Having had the upper hand in the chase for the final qualifying spot, Italy would have forced Ukraine to crack the catenaccio in the past. Their approach to this clash was not reliant on a rugged rearguard, but a third clean sheet of the calendar year arrived in a timely manner. Tactical analysis and match […]

The final fixture for the group phase of the EURO qualifiers on home soil could have driven Italy to the same old sinking feeling of the last few years. But the optimism that comes with a new leader has not yet worn away, putting the nation in pole position to decide their destiny. Tactical analysis […]

Both sides looked to impose themselves here with an aggressive pressing game. Italy were able to make the first breakthrough with an early goal, but England’s talented attackers were what ultimately decided the game, with Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford, and Harry Kane all showing their quality. Tactical analysis and match report by Josh Manley. We decided […]

Luciano Spalletti has opened his Italy account with a solid victory against Ukraine. The hosts looked in complete control in the first half, and even though Ukraine halved the deficit, they managed to maintain their lead until the final whistle, which is a marked improvement from their previous game against North Macedonia. Tactical analysis and […]

A new man might be at the helm for Spain, but this clash did not stray from the dynamics of its predecessors. The usual suspect grew more dominant as time elapsed to pin their opponents deep into their half of the field. But it was a fresher face on the roster that sealed the deal. […]

England took a fairly early lead thanks to Declan Rice’s goal from a corner, before another set-piece late in the half led to a penalty which Harry Kane dispatched. Italy would go on to dominate the ball in the second half as England sat deeper, but England’s low-block was able to hold out for a […]

Gareth Southgate once again tried to manage risk with a back three focused on stability. However, a lack of solutions when it came to ball progression meant that England struggled to threaten the Italian defense as the home side ran out 1-0 winners in a cagey affair. Tactical analysis and match report by Josh Manley. England […]

Germany were hosting Italy exactly 10 days after their last meeting on the first matchday of the new Nations League campaign. That game ended in a 1-1 draw, but this one went slightly differently as the scoreline suggests. Tactical analysis and match report by Neel Shelat. Germany’s Nations League campaign had been less than ideal […]

Ahead of kickoff, the odds were firmly on a German victory. In the end, the contest did not align with what many expected. Hansi Flick’s men might have startled their youthful hosts but soon ran into several problems to which their individual quality could not find solutions. Tactical analysis and match report by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere. […]

The odds mandated the Italians make their way into the playoff final, but the fates had more pain in store for the European champions. A lack of incision in the final third paved the way to a stunning climax that barred the revival of the Azzurri from reaching its natural endpoint. Tactical analysis and match report by […]