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  • Tactical Analysis: Netherlands vs. Austria

    Between Austria’s 11 starters for their match at the Johan Cruyff Arena, they had just 23 league goals between them. The Netherlands meanwhile, had 42 goals between Memphis Depay and Wout Weghorst alone. This stat is perhaps the best summary of Thursday evening’s game in group B.   Though Franco Foda’s Austrian side pressed high…

  • Tactical Analysis: Denmark vs. Belgium

    As the Parken Stadium roared on its Danish heroes at the sound of the national anthem, the events in Copenhagen were marked by the overwhelming train of events that occurred over their talisman Christian Eriksen. A huge choreograph of the Danish shirt commemorating the Nerazzurri midfielder was on show and the adrenaline and sense of…

  • Tactical Analysis: Ukraine vs. North Macedonia

    With both teams fresh off tasting defeat in their first game of Euro 2020, there was much to play for in this encounter in Group C. Andriy Yarmolenko and Roman Yaremchuk became the first ever duo to both score in each of their side’s opening two matches at a single European Championship, having both found…

  • Tactical Analysis: Finland vs. Russia

    Zenit’s Krestovsky Stadium bore witness to one of Europe’s many “Rye Bread Derbies”, this time, a showdown with historical precedent, Finland vs Russia. Despite Finland being the ones with momentum on their side, the consensus was that this 90 minutes would follow the dynamics of the Winter War of 1939-1940, where a superior Russia would…

  • Tactical Analysis: Italy vs. Switzerland

    Before a ball had been kicked, EURO 2020 looked like it could be a tournament for the dark horses. Yet, on a day when a heavily-tipped Turkish side were seemingly written off for good, it was another of the more serious outsiders who really underlined their evermore genuine aspirations to go on and win the…

  • Tactical Analysis: Turkey vs. Wales

    Within 15 minutes of the first matchup between Turkey and Wales since 1997, the tone had been set. Burak Yilmaz eagerly pressed the Welsh defence, only to see his teammates fail to join him. His scream of fury summarised Turkey perfectly; promising, but incoherent.   Wales were on top of their opponents throughout the opening…

  • Tactical Analysis: Hungary vs. Portugal

    A rare sight in these recent Covid times, the Ferenc Pukas stadium in Budapest saw over 60,000 vociferous Hungarians in attendance, the only venue to be allowed at full capacity during the tournament. However, Portugal grabbed a vital win with three goals in the final ten minutes as Cristiano Ronaldo became the European Championships all-time…

  • Tactical Analysis: France vs. Germany

    France have entered EURO 2020 as overwhelming favorites for the trophy, and if Tuesday was an appetizer for what’s to come from them, expect to be served the grandest of main courses in approximately a month. They, alongside Germany, Portugal and Hungary make up what most have been quick to label the Group of Death,…

  • The Ultimate Euro 2020 Matchweek 1 Review

    The sun is shining, summer is here, and the European Championships are in full flow, what more could you ask for? With the first round of fixtures at the delayed Euro 2020 out the way, here at Breaking the Lines, we thought we’d analyse who’s impressed from the get-go, and who will need to get…

  • Tactical Analysis: Spain vs. Sweden

    In a tepid tie between two sides that began the match with an average age of 25.1 for Spain and 29.6 for Sweden, it was players aged 18 and 21 that shone by far brightest for their respective sides. For Spain it was the next in a long line of midfield maestros, Pedri, and for…