devastating because it often escapes immediate detection.

Aston Villa under Unai Emery demonstrate the value of well-timed depth runs.

Boubacar Kamara recognises Morgan Rogers’ blindside movement as the winger cuts across the full-back and into the space behind centre-back Dan Burn.

The run is curved, elusive, and perfectly synchronised with the timing of the pass.

Another typical scenario stems from the third-man run by a central midfielder.

Following a one-two or a pressure-drawing reception, the third player, often arriving from deep, bursts into the space that has been vacated.

This delayed, and well-timed movement catches defences locked in on the ball carrier completely off guard.

It is a form of intelligent verticality, based on reading the game, perfect timing, and bravery.

This sequence exemplifies the value of a well-executed third-man run in Como vs Cagliari.

As soon as Máximo Perrone receives the ball, he lifts his head and identifies Maxence Caqueret’s movement.

The midfielder sheds his marker with perfect timing and targets the space between the centre-back and full-back.

His run is explosive, deliberate, and untracked, qualities that transform a simple pass into an assist and positional control into an actual breakthrough.

It’s a clear example of vertical intelligence applied at the right moment, turning possession into an immediate threat.

Lastly, depth can be attacked directly by the ball itself.

A line-breaking pass that pierces the defence, even from deep areas, can prove more valuable than 10 sideways touches.

In these moments, the technical gesture creates the advantage: it anticipates the run, forces a shift in the backline, and ignites an immediate transition.

The pass doesn’t wait for the runner; it leads him.

This assist from Toni Kroos in the 2023/2024 UEFA Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich is a prime example of how vertical threats can be created directly by the ball itself.

As Vinícius initially comes short, Kroos not only holds the ball but also gestures towards the space to be attacked.

The Brazilian responds with a split-second counter-movement, peeling off Kim Min-jae and timing his run in behind to perfection.

The pass slices through the defensive line and unlocks the match.

It’s not the first time this duo has executed such a move.

In the 2020 Clásico at the Santiago Bernabéu, Kroos similarly dictated play and guided Vinícius into space, resulting in the opening goal.

These moments underline the idea that a pass can do more than connect two players; it can anticipate movement and trigger the decisive action.

Attacking Depth In Football: Why It Wins Matches

In all these cases, it’s not just about running, it’s about knowing when to run.

The real edge emerges in the precise instant when the line steps up, slides across, or tries to adjust.

That is where the advantage lies.

Not at the foot, but in the run.

Not in the structure, but in the intelligent disruption.

In a game increasingly governed by structure and rationality, the run in behind feels almost counterintuitive.

It doesn’t show up on heat maps, it doesn’t inflate possession stats, and it rarely fits within the codes of positional play.

Mexx Meerdink has just made his debut and scored his first goals for the Netherlands under Xavi Hernández.

Meerdink presents an interesting modern centre-forward profile, combining strong finishing instincts with mobility, link-up ability and intelligent movement around the final third.

Rather than fitting the profile of a traditional target striker or a fixed No. 9 who primarily operates centrally, Meerdink is more naturally understood as a mobile centre-forward capable of connecting play, moving across the frontline and creating different angles for teammates.

One of his most interesting characteristics is his ability to operate between the different attacking zones.

He can move inside and outside, occupy winger areas, drop into support positions and combine with teammates, while still possessing the instincts to attack the penalty area and arrive into finishing zones.

His movement around centre-backs is particularly valuable.

He can operate on the blind side of defenders, move into the space in front of or behind the centre-back, arriving in the box with the timing required to finish.

Technically, his first touch and control are important assets.

He can receive with his back to goal, secure possession and use the first touch to turn forward, allowing him to transform a supporting action into a progressive one.

Meerdink also possesses the speed to attack space behind the defensive line, interesting dribbling ability and the capacity to carry the ball forward when space opens.

Overall, his profile is that of a mobile, intelligent and technically capable centre-forward who combines link play with penalty-box movement and finishing quality.

This Mexx Meerdink scout report and player analysis piece details his primary characteristics: movement, finishing, first touch, combination play, blind-side movement, depth attacks, and penalty-box intelligence, while assessing his areas for development and best tactical fit.

Mexx Meerdink Style Of Play In The Final Third

Finishing

Finishing is one of Meerdink's strongest qualities.

He demonstrates very good ability to finish from different situations, particularly when he receives opportunities inside the penalty area.

His movement creates a large variety of finishing scenarios, including:

• Arriving in front of the centre-back
• Attacking the space behind the centre-back
• Moving onto the blind side
• Finishing after supporting combinations
• Attacking crosses
• Finishing with either foot
• Aerial finishing

His ability to finish with both feet makes his movements more difficult for defenders to predict and gives him greater flexibility once he enters the box.

