Analysis of tactics_Italy on Euro 2012

1. Italy _ euro 2012:
analysis of tactics
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2. Formation (1/2)
Main tactical scheme - 4-1-3-2 with diamond in midfield:
Features of the used formation:
• Different functional of forwards:
- one of them (Balotelli) provides the depth of
attack, preferably acting on the line of last defender;
- the second forward (Cassano) played mote role
of second punta - linking midfield and attack; was
reference point in attack development
• Lop-sided centre of midfield:
Marchisio was focused more on attacking actions;
De Rossi - on defensive actions.
• Deep-lying playmaker – Pirlo: decided on the
direction of attacks. The starting XI: 1. Buffon, 15. Barzagli, 19.
• Active participation of fullbacks in attacking actions, Bonucci, 6. Balzaretti ( also played on this position
7. Abate), 3. Chiellini (6. Balzaretti), 21. Pirlo, 16.
providing width.
De Rossi, 8. Marchisio, 18. Montolivo (5. Motta),
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Twitter: @petrchulkov 10. Cassano, 9. Balotelli.

3. Formation (2/2)
Additional used tactical scheme: 3-5-2
- used this formation in 2 first games
- De Rossi played as false libero - covering depth
of defense and often started attacks in transition
phase
- important role is devoted to wing-backs: closing
down advancing full-backs of the rival in defense and
allowing to get numbers in centre of defense & usage
of free zones on the opponent's half in transitions to
attack.
On scheme: 1. Buffon, 2. Maggio, 19.
Note: basis for the analysis is 4-3-1-2
Bonucci, 3. Chiellini 13. Giaccherini, 21.
Pirlo, 16. De Rossi, 8. Marchisio, 5. Motta,
10. Cassano, 9. Balotelli.
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4. Offense: key features of offensive actions
• Gradual transition to attack in most cases - with short build-up on own half
• Usage of long / medium diagonals as main means for delivering ball to zone
of attack
• Transition to attack via delivering ball to moved down forward or advancing
fillback, passing by midfielders
• Predominant first route of ball delivery - left flank or zone closer to left flank
• Distinctive feature of final stage of attacks - most of shots on goal were
come outside the penalty box (57 % of all shots on goal)
• 50% of goals scored from set-pieces
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5. Offense: core parts
Attacking actions in general included the following:
1) creating free space and time for Pirlo or central defenders for first pass in
transition to attack
2) getting space for free ball receiving thanks to movements of Cassano &
getting ball to moved down forward (flank or centrally) or advancing fullback (on
flank)
3) creation of coalition (in 2-3 players) in zone of the ball with getting the ball
in penalty box (predominantly from flanks) or with following shot on goal outside
penalty box.
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6. Offense: 1st phase (1/2)
Central defender and Pirlo created wide triangular for ball
In the 1st phase of build up :
possession.
De Rossi provided support - moving deep to them for getting
overmanning in zone of the ball. Usually he moved down as Pirlo
got the ball and faced the opponent.
Fullbacks provided width in attacks, advancing as there was
free space above and took the position of wide midfielder. It
created the opportunity for using diagonal ball as means for
transition to attack. Sometimes, in first minutes of the game, De
Rossi may move to flank - it seemed to be trick for opponent's
player - made him follow De Rossi in continuation of game and
help to open flank. Chiellini moved centrally in these cases.
Also forwards could provide width in attack, moving to flank.
Cassano was in constant movements in search of free zone -
predominantly moved down to the centre or to the zone of left
flank. His movements had an effect on Montolivo's run: when
Cassano moved down centrally - he moved closer to left flank;
when Cassano moved to left flank - he looked for space in central
zone. `

7. Offense: 1st phase (2/2)
In the 1st phase of build up :
In general, in the beginning of build-up Cassano-Montolivo-
Marchisio positioned practically on one line in holding midfielder's
zone.
Pirlo, De Rossi, Bonucci were first who usually started attack.
All of them possess good long ball skill and showed good
accuracy.
In case of high pressing of the rival fullbacks came deeper to
provide additional support. In that cases the team overcame
pressing via pass to Buffon who changed the angle of attack to
opposite flank.
Balotelli usually played on the line of the last defender
providing depth in attack.
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8. Offense: transition to attack (1/2)
The preferring zone in getting the ball to attack - left flank and central zone above penalty
box.
Movements of Cassano was the basis in getting ball to attack - he wad free or he drew
defender, opening zone.
Mostly used patterns in ball delivery to attack:
`Comments on the next slide

9. Offense: transition to attack (2/2)
А) Long balls to flank zone - on moving deep forward (more often Cassano).
Cassano preferred to receive the ball with back to the opponent's goal with following
turning into right side.
В) via fullback (predominantly left flank) – here Cassano could dragged opponent's
fullback
С) development through central axis.
There is also possible long balls from Pirlo to Balotelli - if movements of Cassano dragged
central defender and leave space for Balotelli run
d) possible way for changing the angle of attack - via De Rossi /Pirlo. Also othen ised tjis
way when Motta played.
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10. Offense: final stage of attacks
• Quick support of forward who got the ball - often in form of coalition, creating triangular
On flank - due to movement of
Montolivo and advancing fullback;
On central zone - Montolivo and
Marchisio.
Pirlo stepped up and positioned behind coalition - who could get the ball and organise
secind wave of attack, preferring change the angle of attack and sending ball to fast run
of fullback.
• Main options in finishing:
pass from flanks (from side lines of penalty box) after:
* overlapping of Montolivo or fullback
* individual run of Cassano getting ball on the flank.
Usually Balotelli (near post) and Marchisio played ball in the penalty box.
shots outside the penalty box (often after pass from flanks)
rarely - through ball to penalty box, combined with run of Marchisio from depth there (in
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direction of far post).

