Five Defining Tactical Features of 2024

Moreover, with the players being closely connected, this allows for immediate counterpressing once possession is lost, thus meaning the ball can be recovered quickly to attack again. The principle of using the sideline as an extra defender notably comes in handy in such instances too as it minimizes the available room for foes to break free.

Conversely, if the wave of counterpressing is broken, opponents can be clean through on the counter given the dense population in a certain portion of the pitch.

It's important to note players are given defined roles to maximise their strengths and to add nuance and structure to the tactical scheme, with this allowing for smoother coalescing between teammates and understanding for players regarding their responsibilities.

Characterized by fluid ball-near interactions and crisp interplay in close quarters to breathe life into attacks, it's a joy to watch when in full flight.

When details like the receiver being in an advantageous body shape, passes being played to the preferred foot of the intended target, and the team being positioned optimally, this all helps massively enhance the success of the strategy on an individual and collective level.

"If they (inswingers) are delivered to the front post-area, it can be very difficult for a goalkeeper to get to that area because of the position you have to start from and because you have such little time to get there, so often defenders in this area need to take the responsibility. For deliveries to the centre of the goal and back post, there is more time for the goalkeeper to adjust their position and footwork," insisted former Germany goalkeeper Nadine Angerer to FIFA.com.

Be it targeting the near or far post, the key thing is the quality of chance inswingers can create, despite them having a smaller margin for error due to the higher propensity of them hitting the first man. But if they do beat the first defender, intended targets can get dangerous flick-ons or runners can use their momentum to gain a dynamic advantage over more stationary adversaries.

Former EPL ace and set-piece maestro, Morten Gamst Pedersen, gave his take on the topic to The Athletic, stating: “It depends on the set up. I prefer inswingers because the ball is going towards the target. Sometimes you block the goalkeeper and aim for the near post and overcrowd the first zone, whipping it in just above the crossbar. If the ball is swinging in, it is hard to head it away. If the opponent does head it, he probably isn’t going to get much distance on it so you can keep the pressure on.

"For inswingers, the curve is going into the goal. If nobody touches it the ball might end up in the net. It is a bigger risk and a smaller margin to aim for, but getting it close to the goal line, if someone touches it, it is difficult to miss or someone might make a mistake.”

Serving as a real potential game-changer, it makes perfect sense why so many teams employ a set-piece coach to maximise their effectiveness from dead-balls, with notable examples such as Arsenal's Nicolas Jover, Aston Villa's Austin MacPhee and Bernardo Cueva at Chelsea. When teams get it right, it's frequently been the difference between winning and losing.

"I believed we needed somebody who specialised in that (set-pieces). I met him, we started to discuss how we could apply set pieces to the open play, which is also connected. They're not two separate things, it's all connected in the game, and how we could maximize that. I knew Nico from before, and I asked him to come and join our project, and he's having a really strong impact on the team," Arteta said of Jover's impact.

As well as the prevalence for in-swinging corners, set pieces in general have continued to grow in significance. From Brentford’s innovative approach to kick offs and match restarts, to throw ins and free kicks, teams are increasingly looking to find margin gains at dead ball scenarios.

Return of the Traditional No. 9

Offering physicality and a fantastic reference point and target for attacks, it's been compelling to see number 9s coming back into fashion in 2024.

Following a pattern of fluid systems and teams opting to sign versatile players that can fulfill many roles, watching how pure centre forwards are an increasingly coveted asset has been intriguing to follow.

The upside attached with having a marksman like Erling Haaland, for example, whose main focus is to score goals, has certainly paid off for Manchester City. Not needing him to be involved as much in the build-up, his job is predominantly to get into quality positions to be an ideal target for colleagues to pinpoint in and around the box or when surging in behind.

Moreover, in the case of the towering Haaland, his sheer size and hulking frame ensures he's a perfect outlet for crosses, cutbacks and any delivery into the area, something that adds another dimension to City when they're struggling to break down deep-sitting blocks.

Not needing to worry about carrying too much extra offensive burden, the Norwegian's scoring record serves as a testament to how superbly he interprets his defined set of responsibilities.