Bologna FC 1909 replaced Domenico Tedesco with Italian coach Raffaele Palladino before the start of the international break.

The appointment comes as a bit of a shock after Tedesco himself was a new appointment, since former manager Vincenzo Italiano had only left Bologna to join Turkish giants Beşiktaş in the summer.

However, a poor run of games, which saw Bologna collect one draw and three losses in four games, meant the ownership was convinced by Tedesco.

Palladino joins Bologna after leaving Atalanta BC at the end of the season, where he had joined as a caretaker to replace Ivan Jurić.

In this Raffaele Palladino tactical analysis, we examine Palladino’s style of play at Fiorentina, both in and out of possessio,n before learning the tactical adjustments he made at Atalanta, which could indicate what we can expect from him at Bologna in the long run.

Rafaelle Palladino Past Formations & Lineups

Palladino’s base structure has always started with a three at the back.

At Fiorentina, he played a 3-5-2 with Moise Kean, one of his most favoured players, while he was supported in attack by Albert Gudmundsson.

Luca Ranieri was his first-choice centre-back while former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea was revived under Palladino.

Rolando Mandragora, Yacine Adli, Dodô and Pietro Comuzzo were other players who regularly turned up under Palladino.

At Atalanta, he switched to a 3-4-2-1 given the squad composition of La Dea.

Belgian attacker Charles De Ketelaere and Nikola Krstović were the players who were his most trusted players.

While Ademola Lookman was a key player for Atalanta, he was sold to Atlético Madrid in January, meaning players like Lazar Samardžić started getting more chances.

Atalanta stalwart Marten De Roon was a key figure for Palladino, while Marco Carnesecchi, Giorgio Scalvini and Brazilian midfielder Éderson were also vital parts of the squad.

Rafaelle Palladino In Possession Tactics

When Fiorentina had the ball, they used a 3-2-5 shape with a patient approach in build-up while progressing the ball.

When building out from the back, the centre-backs would split up, which then allowed the wing-backs to occupy higher up spaces while two members from the midfield three would drop down to create a 3+2 build-up shape.

Fiorentina had a variation where the central player of the back would invert into the double pivot, freeing one midfielder to push up and drag an opposition player with him.

This allowed Fiorentina to create dynamic structures and keep the opposition guessing.

With the structure created through the rotations, Fiorentina would form passing diamonds on their flank (as seen in Figure 1) with the corresponding centre back, wing-back, central midfielder and Gudmundsson getting into positions.

It gives the player on the ball multiple options when deciding who to pass, while it also allowed Fiorentina to suck the opposition's press towards one flank. 

Fiorentina would use the pivot in the three-man midfield to switch the play from one flank to another, where the opposition wing-back would be waiting for the ball. 

This is possible only because Palladino instructs his wingers to maintain width by hugging the touchline.

The idea behind this concept is to stretch the opposition horizontally.

This act can create gaps in the half spaces, which can be exploited by the midfielders and/or the forwards.

At Fiorentina, where Palladino had athree-mann midfield, he was able to create numerical superiority in midfield.

To progress the ball from the middle third areas, this numerical superiority helped in creating various third-man combinations. 

These combinations helped in drawing out opposition players and creating space between the lines of the opposition. 

Meanwhile, the striker plays a very important role, whereby he is tasked with stretching the opposition defensively vertically and creating space. 

Against teams that play high, the striker makes runs behind the defence while anticipating through balls.

At the same time, he also looks to pin the centre-backs in the last line of defence, looking to create gaps between the second and third line of defence for Gudmundsson to operate.

Fiorentina look to bait the opposition press by calmly rotating possession between the centre-backs and midfielders while the striker, usually Kean, and the wing-backs would hold their position.

This would create space between the second and third lines of defence as seen in Figure 2.

Like a typical positional play side, Fiorentina players would rotate positions frequently by occupying different zones while making sure all zones are occupied.

This would help to break the man-marking pressing scheme of the opposition and create different passing angles, and also help in midfield runs. 

It aided players like Adli, who played as a mezzala.

Play would progress on the opposite side of the pitch while Adli would make his run just in time to receive their through ball, with his run not being tracked by opposition defenders.

Fiorentina also use the goalkeeper to start quick counterattacks.

Although De Gea is not a ball-playing goalkeeper, Palladino would have him play long balls into the opposition's last line of defence to catch the opponent off guard. 

This was seen particularly in the game against AC Milan, where De Gea's goal kick was played directly into the last line of defence, and Fikayo Tomori's mistake ensured a goal for Gudmundsson.

Rafaelle Palladino Out Of Possession Tactics

When Fiorentina are without the ball, they use a 3-4-1-2 pressing structure, aiming to regain the ball as high up as possible.

The 3-4-1-2 (as seen in Figure 3) structure allows Fiorentina to press aggressively and close down the various passing lanes for the opponents.

