Player Analysis
For four seasons in Bergamo, Éderson (26) has been a constant in one of European football's most exciting tactical projects. Under Gian Piero Gasperini tactics, Atalanta scaled heights previously unimaginable for the club, including their 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the 2023/2024 UEFA Europa League
Tactical Theory
This tactical theory will analyse tactics used in the attacking phase by teams who played in a 4-3-3 formation. The tactical analysis will also focus on both the individual techniques and movements used by players in Europe's top teams, as well as how these forwards interact
Player Analysis
Arsenal came close to achieving a rare domestic and European double, narrowly missing out on both the Premier League and UEFA Champions League titles after a historic campaign that nonetheless marked their first league triumph in 22 years. Riccardo Calafiori, signed from FC Bologna 1909 in 2024, has been a
Tactical Theory
What Is Low Block Defending? Low block defending, where a team is set up to defend in their shape with numbers behind the ball in their own defensive third, is seen in almost every game of modern football. This can be part of a deliberate strategy to sit deep and
Player Analysis
Crystal Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada has been making waves at the FIFA World Cup so far. The 29-year-old has scored twice in Japan’s opening two games, first a late, crucial equaliser against the Netherlands, and then the opener in a 4-0 thrashing of Tunisia. The central
Tactical Theory
What Is A 4-4-2 Mid-Block? The 4-4-2 mid-block is an out-of-possession strategy that features a flat back four, a midfield four, and two central forwards. The set-up has three clear defensive lines occupying the middle third of the pitch. The primary
Player Analysis
Brian Brobbey may have made himself a permanent fixture in Ronald Koeman’s starting XI at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after starting in the Netherlands lineup for their second group-stage match against Sweden. His positive World Cup performance comes off the back of a solid first-ever Premier
Head Coach Analysis
Rúben Amorim is a strange manager to gauge right now. His reputation as a manager is at its lowest point in years after a disappointing 14 months in charge of Manchester United. Yet the Portuguese coach joined the Red Devils to incredible fanfare. He had won Sporting CP their first
Tactical Theory
Defending crosses is one of the most detailed tactical analysis topics, with numerous differences between different teams and coaches' ideas. The details of defending crosses begin with each defender's ability to either mark an attacker or cover a specific space. It differs from defending with either four
Tactical Theory
Not too long ago, Pep Guardiola said that football is no longer about the positional approach in the modern world. "It is about rhythm," he added before pointing to the likes of Brighton and Bournemouth, who he believes are currently playing this modern brand of football. By referring
Tactical Theory
The days of the classic "big and small" striker duo or the "act 1 and act 2" partnerships were once a staple of football, especially in English leagues. These partnerships combined different strengths, like power, skill, flair, and goal-scoring ability, to great effect. Think of
Tactical Theory
As coaches prepare for the upcoming season, implementing a cohesive pressing system is crucial for teams seeking to control games when they do not have the ball and when trying to force the opposition to play into areas they feel they can exploit. Working on a variety of pressing options