Other figures in this re-emergence of traditional forwards include Alvaro Morata (and his role for Spain at Euro 2024 most notably), Dusan Vlahovic, Dominic Solanke, Victor Osimhen, Chris Wood and Liam Delap - all men who give a tremendous physical, athletic and poaching threat to their respective teams.

Although there is a downside in terms of diminished build-up contributions, the positives far outweigh the negatives, for the instincts and goal output of a proper number 9 is such an enormous deciding factor towards matches being won and points being accumulated.

In many ways, the return of the traditional number 9 is part of a wider trend moving towards a more direct approach used by many teams. Perhaps this a response to beating pressing structures and we saw teams like Spain in the Euros take advantage of pacey wingers and focal point strikers to find success.

Starters vs. Finishers

Due to the hectic schedule many clubs are faced with, managing minutes has been vital towards teams keeping players fresh and avoiding burn out. The issue is particularly tough for teams playing in Europe and those who have a large number of players that go away for international duty.

While many coaches prefer smaller squads, which tends to keep players happier and allows for youth players to get promoted when injuries occur, this isn't really feasible for many sides, especially for outfits fighting on all fronts.

This means squad composition and managing game-time are more integral than ever. Considering clubs are allowed seven substitutes, it's been fascinating to see how managers are using their bench and even almost have a set of starters and finishers.

The perfect example of this is Jhon Duran and Ollie Watkins at Aston Villa, where the Colombian has come off the bench to great effect, profiting on tired defenders who have been run into the ground by Watkins constant movement.

While Duran is clearly frustrated at this arrangement, there's no doubting how successful it's been for Villa, as the Colombian has bagged a host of vital goals for his team. Grabbing nine goals in all club competitions and underlining what a huge force to be reckoned with he is, the 20-year-old has certainly flexed his muscles and given Emery a good selection dilemma.

“(For substitutes), a lot of the time it’s about trying to get them to understand their role within that team,” Sammy Lander, a dedicated substitution coach and consultant who has worked with various club and national teams including the USMNT, told The Athletic.

“Aston Villa are a really good example of that. You can easily identify squad roles within their team. I work with clubs where we recognise specific quiet periods for existing starters, and that’s when we target appropriate substitutes. Being deliberate with subs is important. Emery is not just turning around to look at a player, sticking him on in attack and hoping for the best. There are processes.” 

“For a lot of clubs, it’s still an overlooked area of the game where you’ve got an opportunity to bring in new tactics, players and solutions. When I started my role, I did a big questionnaire with managers and staff and found a recurring answer: that substitutes were often done with a gut instinct. I’d be very surprised if Villa are operating on that level. It appears they have much more of a process with Duran, which is why they’re being so successful.”

Some other examples of super-subs over the last couple of seasons have been Leandro Trossard, Darwin Nuñez, Christopher Nkunku, Timo Werner, Leon Bailey, Harvey Barnes and Brennan Johnson, who have shown how valuable fast and highly-skilled attackers can be to inject crucial offensive impetus, plus width and depth to stretch backlines horizontally and vertically, against tiring defensive units.

Another case in point is Euro 2024, where all but one of the 12 goals scored in additional time during the tournament were scored by substitutes.

It's interesting to note how subs can analyse and gain insights into opposition weaknesses and areas to exploit from their vantage point on the bench, so they can come on and immediately hit the ground running armed with the knowledge to wreak havoc.

"The difference is Akanji is a proper defender, John Stones always has incredible focus, Kyle has the ability to defend one of the most dangerous wingers in the world, Vinicius (Junior, of Real Madrid), without a problem. We have Nathan Ake who in the duels, one against one (he puffs out his cheeks)… he can control (Arsenal’s Bukayo) Saka, whatever right-winger that we face. And Ruben has a huge talent," Guardiola stated.

With these aforementioned heavy hitters being tactically intelligent and able to invert into midfield, operate deeper or even push on at times when at full-back, this versatility enhances their suitability for any role.

Additionally, being comfortable receiving possession centrally and in wider areas is always crucial to ensure the chosen stoppers can contribute adequately in build-up.

Needing to add value offensively and defensively to essentially be a complete package, it's been interesting to see how managers like Arteta and Guardiola have gone about using this framework.

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