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Euro 2020: Tactical previews of the quarter-final games including Ukraine v England
Alex Keble takes a tactical look at the Euro 2020 quarter-final fixtures.
Czech Republic v Denmark: 3-4-2-1 ideal to stop balls into Schick
This is the least predictable of the four games, and between two evenly-matched sides without a particularly obvious ability to dominate the match we should have a tense affair decided in the moments.
In other words, this isn’t going to be the most ‘tactical’ game of the four, although the Czech Republic’s attacking focus on swinging crosses into Patrik Schik will be the defining strategy for Jaroslav Silhavy’s side.
Denmark have the right system to stop them.
The Danes will go in as favourites having generally performed better throughout the tournament – and because their 3-4-2-1 can limit Czech Republic’s main strength.
Three of the Czechs’ five goals at Euro 2020 have been from set-pieces, while Spain are the only side left in the competition who attempt more crosses than Czech Republic’s 17 per match.
Silhavy plays a distinctly long-ball game, firing direct passes forward to get the wide men on the ball and cross for their main man in the box.
The Danes are far more fluid in possession, and by deploying wing-backs they should have the personnel in the right spaces to shut down crosses. Even if they cannot, then Andreas Christensen, Simon Kjaer, and Jan Vestergaard is a powerful trio of centre-backs capable of challenging Schik.
Ukraine v England: Attacking football would see England ease through
Ukraine are a highly defensive side capable of sitting behind the ball for long periods of time before suddenly exploding forward on the break, but England’s defensive sturdiness means they are not likely to be tested in the way a clumsy Netherlands or 10-man Sweden were.
Andriy Shevchenko’s side’s main strength is their set-pieces – having scored two so far – and the trickery of Andriy Yarmolenko.
That individualism, along with Oleksandr Zinchenko’s creativity from midfield, is the only real threat to England.
Their 3-5-2 might encourage Southgate to again mirror formations and stick with a 3-4-3, but that would most likely be a mistake.
Ukraine will sit in a low block, and as such England must prepare for games similar to those against Scotland and Czech Republic.
Forced to dominate possession, England will need to find a way to prise the Ukraine defence apart.
That surely means a 4-2-3-1, the most attacking system England have deployed so far at Euro 2020 and a repeat of the formation that started so strongly against Czech Republic.
Jack Grealish’s ability to draw defenders out of position, plus his capacity for winning set-pieces, makes him arguably England’s most important player – especially after he brought Harry Kane into the tournament on Tuesday evening.
Mason Mount’s buzzing movement between the lines, giving England a progressive pass, will also be important for Southgate, and the England manager needs to bravely push his full-backs high up the pitch to stretch Ukraine out of their shell.
Should Southgate go out to attack, his team will have no problem progressing to the last four.
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