- Verratti useless until Mancini's tactical change
- Belgium's pressing structure starts off strong but falls short
- Belgium thrived in transitions but nowhere else
Belgium would press in a sort of 3-4-1-2/3-5-2. This was done so that Italy could not play through the middle.
The emphasis was on shielding Jorginho or Verratti while having the front three still able to press the Italian "back three"
We've seen the Italian build up structure all tournament. The issue with Belgium's press is that KdB cannot be expected to shield Verratti & Jorginho, while tasked with pressing Bonucci.
KdB was overworked when pressing, leading to a failed press.
In the final third, #BEL would shift into a structure that resembled a 3-2-5. The wingbacks isolate the #ITA fullbacks, Doku, Lukaku & KdB all central drawing a man-marker or overworking another.
The catch? Belgium only attacked in transitions. They struggled to keep possession.
I (@CamH___ ) have been harsh on Verratti for Locatelli's exclusion. I don't think Verratti can do what Locatelli can do when going forward. They play different roles.
Lack of a competent player in the left half-space led to poor ball circulation from #ITA
Italy's attacking structure is so dependent on ball circulation in the wide areas so that they can drag defenders out of position and create space to attack. Verratti, until this game, did not aid in that for club or country.
Mancini saw this problem. So, he instructed Verratti to play in a more advanced role in the left half-space.
This changed everything for #ITA . #BEL must man mark the Italian attackers, while Tieleman's is overworked from shielding Insigne & pressing Jorginho.
I was wrong in my preview to think that Verratti couldn't play in the same role as Locatelli.
While Verratti is adequate, I don't suspect he will playing in the attacking role we saw him play in this evening in the long term, perhaps just for the remainder of the tournament.
Italy are through to the semi-finals against Spain and deservedly so.
With the now likely absence of Spinazzola, Italy are without one of their best players against Spain and will likely need to rely on Emerson.
My outside of the box solution? Bastoni. More on that later.
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🔴No inverted wingers for Spain backfired
🔴Swiss played brilliantly with 10 men (4-4-1)
🔴Morata isolated (Pedri too deep)
🔴'Poor' Torres - Do not want at United
Despite Sarabia impacting the side from RW, Enrique deployed him at LW, in an effort to stretch the Swiss backline.
I can see the thinking but a hybrid would ensure there is more inside and outside threat. Morata isolated.
Spain looked unstable at the back. Their high line is suicidal as 3 out of the back 5 are ancient so struggle with negative transitions and Pau Torres is immobile.
Only Laporte looks comfortable but they need to drop off quicker or have a lower line if facing better sides.
🔴Enhances the right flank? yes to a degree...
🔴Freedom to roam (is AWB a good fit?)
🔴Likes to switch flanks...
🔴What formation/signings will maximise his potential?
Pre Sancho signing, United have really struggled down the right hand side. At one stage they even put Rashford there but he did not look happy at having to vacate his favoured left sided role.
Greenwood and Mata, came inside often and AWB did not bomb on enough...
Sancho when he does stay out on the right, can drive at men and beat them in all manner of ways (drop of shoulder, skills, quick one two and get in behind). Therefore he will definitely improve the flank.
However as he has evolved as a player, he drifts away from this flank...
🔴Sterling a world-class talent when in the mood
🔴3-4-3 pinned the Germans back
🔴Low's leaky backline bites again
🔴Grealish Game-Changer
🔴Back 5 helped English midfield (options)
Starting lineup thoughts, the Saka decision was brave and the correct one as he can penetrate space inside and outside. Perfect for a counter attack set up.
Abit too perfect as its effectiveness ended up pushing the Germans back...
As we can see the beauty of the 3-4-3 is that by matching the German formation, England went man for man and the Germans were forced to match them.
This freed up Saka and Sterling from double marking and they were dangerous in the 1st half. Germany got caught out several times.
Key points:
- Lack of width from France
- Switzerland bully Lenglet and Varane
- Rabiot is not a defender; barely a midfielder
- Both sides style of play is a reflection of their mentality
To accommodate Rabiot filling in at LWB, #FRA had to adjust their defensive structure.
They started in a back five but would have the ball sided wingback press the player in possession, joining the midfield line, forming a 4-4-2 as #SUI are forced to go backwards.
In doing this, #FRA give #SUI time to switch to the opposite flank, isolating the French central defenders as they change positions, making crosses into the box easy... as we saw.
Key points:
- Croatia looked to defend from the start
- Modric's attempts at man-marking expose Croatia
- Spain's off the ball movement
- Croatia COMEBACK after Spain collapse
- Football is mad
Croatia looked to defend from the moment the game began.
Spain's attacking structure resembles a 3-3-4 or 3-2-5, so to defend against this, #CRO would have their wide players Vlasic and Rebic track Gaya and Torres.
While the Croatian wide players defend the Spanish wide players, Kovacic, Modric and Brozovic were free to remain central and press Spain's midfield passing options.
As the game went on, Spain was able to move this defensive unit out of position and create space to play in.
🔴Portugal Xmas Tree (Off the Ball)
🔴Belgium bringing their wing backs inside
🔴Portugal build up is awful (Huge distances)
🔴Time to move on from Ronaldo?
🔴Portugal right flank poor.
Portugal adopted a low block in the first half and it was a 4-3-2-1 (Xmas Tree) when they did not have the ball.
The plan was to make Belgium keep passing into wide areas and flood the middle so that KDB and Hazard could be locked off.
This did not work when Belgium rotated the position of their forward line, confusing the Portuguese defence.
More importantly, Belgium outnumbered in the middle by bringing in Meunier and Thorgan, who was then able to shoot from distance shell-shocking Patricio and Dias.