June 16, 2020: Tactic Wars solution

Before we show you Connor’s solution, let’s remind ourselves of the challenge he was posed.

This summer is the inaugural Continental Cup. Each of the six FIFA governing bodies will be competing against each other.

— Total Football Analysis (@TotalAnalysis) June 15, 2020

The inaugural Continental Cup then. I have been tasked with managing CAF in the tournament and our first match is against CONCACAF. I’m fairly confident, there are many incredibly talented footballers that hail from Africa. I have selected my team with a clear tactical plan in mind and as such, I have called up players that have experience playing in similar tactics at club level. In this tactical analysis, I will explain how I plan on winning my first game versus CONCACAF.

Lineups

Our scouts have produced an analysis of CONCACAF and have identified that CONCACAF will play a 3-4-3. We are also aware that CONCACAF are an attack-minded team, who look to push their wing-backs Jesús Corona and Alphonso Davies up high on the overlap. Inside forwards Hirving Lozano and Christian Pulisic tuck infield to support lone striker Raul Jiménez of Wolves. American Michael Bradley steps out of the back three to assist with the build-up.

To combat CONCACAF’s attacking system, we are going to fight fire with fire. Our system is a 3-4-2-1. At the very back, we have Ajax goalkeeper André Onana. Napoli centre-back Kalidou Kouibaly is flanked by Wolves’ Romain Saïss and Borussia Monchengladbach’s Ramy Bensebaini. We are also going with two attack-minded wing-backs with Moroccan duo Hakim Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi. We are deploying combative midfielders, Idrissa Gueye, of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Naby Keïta in the centre of the park with the main aim of breaking up play and getting us on the front foot. Another two Liverpool players in Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané play as dual number 10’s in behind a possible surprise inclusion, Patson Daka. The Zambian has been in great form for Salzburg this season. His pace and smart movement will be key to our success. With three Senaegelese players in our team, its clear that Senegal manager Aliou Cissé has been doing great things with the national team.

Our tactics

Out of possession and defence to attack transitions

We are going to adopt a mid-block defensive set-up, allowing CONCACAF’s centre-backs to have possession of the ball in their own half. As soon as they play into our half, we will instigate an energetic high press in an attempt to regain possession with CONCACAF’s high backline exposing space in behind that one of our lightning quick front three can benefit from. We can see an example of this below.