Category: Coach Education

How Leverkusen Exposed Rose’s Midfield Diamond…To No Avail – Tactical Analysis

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Masterclasses

Borussia Dortmund are heading towards one of their worst seasons in years, and it is in large part due to the tactics of their new manager - Marco Rose. But quite confusingly, they continue to grind out wins. Rose has set his team up to play in a diamond midfield formation, that suits one single player in the squad, and nobody else, yet somehow they've escaped complete desperation two weeks in a row. The Black & Yellows currently sit second in the table as things stand, three points off the top, but they are very lucky to be anywhere near that.

Italy 1-1 Spain – Euro 2020 Semi-Final – Tactical Analysis

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Masterclasses, Match Analysis, World Football

In a highly contested affair, Italy and Spain played out a 1-1 draw after extra time, and needed penalty kicks to settle the match. After missing just one of their spot kicks, Italy sent themselves through to the final of the tournament, extending their impressive unbeaten run to 33 matches in all competitions. Here is our tactical analysis of the match!

Quick Take: Italy’s Shield is the Euro’s Sharpest Sword

by Jeremy Barnes, posted in Coach Education, Formations, Masterclasses, Match Analysis

When establishing a style of play, all top-level managers face the same pragmatic questions: How will positional defenders become functional attackers (and vice versa) as changes in possession occur? Where is the balance between earnest advancement and cautious reserve? And how is that equilibrium expressed, implicitly and explicitly, on the team sheet?

Train of Thought – How rewarding one-touch goals can improve players’ dribbling

by Travis Norsen, posted in Coach Education, Coaching, Masterclasses

The mental side of the beautiful game is at least as important as the physical side, but is often neglected by coaches in training sessions. In this series, Travis Norsen, author of Play With Your Brain, will discuss small tweaks to standard training exercises and the large positive effects they can have on players’ decision-making and soccer intelligence. This week, Travis explores how rewarding one-touch goals can improve players' dribbling.

Portugal vs. France – Euro 2020 – Match Preview

by Ero Samson, posted in Masterclasses

The stage is set, and the Puskas Arena will be the venue for another round of rivalry between the defending champions of the European Championships Portugal and the current world champions France. The French will be hoping to cause the Portuguese a heartbreak of the same gravitas which they themselves suffered from the finals defeat in 2016, making this all the more an intriguing encounter.

Netherlands – Euro 2020 – Tactical Analysis

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Masterclasses, World Football

Netherlands came into Euro 2020 as clear Group C favourites, and they did not disappoint by any stretch of the imagination, winning all three of their matches. Frank de Boer's team have been tactically fluid, outstanding both in and out of possession and have genuinely looked like one of the most exciting teams at the tournament. So with the knockout stages just a few days away, we take a look at Netherlands' tactics at the tournament so far.

Italy – Euro 2020 – Tactical Analysis

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Masterclasses

After missing out on the 2018 World Cup, Italy have now gone 30 matches unbeaten under the influence of former Premier League title winner Roberto Mancini. The Italian manager has reinstalled the faith of the nation at this summer's Euros, playing an exciting brand of possession-based football. After taking 9 points, scoring 7 goals and conceding 0 in their opening three group stage matches, Italy now look like genuine favourites for the crown. Here is our tactical analysis of Roberto Mancini's Italy after three matches at this summer's Euros.

Train of Thought – The value of playing with touch restrictions

by Travis Norsen, posted in Coach Education, Coaching, Masterclasses

The mental side of the beautiful game is at least as important as the physical side, but is often neglected by coaches in training sessions. In this series, Travis Norsen, author of Play With Your Brain, will discuss small tweaks to standard training exercises and the large positive effects they can have on players’ decision-making and soccer intelligence. This week, Travis explores the value of using one-touch restrictions in your sessions.