11. Offense: counterattacks
Transition to counterattack after getting ball on own half / won rebound in set
pieces on own half - main option was long ball behind the defense of rival, in
direction on run of Balotelli.
It is to be noted that Balotelli didn't participate in defensive actions of set
pieces and positioned on the opponent's half in readiness to get the ball.
In the game Cassano tried to drag central defender opened space for run of
Balotelli in central channels.
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12. Defense: transition to defense (1/2)
Key characteristic of transition to defense - high pressing on the opponent's half (the
team started active pressing on opponent's half).
When the ball is lost in attack:
- immediately 2 closing players, who took part in coalition, started pressing opponent
with the ball;
- Pirlo provided covering;
- De Rossi closed danger of possible counterattacks of opponent - took position closer
to centre of field, moving laterally regarding zone of ball.
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13. Defense: transition to defense (2/2)
When opponent started attack from the goal:
- forwards (1st block of defense) worked in central
zone, pressing cenyral defenders and goalkeeper of
opponent with aim to make the rival to send ball on flank
- when ball was delivered to flank and fullback of the
opponent got the ball - attacking midfielder (Montolivo)
and respective central midfielder came up starting
pressing
- Pirlo covered zone of moved central midfielder
- fullback tracked tightly wide midfielder of the
opponent (if he moved back to own half fullback
accompanied him)
An opponent overcame pressing successfully
when they got numerical advantage on flank mostly due
to moving of holding midfielder on flank. As a rule he was
free and the opponent could changed the angle of attack.
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14. Defense on own half (1/2)
Main principles:
• Compactness in 4-3-1 formation on own half. Attacking midfielder marked closing
holding midfielder of the rival mostly with focus on cutting passes to him and didn't
track him deeply.
• Line of defenders: zonal marking
• High defensive line in the beginning of defensive actions on own half - 10-12 metres
from the penalty box.
• Central defender closed player of the rival between the lines, stepping up from line.
• Forwards moved back to help in defense occasionally and one of them - closing flank
• Preferably the team created density in zone of the ball on flank (76% of shots missed
from central zone)
• Technically - often used tackling for getting ball from the opponent. Many players has
high level skill in tackling.
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15. Defense on own half (2/2)
• Positioning
- ball on flank:
one of central midfielder closed flank;
attacking midfielder closed nearest holding midfielder;
Pirlo provided covering of players who pressed opponent;
second central midfielder positioned closer to central zone above penalty box.
- ball in the centre: one of central midfielder started tackling.
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16. Defense: gaps (1/3)
1) in terms of high pressing after losing
the ball on rival's half there is relatively
free opposite flank for development of fast
counterattack. Fullback on that flank was
positioned closer to central defender's line,
leaving space for rival's counterattack.
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17. Defense: gaps (2/3)
2) When holding/central midfielder overlapped on flank or moved to flank
zone - attacking midfielder (Montolivo) didn't track him. In fact, the fullback had
to decide - to close wide mifielder or holding.
The same gap was happened to defense of Milan in last season (the team
also used formation with diamond in centre of midfield): when central midfielder
of opponent joined attacks on flank he was without marking.
If respective central defender stepped up to help him, central midfielder
usually dropped deep, into penalty box - central zone between the lines was free.
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18. Defense: gaps (3/3)
3) The game in 3 midfielders and urge for
compactness in zone of ball led to following
situation: when ball was on one flank on own half -
the other was relatively free.
In case of changing the angle of attack
midfielders could not make shifting timely. The
fullback on that flank was forced to move forward to
face opponent he left space and missed run of
partner of the opponent behind the back.
3а) Most positional errors were performed by
Chellini (when he played on left flank of defense).
Even using 3-5-2 formation Chellini allowed run of
the opponent in own zone, coming from deep.
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19. Corners (attack)
Cross is performed by Pirlo. There are 2 options: inswing ball to near post (usually in
corners from left flank) or out-swing ball to far post.
Barzahli - run in direction of the player who crossed, opening space on near post. He
could also perform flick on far post.
Cassano played the ball on near post.
From the centre of the penalty box - 2 players moved on far post (Chellini/De Rossi,
Bonucci), 2 players - centrally (De Rossi/Chellini, Motta, Balotelli).
Marchisio - responsible for ball rebound.
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20. Corners (defense)
Used mix of zonal and personal marking with emphasis on latter.
Pirlo closed near post's corner. Barzhali - zone of the near post. Bonucci - closed central
zone of penalty box, controlling possible run of opponent from depth.
Montolivo was responsible for rebound, positioned on far zone of penalty box's line.
4 players marked players of the opponent.
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Twitter: @petrchulkov