REFRESHING Football Tactics Euro 2024

These four teams have offered entertaining football during the Euro 2024 tournament.

Even though some reached farther than others in the tournament, all of them showed a desire to win for their countries.

Georgia has fielded a 5-3-2 formation, defensive at times, but had clinical counterattacking moments.

A goalkeeper on defend duty in goal. In front of him, a five at the back made of two full backs on support duty, and three central defenders on defend duty.

The full backs have the responsibility of giving the formation its width, by gradually going up in possession.

So cross more often and get further forward as player instructions for both and mark tighter for the left-sided one.

Tackle harder for the central defenders.

The midfield trio is made of a box-to-box midfielder, a ball winning midfielder on defend duty and a central midfielder on support duty.

They are all asked to mark tighter and the central midfielder is also asked to get further forward.

And the front two are a pressing forward on attack duty and an advanced forward.

I chose the pressing forward role for Georges Mikautadze as he has been the most persistent and dangerous attacking player for Georgia.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was asked to close down more and mark tighter.

As you notice, almost all the players are asked to mark tighter and this is due to Georgia being a very aggressive team when defending. Trying to give their opponents as little time as possible on the ball.

As mentality, I chose cautious.

In possession, standard attacking width, standard passing directness and a higher tempo. Play for set pieces and be more disciplined.

In transition, they did not counter-pressed and preferred to regroup, when possible, but they did counter…a lot.

I let the goalkeeper decide on the ball distribution type.

Out of possession, a low block and a lower defensive line. Beware that this is a very inefficient and goal inviting setup in Football Manager 2024. If this is too defensive, then switch to a mid block and a standard defensive line.

Trigger press less often and trap outside.

Georgia have been a compact team, that prioritized defending and counterattack football. A setup that brought them a prestigious win over Portugal and a run to the second round of the tournament.

Turkey fielded a 4-2-3-1 most of the times so this is the setup we will focus on.

A sweeper keeper on defend duty. In front of him, a back four made of two ball playing defenders on defend duty, a wing back and an inverted wing back on attack duty.

Mert Muldur has joined the attack every time the opportunity presented itself, but through constant overlaps. While Ferdi Kadioglu took advantage of his technical skills to becoming an extra option in the midfield when possible.

In front of them, a deep lying playmaker and a roaming playmaker on support duty. With this setup, you can notice that there is no natural defensive minded midfielder.

This is due to Turkey playing quite up the field when in possession, which integrated the deep lying playmaker in the defensive line, alongside the ball playing defenders.

Stay wider for him, as he covered the flank when not in possession, giving freedom to the left sided winger to tuck inside and to the inverted wing back to underlap him and overload the attacking midfield area.

An inverted winger on support and one on attack duty. Arda Guler is on support duty, as he often drifted from his assigned position, taking up the role of Hakan Calhanoglu when he got up the pitch.

Roam from position for him.

An attacking midifielder role on attack duty for Orkun Kokcu and a pressing forward on attack duty for the striker.

As mentality, positive.

In possession, fairly wide attacking width. Pass into space and play out of defence. Slightly shorter passing directness and a slightly higher tempo. And mixed crosses.

In transition, counter-press, counter and distribute the ball to the defence, through short kicks.

And out of possession a high press, a standard defensive line. Trigger press more often and prevent the goalkeeper short distribution.

Unlike Turkey, though, Slovenia preferred to defend and hope for the best. Which took them to the second round of the tournament.

A classic 4-4-2 formation, with a goalkeeper on defend duty in goal. A back four made of two full backs and two central defenders, all on defend duty.

Two wingers on support duty on the flanks. One box-to-box midfielder and one central midfielder on support duty.

The box-to-box midfielder is asked to mark tighter, to give as little time on the ball as possible to the opposition.

One deep lying forward and one advanced forward on attack duty.

I know that the highlight of the Slovenian team may have been Benjamin Šeško for a reason or another.

But to me, the engine of this tactic was Andraž Šporar. A player who seemed to not shy away from dropping deep to collect passes or to link up play for his striker teammate.

As mentality, positive.

In possession, fairly wide attacking width, shorter passing directness and a standard tempo. Mixed crosses and be more disciplined.

In transition, counter-press and counter. And distribute the ball to the defence. I let the goalkeeper choose the method for ball distribution.

Out of possession, a mid block, standard defensive line and trigger press slightly more often.

Slovenia may have not had a lot of goalscoring opportunities, but they gave all for the team and secured an historic run in the tournament, holding Portugal to a draw for 120 minutes.

Hungary, unlike the aforementioned teams, did not qualify from the group stage. But they did provide one of the moments of the tournament, with a 1-0 goal in the 90+10 minute.

A 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1 formation for Marco Rossi’s team. With a goalkeeper on defend duty in goal.

A three at the back made of two ball playing defenders on defend duty and one central defender on cover duty.

Two wingers on support, which must also defend when needed, creating a five at the back. To create this, the wingers could also be assigned wing back on support duty roles.

In the midfield area, a box-to-box and a central midfielder on support duty.

And in front, a trio made of two attacking midfielders – one on support and one on attack duty.

Dominik Szoboszlai is the engine of this team. He roams from position, dropping deep or wide to collect the ball or running in behind the striker, to take a chance at the goal.

And the striker is assigned a deep lying forward on attack duty role.

As mentality, positive.

In possession, fairly wide attacking width and play out of defence. Shorter passing directness and a slightly higher tempo. And mixed crosses.

In transition, counter-press, counter and distribute the ball to the defence. And I let the goalkeeper choose the ball distribution method.

Out of possession, mid block and a standard defensive line. Trigger press more often and trap outside.

Hungary tried to be compact in defence and to play more on the counterattack. But besides the 90+10 minute against Scotland, they failed often using this playing style.

All four teams have done more than expected of them, at times, during the tournament.

And irrespective of their results, they were part of Europe’s football elite this summer.