Football’s changing tactics

From a new role for No 9s to the return of the long ball, a detailed study of Euro 2016 has highlighted football’s latest tactical trends.

The UEFA technical report into the France showpiece is an in-depth breakdown of the stats from this summer’s European Championships, and also includes insight from ‘UEFA’s technical team’, a group of observers including Sir Alex Ferguson, David Moyes and Gareth Southgate.

Here, we pick out a few key points from the study which reflect the ever-changing modern game…

The changing role of a striker

At Euro 2016 18 of the 24 teams led their line with just one solitary frontman. That total includes Germany, who at times played without a striker at all. Eventual winners Portugal were among the minority to play two up top and their success proves a strike partnership is not yet something to be discounted. But a lack of goals by strikers in the group stages raised debate about their role in the modern game.

UEFA technical team member Alain Giresse, a Euro 1984 winner with France, said: “This is a fundemental question when coaches are writing job descriptions for their players. Is the No 9 there to score goals? Or does he give priority to other missions?”

With defences often deep and compact at the tournament, crosses and long-range shooting were the sources of most open-play goals, while just seven goals were scored in 36 group games with through balls. At Euro 2016, frontmen instead worked to maintain possession high up the field and play in team-mates.

Counter attacks not as effective as previously

After Leicester’s Premier League heroics, it was an interesting development to see counter-attacks – such a successful tool for Claudio Ranieri’s men – so often negated at the Euros. At Euro 2008, 46 per cent of open-play goals had come on the break but at Euro 2012 and 2016 that figure dropped to 23 per cent.

Most of the counter-attack goals scored in France came late on in matches when opponents were searching for a result. Indeed, just three counter-attack goals opened the scoring in Euro 2016 fixtures.

That wasn’t necessarily through a lack of trying. …

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