FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 Tactical Analysis: Australia vs Brazil

Brazil and Australia battled it out in an important clash in group C, where Marta returned for Brazil and looked to put her own touch on Brazils excellent start to the FIFA Womens World Cup so far. Australia needed a win to put their bad start against Italy behind them, and thats exactly what they got in Montpellier.

Brazils game plan was seemingly hindered by their own technical abilities and mistakes, and Australias dominance in possession was rewarded with all three points. In this tactical analysis, Ill look at both sides offensive shapes and how Brazil managed to lose control of the game and left themselves unable to take it back.

Lineups

This meant that Australia were lined up in a 4-3-3, while Brazil opted for a 4-5-1. Brazil were stuck in this 4-5-1 for the vast majority of the game, while Australias full-backs moved high and wide, occupying the wingers of Brazil and penning them in.

Both sides attack the wings

Brazil conceded three goals in the game due to their inability to defend crosses, which in hindsight wasnt helped by their shape. The situation below highlights how narrow Brazil were, which forced Australia to go wide in order to build attacks, with their full-backs pushing forward as highlighted with the vast space below. This shape therefore in many ways encourages the opposition to go wider, suggesting Brazil were comfortable with their ability to deal with crosses. The current shape they are in below is a perfectly good one, as there is no real penetrative threat and the opposition are made to play to the wing, a position which is further away from the net.