Germany World Cup analysis 🇩🇪 - In possession dynamics (3-1-6) - Out of possession structure - Problems with the lack of defensive athleticism/ability to cover large areas - Pro’s and Con’s of their system - Floor and Ceiling for their World Cup run Thread 🧵 ⬇️

Top quality low block performance from Australia, 2 CM’s in their 5-4-1 block defended the half spaces superbly. Yildiz coming on created better 1v1 threat in wide areas often cutting inside onto his right and looking to find the far corner, however the sheer compactness and will to throw bodies at the ball to block shots was incredible from Australia. They blocked everything! As mentioned they defended the half spaces really well with the two CM’s in their 5-4-1 block tracking back into the last line and following Turkey players making runs from deep in behind. Czech should take notes! The vertical and horizontal compactness from Australia was superb. In possession some nice rotations such as Okon Engstler moving to a left back position and Bos (LWB) moving high and dropping from there dragging his marker out leaving space for a teammate to attack the channel. Very pleased Metcalfe scored, I did an entire different post based on Metcalfe’s performance so I won’t go into too much detail, but his protection of the half space between Australia’s outside RCB and RWB was incredible. I didn’t think Turkey were too bad, often had the key zones occupied in attack, attacked the box with numbers, out of possession they transitioned from a 4-2-3-1 mid block into a man to man press pretty well. Just couldn’t find the final pass to break down the compact Australia block. Australia top in the low block, had some great patterns of play in deep build up from goal kicks and remained a threat in transition when defending deep. My only concern for me would be for when they play against a far better side who would also pin them back, they’ll most likely be able to find the final pass and when nearly your whole game model is based off defending once you concede and you’re forced to open up it can lead to the floodgates opening at the back. A win they should absolutely enjoy though! 🇦🇺🇹🇷 7:02AM UK time so I’m off to bed 😅. Great night of football overall!

No one deserves that more, Connor Metcalfe has been superb. In possession dropping from high to low filling in for Okon-Engstler who moves to left back in build up, top back to goal play. Out of possession he’s protected his half space to such a superb standard, tracking Turkey’s runners from deep and filling in the gap between outside CB and WB. He’s had a top game 🇦🇺

Interesting start, Australia very compact off the ball limiting space between the lines with the vertical distances between the defensive and midfield line being very short. Timing their jumps really well along with being technically secure on the ball in build up. Their midfielders have tracked runners from deep very well and not allowed themselves to be opened up through one 3rd man run. Australia mixing up playing out and going long from goal kicks. When they play out Okon-Engstler moves from midfield to a LB position, Bos (LWB) then advances high and then drops dragging his marker out leaving space in behind for the inside forward to run into. A similar situation led to the Australia goal with Irankunda spinning and attacking the space Turkey building in a 4-2-4 which transitions into a 2-3-5 or 3-2-5, Before the drinks break there were lots of dropping movements from high to low especially from Guler, however following the first drinks breaks he’s now a bit more positionally set in the right half space. Out of possession they transition from a 4-2-3-1 mid block into a man to man press well, trigger being the usual backwards passes from the opposition into their own half. Turkey struggling to break this block down at the moment and it’s resulting in a lot of long shots which have been off target. They need a successful dribble or a bit of individual brilliance in attacking areas to open the game up and create something.

Turkey vs Australia mini tactical preview: 🇹🇷🇦🇺 Turkey: 🇹🇷 - Often a 2-3-5/3-2-5 settled possession shape with the 2 CB’s behind two 6’s and 1 AM dropping deep. Both FB’s pushed high and inverted into the half spaces with both wingers wide. Sometimes the FB will rotate with the AM for who is in the 2nd line (3). - Arda Guler often dropping from high to low to get frequent touches on the ball, think Jhon Arias for Columbia (Guler just dropping from a different position). - High intensity off the ball, often pressing from opposition goal kicks in a 4-4-2 diamond with 1 man split between the opposition pivots. 1 on defensive line. AUSTRALIA: 🇦🇺 - Once in settled possession we often see a 3-box-3 with the wing backs pushing on into the last line, inside forwards connecting with the double pivot to form the midfield box. - Expect to see the wingback moving high to then drop low dragging the Turkey FB’s out leaving the channel free for the ball side inside forward to make a run into the vacated channel - 4-2-4 from goal kicks with the RCB moving out RB and the RWB moving high into the last line - Aggressive wingbacks when pressing from opposition goal kicks, interesting to note that we’ve sometimes seen the Australia 9 shadow mark the opposition DM with the inside forwards on the opposition 2 split CB’s. - In open play expect them to sit in a more compact 5-4-1 block which can become a 5-2-3 with the 10’s pushing on. Let’s go! 🍿

Overall I’m impressed but also disappointed with Haiti, in possession they had some nice rotations in build up with Bellegarde and Jacques alternating dropping into the backline. Expérience inverting from left back into midfield etc etc. However they had very little 3rd man runs in behind higher up the pitch and it led to everyone wanting the ball to feet. Therefore if there aren’t really any coached 3rd man runs in attack then for me they should have looked to utilise their physicality superiority and got the ball wide and cross early to their 6’4 striker and other box crashing runs. Instead when they got the ball wide they were always consistently looking to dribble against the FB’s to which Scotland defended wide areas really well. Some positives but also some negatives from the Haiti performance. Scotland did well but didn’t really have much to think about with Haiti’s lack of attacking patterns. Once they were in a low block they knew exactly what to do, defend wide areas well and force Haiti backwards. It’s 4:15AM UK time but onto Turkey vs Australia 🍿

Haiti are unfortunate they’re in such a tough group, stick these in Group A or B and I personally think they’d progress to the RO32. In possession very fluid, LB inverted into midfield at times, DM’s dropping into the backline and great at progressing play out the first phase into the 2nd, (helps the fact Scotland are passive off the ball) they do however lack 3rd man runs and aren’t utilising Pierrot pinning the CB’s to create space for other people to attack into enough. Out of possession a 4-4-2 mid block which can transition into a man to man press higher up. Man to man press from restarts. Also key to note they have significantly less player quality than everyone else in their group. Impressed overall, no pushover by any means. 🇭🇹

Soon as I tweet this during the drinks break Haiti come out and don’t press in their mid block 😭. High line no pressure on the ball high from Haiti, they got punished.

