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Tactical Analysis: Germany vs. England
It’s coming home! Probably. Maybe. England will at least be final bound, right? Who knows. But what we do know is that England finally have beaten Germany in a knockout stage of a major tournament since the 1966 World Cup, failing to do so four times since then (1970, 1990, 1996, 2010). The first…
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Tactical Preview: Belgium vs. Italy
As we reach the business end of Euro 2020, it’s been nothing short of an entertaining showcase. This edition of the tournament will arguably go down in history as one of the best in recent times. We’ve been spoilt with all sorts of drama, from a flurry of own goals to David & Goliath clashes…
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Tactical Analysis: Sweden vs. Ukraine
Just nine years ago, in June 2012, Ukraine played their first-ever game at a European Championships. Today, against the same opposition, Andriy Shevchenko’s men played only their tenth. Remarkably, of those ten games, Ukraine have won just three, with two of those coming against Sweden. Yet, Tuesday’s dramatic extra-time triumph over their favourite Scandinavian opponents, coupled…
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Arise O’ Compatriot: A Plea to Tosin Adarabioyo
Despite playing in a Fulham side that got relegated from the Premier League, Tosin Adarabioyo was one of the few shining lights in an otherwise grim 2020/21 season. The towering centre-back was a regular for The Cottagers, starting 33 out of the 34 Premier League games he was available for. However, as he approaches his…
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Tactical Analysis: Spain vs. Croatia
Unai Simón’s redemption following a horrific goalkeeping error, ‘game over’ gloats turn gulps of fear in the wake of an extraordinary comeback, Álvaro Morata muting the doubters when it mattered and Dani Olmo being the difference against the country where he broke through. Spain may have won this game, but even in celebration, they will…
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Tactical Analysis: France vs. Switzerland
“Football, bloody hell.” It seems the most appropriate quote to apply to a game that manipulated with narratives, endings, villains and heroes all within 2 hours of football. The beginnings of a fairytale, the overpowered antagonists coming into the fray but back comes the plucky underdogs to win it all. An Oscar-winning motion picture was…
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Tactical Analysis: Netherlands vs. Czech Republic
“He knows why he is here and this is the most important thing,” Netherlands head coach Frank de Boer said of Denzel Dumfries ahead of his nation’s last sixteen clash against the Czech Republic. “He will read about it; he will hear about it but I’m not scared he will do strange things because of…
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Tactical Analysis: Belgium vs. Portugal
It was billed as the main event of the round of 16 fixtures. Belgium-Portugal boasting an array of footballing talent on show was unmissable, but for 45 minutes in particular, it was anything but. Lee Dixon described it as ´pragmatic´ constantly in commentary, that was being nice. The game got the jolt in the arm…
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Tottenham’s Rapid Decline Under Daniel Levy
On May 8, 2019, Lucas Moura scored the winning goal in Amsterdam, sending Tottenham Hotspur into their first ever Champions League Final. This was a huge result for the club as they had finally reached the top of Europe’s biggest competition. Led by club hero Mauricio Pochettino, Tottenham faced off against Liverpool in Madrid but…
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Tactical Analysis: Italy vs. Austria
London’s Wembley stadium was the contemporary battleground for the most recent iteration of the long and storied history between Italian and Austrian forces. Some 200 years on since Italy’s northern heartlands were the jewel in the Austrian Empire’s crown; it was Italy who came out on top in this showpiece event against their once overlords.…









