EURO 2020: How Denmark’s change of formation helped them cruise past Wales into the quarter-finals – tactical analysis

The EURO 2020 knockouts are underway and we are here to discuss the tactical analysis of the first knockout clash of the tournament between Wales and Denmark. Both are dark horses of the tournament and faced tough challenges in the form of Italy and Belgium in the group stages respectively.

This tactical analysis will discuss the tactics deployed by both teams and will look into how Denmark outclassed Wales to book their berth in the quarter-finals. Lets begin the analysis.

Lineups

Wales lined up in a 4-3-3 formation with a midfield trio of Joe Allen, Joe Morrell and Juventus Aaron Ramsey. The forward line consisted of Manchester United’s Daniel James, Tottenham loanee Gareth Bale and Cardiff City striker Kieffer Moore.

Denmark, on the other hand, made two changes to their lineup that thrashed Russia last time out. Yussuf Poulsen and Daniel Wass were absent from the matchday squad, the former sustaining a minor injury and the latter picking up an illness. Former Ajax youngster Kasper Dolberg and wing-back Jens Stryger Larsen replaced the ailing duo respectively. 

Bale provides Wales with a decent start

Wales started off the game well or at least in a much better fashion than they ended it. With Denmark playing a 3-4-3 system that fell back into a 5-4-1 when they shifted to a low block, Wales decided to use Gareth Bale as the key to get themselves into the final third. Already having a 3v2 disadvantage against Wales’ 4-3-3 system at the centre of the park, Denmark found it even more difficult when Bale kept dropping into the half-space and creating overloads or making himself free. Those half-spaces were very difficult for the two Denmark midfielders to cover on their own and hence when Bale dropped they couldn’t stop him from receiving the ball. We can see an example of that in the image below where Bale is free on the right half-space and the wing-back on that side being double-teamed due to the presence of the Wales full-back.