While the Netherlands reached the quarter-finals in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, they have not reached the same round in the UEFA European Championships since 2008 – they failed to earn qualification at all for the 2016 Euros and were dumped out at the round of 16 in the 2020...
Breaking down a low block is something that top sides around the globe can face on a weekly basis. The reason opponents engage in defending in this way is to reduce the opportunity of being caught out and ensure they remain organised, stay compact, and consequently reduce space for the...
One of the most highly-rated young talents in England and the entire footballing world is Liverpool’s Curtis Jones. The 19-year-old has been with the champions for the last decade, learning the craft in their academy before making his debut for the first team in an FA Cup fixture against Wolves almost two years ago....
If you have read Jonathan Wilson’s extraordinary book Inverting the Pyramid: The History of Soccer Tactics, you are well aware of football’s historic march from attack-centred formations and subsequent footnotes. As the book portrays, football tactics started with attack-minded systems, then became more defensive in pursuing results. Tactical trends and formations followed...
The showpiece event of European football took place at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid on Saturday evening. For the first time since 2008, the Champions League Final was an all-English affair, pitting Tottenham against Liverpool. Having been defeated in last year's final by Real Madrid, Liverpool were one of the...
