Soccer may be a game where the skill of players is crucial, but if the success of managers like Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp has taught us anything in the past ten years, tactics matter just as much. A top tactical performance is something to behold. Unlike games where a wonder goal or top moment decides the game, tactical domination involves figuring out the opposing team and playing to exploit weaknesses.
Our experts have picked out some of the best tactical victories of the past decade, including some of the past tactical performances in soccer’s history.
Germany 7 Brazil 1 – World Cup Semi Finals – 2014
Joachim Löw has many achievements after successfully managing Germany from 2006 to 2021, including winning the World Cup in 2014. However, his German team produced one of the best tactical performances of all time against Brazil in the 2014 World Cup Semi-Finals and sent shockwaves around the soccer world.
Nicknamed the Mineirazo by Brazil (the ‘spirit of national shame’), it was a clear night in Belo Horizonte. Brazil was playing in a home World Cup with a team of glitzy superstars (though notably missing best player Neymar to injury). Brazil was the narrow favorite with soccer lines at Bovada to progress to the World Cup Finals against old rivals Argentina.
However, Germany didn’t even let it get close. Germany’s dominating midfield pulled off a tactical masterclass on the day by exploiting an immobile backline, with the legendary Toni Kroos making short work of Dante and David Luiz. Winning man of the match, the Real Madrid midfielder would later acknowledge the importance of the manager’s tactics for the victory.
Wigan 1 Manchester City 0 – FA Cup Final – 2013
They stood no chance. Or at least, that’s what pundits thought going into the historic game. Wigan had just been relegated from the Premier League, and the club was suffering from financial issues. It was already clear many of the best players on the team would need to be sold over the coming months.
On the other side of the FA Cup Final was Manchester City, who had spent more than Wigan’s entire net worth on purchasing superstars like Yaya Toure. The team had just finished second in the Premier League and looked set to end the season with a trophy.
However, to everyone’s surprise, Wigan kept City from scoring. Wigan manager Roberto Martinez told his team to keep compact at the back and counterattack, making use of Manchester City’s high fullbacks. This allowed Wigan to win a corner from which Ben Watson scored in the 84th minute. Described as one of the biggest shocks in FA Cup history, Roberto Mancini was sacked the next day for the performance.
Bayern 3 Barcelona 0 (7-0 aggregate) – Champions League Semi Final – 2013
Barcelona came into this game with Bayern Munich as the hot favorite, as the team had won fourteen trophies in the past four years under Pep Guardiola. This team is often described as one of the best of all time, but Guardiola was gone in 2013. The manager of this Barcelona side was Tito Vilanova, who would be sacked a few days after this game.
However, against such a quality squad, Bayern Munich manager Jupp Heynckes still needed a tactical masterclass to win. Scoring seven across two legs unanswered, Bayern managed to weather the surging storm of Barcelona before counter-attacking ruthlessly with the pace of Arjen Robben and the work rate of Mario Mandzukic. The best of these two games was the 3-0 triumph at the Nou Camp on their way to that year’s Champions League title win.
Barcelona 3 Juventus 1 – Champions League Final – 2015
In 2015, Barcelona had a trio of the world’s best attackers in Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar, a trio of the world’s best midfielders in Andreas Iniesta, Xavi, and Sergio Busquets, and won a treble. Three was the magic number for this Barcelona team, which also scored three goals in the Champions League Final against Juventus.
Much of the credit for the success of this squad has to go to manager Luis Enrique. Despite having lots of talent, Barcelona had failed to achieve in Europe since Guardiola left in 2012. Enrique’s often underrated stylistic return to tika taka football, a brand of football based on patient short passing and one-two’s, led to domination against the hyped underdog Juventus.
Chelsea 1 Manchester City 0 – Champions League Final – 2021
Playing in the fantastic atmosphere of the Portuguese Estadio do Dragao, the 2021 Champions League Final is often remembered as one of soccer’s first returns from the devastation of lockdown to full soccer crowds. But no one should forget the tactical achievement of Thomas Tuchel to deny Pep Guardiola’s City their first Champions League title.
Setting up with a deep back five, underdogs Chelsea exploited Man City in the wing areas with direct aggressive football. Helped by an early injury, which saw the talented but inexperienced Zinchencko brought on for City, Chelsea directed everything down the Ukrainian fullback’s side Christian Pulisic eventually beat Zinechenko to set up Havertz for an 83rd-minute winner.