Really impressed with Haiti so far, 4-2-4 turned 3-2-5 settled possession shape, very fluid in possession with Bellegarde and Jean Jacques taking turns to drop into the backline (Bellegarde into a situational LB position, Jacques into a situational RB position). Expérience often inverting from LB into either a left 6 position or high into the left half space. Out of possession a compact 4-4-2 shape which can transition into a man to man press higher up. Tactically I actually think Haiti are better than Scotland, however Scotland have better individuals so we’ll see.

Haiti vs Scotland mini tactical preview: 🇭🇹🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 HAITI 🇭🇹: - Bellegarde who’s a superb ball carrier often drops from high to low to receive the ball and looks to run and carry. - Haiti not afraid to play direct with 6’4 Pierrot who excels with his back to goal to aim for with Isidor making runs off the back of him in anticipation for a flick on. - Cross heavy, when they do have periods with the ball they look for frequent overlapping runs from FB’s who then look to cross to a load of physical box crashers Pierrot. - That physicality trait naturally makes them a threat from pieces due to the frequency of them winning first contact. - Defensively we often seem in a 4-2-3-1 although they’ve had compactness issues in that shape I wouldn’t be surprised to see them adapt to a 4-4-2 SCOTLAND: 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 - Lots of 3rd man runs usually space created from Mcginn dropping from high to low dragging his marker out leaving space for a teammate to run in behind - 4-2-4 build up shape from goal kicks - 4-4-2 mid block - From opposition goal kicks expect to see a similar approach we saw with Paraguay, a 4-1-4-1 with the striker responsible for pressing both CB’s. This gives them a 1 on the midfield or defensive line to cope with the physical Haiti attackers if they go long.

Morocco's goal - Brazil have possession wide but Paqueta loses the ball, Bruno Guimaraes has been attracted to the ball leaving a 2v1 vs Casemiro in the centre. Saibari moves slightly to his left and therefore adjusts the positioning of Casemiro allowing the diagonal pass to be played to Brahim. Casemiro lacks mobility so from a Brazil point of view that is the last situation you want. Santos showcasing awful decision making in this moment, jumps to engage then changes his mind once he's already within duelling distance of Brahim and starts backtracking allowing the pass in behind to be played.

Brazil adapted their in possession dynamics at half time following bringing on Danilo for Ibañez, they remained in a 4-2-4 or 4-1-5 throughout the entirety of their build up and didn’t transition into the usual 3-2-5 higher up. People will be criticising Brazil which is valid in regards to how lethargic they started the game and how for many moments they were technically insecure with the ball. However structurally we do have to remember that Carlo Ancelotti is in the dugout who often gives his sides basic balance and lets the players find the spaces on the pitch and play. Morocco moved the ball in transition from low to high really fast and were an attacking threat the whole game despite being so passive off the ball. Very dynamic group of players needed to be able to efficiently achieve that which Morocco have. Bouaddi 😮…Very impressed with that performance. Feel he could use this tournament to really establish his name with the big boys in Europe.

Brazil got into it as the half went on but started extremely lethargically, slow in possession especially in midfield and no real speed to their actions early on. Compare that to Morocco in midfield who moved the ball from defence to attack quickly and duelled and fought for loose balls exceptionally well. Brazil basic balance in possession as expected with Carlo in charge, 4-3-3 turned 3-2-5 with Ibanez (RB) pushing high and Raphinha tucked in roaming around the pitch, i’ve seen Raphinha in a LEFT BACK position, occupying the left half space, the right half space, and the widest man on the right when Ibanez doesn’t move high. Morocco a 4-2-4 in possession from goal kicks with the double pivot on staggered lines, Bouaddi right on the edge of the box at times even IN the box. El-Aynaoui slightly higher up. Morocco need to target Santos’ side more often. Brazil haven’t coped with Hakimi joining the attack very well, and when he’s one of Morocco’s most dangerous players that is definitely something to be concerned about from a Brazil POV.

Really looking forward to this one!! Brazil’s game model is built off elite technicality and allowing top players to play with freedom, we’ll see this even more now with Carlo Ancelotti who will give the team balance but allow the players to ‘play’ Morocco’s game model built off elite compactness and top coordination in their off ball 4-1-4-1 structure, can drop into a situational back 5 when in a low block. However despite most people speaking about the defensive side of Morocco’s game, it’s key to note they have top dynamic profiles and will be a threat in transition. I’m a big fan of Bilal El-Khannouss in particular. Plus the already well established stars such as Hakimi and Brahim will both be threatening. Saibari an outlet to hit over the Brazil press from deep Morocco builds. Interested to see how Morocco in an actual tournament against great opposition without Walid Regragui in the dugout. Let’s go! 🇲🇦🇧🇷🍿

WOW! Switzerland lowered the tempo to the point they got complacent, That is why you MUST punish these teams who sit in and ONLY defend deep.

Switzerland have really lowered the tempo in possession, a big factor will be the heat but also that Qatar aren’t putting them under any pressure with their off ball approach. Conserving energy for the Canada and Bosnia games both which will be far more competitive than Qatar. Qatar need to go for it following this drinks break with only limited time left, I’m hoping that means the game will open up a bit!