Scotland and Switzerland faced off in the second game of this extended international break, in what was a first game at home for Sébastian Pocognoli.

It was a game that ended up being a wasted opportunity for the new manager, who said after it, "Not a lot to say about the game, you know".

That's because the tie was effectively settled in the eleventh and twelfth minute.

Al-Ettifaq's Jack Hendry was sent off after a last-man challenge.

Torino's Ricardo Rodriguez put in the resulting free-kick.

That meant that Pocognoli wasn't able to get a full look at some of the players that were starting for the first time, or how the players were adapting to his system.

Especially when coming up against Switzerland, who had Murat Yakin managing them for the 67th time.

It leaves Switzerland, who were favourites at the start of this campaign, at the top of UEFA Nations League B Group 1 with six points from their first two games.

It has Scotland winless in their first two games, having drawn 0-0 away to Slovenia in their first game.

This Scotland vs Switzerland tactical analysis analyses the key moments in the game and looks at how Switzerland's well-drilled machine allowed them to take full advantage of their numerical superiority.

Scotland Vs Switzerland Lineups & Formations

Scotland Lineup Vs Switzerland

Pocognoli lined up with his trusted 3-4-1-2 formation, as he looks to implement his playing style into the Scotland squad.

There were three changes from the team that played in Ljubljana.

Angus Gunn kept his place in goal.

Scott McKenna and Hendry retained their places as the central and right-hand-sided centre-backs, with Luis Binks coming in for Stephen Welsh on the left.

The central midfield duo of Lewis Ferguson and Billy Gilmour remained, as did captain Andy Robertson in the left wing-back/left midfielder role.

Brentford's Aaron Hickey replaced Nathan Patterson on the opposite side.

John McGinn was in the attacking midfield role, behind Oli McBurnie and Kieron Bowie, who had been in goalscoring form for Sassuolo in Serie A.

Scotland were forced into his first substitution in the 13th minute, with Welsh replacing Bowie to fill in the defensive gap left behind.

He then made a triple change on the hour mark, with Ben Gannon-Doak, Robbie Ure and Ryan Christie replacing Patterson, McBurnie and Gilmour.

Josh Doig replaced Robertson with 15 minutes to go.

Switzerland Lineup Vs Scotland

Yakın made just one change from the team that won 3-0 away in North Macedonia.

Gregor Kobel was in goal, with a back four (from left to right) of Rodríguez, Manuel Akanji, Nico Elvedi and Zachary Athekame.

AC Milan's Ardon Jashari and Remo Freuler started in the midfield double pivot.

The one change saw Michel Aebischer come in for Fabian Rieder on the right-hand side of the attack, with Johan Manzambi starting as the No. 10, and Dan Ndoye on the left.

Zeki Amdouni started as the centre-forward.

Switzerland also made all five substitutions during the game.

The Early Red Card

As mentioned, this was a game that was shaped by an extremely early red card for Hendry, but how did it happen?

As seen above, Akanji has the ball in build-up, and Scotland have quite a good high press going on here, with the two strikers covering the two central defenders and cutting off the wide passing lanes.

McGinn is pushed up on the midfielder, who has dropped to receive the ball.

Akanji then plays a fairly loose pass into the midfield, but Manzambi drops deep and gets ahead of Ferguson to flick the ball past him, right into the feet of Amdouni.

He is able to bounce the ball, and Switzerland then go extremely direct, playing a first-time ball.

As we can see in the screenshot, there are nine of the 10 Scotland outfield players in this picture alone.

They've gone extremely high-risk, high-reward early in this game.

It leaves Ndoye and Hendry one-on-one.

The Scotland defender is actually in a good position relative to the attacker; he is close to him.

However, the pass is too good, and Ndoye is too quick.

Hendry fouls Ndoye just outside the box and gives the referee no choice.

While there is an element of luck to this goal with Manzambi's (good) flick, it's disappointing for Scotland on a few levels.

The first is on the tactical level, but it is understandable.

The players are almost too keen in the press; they've thrown caution to the wind and all gone high.

This might be down to players trying to impress the new manager, and him not having tweaked things yet.

The second is on the individual level.

Hendry has three options when the ball is played through to Ndoye.

The first is to make the foul right away, nearer the halfway line.

While he may still receive a red, there's little threat of conceding right away.

The second is to let Ndoye get his shot off, back his goalkeeper to make a save or concede early on, but keep eleven players on the pitch.

He makes the third, and worst, option, waiting until the last moment to foul.

Not only does Scotland lose a player, but Switzerland scores from the resulting free-kick.

How Did Switzerland Use Their Man Advantage?

From that moment, the game followed a pattern.

Scotland went into a sort of 4-4-0 shape, as shown in their average position map below.