Tactical Trends Defining the World Cup So Far

The beauty of the World Cup lies in the variety of unique styles and players competing on the biggest stage. This diversity often presents unusual tactical challenges that require on-the-fly solutions. Additionally, with the popularity and influence of the Premier League and Champions League, nations frequently borrow ideas from club football when the tournament comes around every four years. Twelve games in, common patterns, trends, and match-ups are already emerging. Here are five that have stood out so far.

1. The Return of 4-4-2

Football tactics are continually being developed and analyzed in increasingly detailed manner, making it interesting to see the 4-4-2 formation become so commonly used at this World Cup. Premier League football of the early 2000s was typified by the 4-4-2, where spaces between players were larger, with fewer low blocks and less drilled high presses. This led to more time and space for attackers to express themselves. Teams, perhaps due to conditions and lack of coaching time, have reverted to using a 4-4-2 that looks similar, partly explaining why games feel more open.

Many teams are opting for such a shape out of possession, including Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Brazil, Haiti, Scotland, and Japan, at times. In their 4-4-2, teams pick moments to step up and press but for large parts of the game choose instead to defend in a mid-block—rather than defending deep or pressing high consistently. If international sides opt to simply sit in and defend deep, they ultimately concede a level of control over the game. Especially against bigger nations, allowing them long spells of attacking possession around the box essentially gives them the sort of game they want to play.

Pressing intensely all game becomes less effective given the gruelling heat and humidity, but in moments it has provided fruitful for teams such as Mexico, Morocco, and Germany, who have all scored soon after forcing an opposition turnover. This leaves teams defending in the middle of the pitch in a 4-4-2 shape. The formation provides cover in a wide and balanced manner, but it does leave spaces between the lines that teams have managed to exploit well via the next trend.

2. A Focus on Diagonal Play

In a 4-4-2 shape, the defending side is well placed to stop forward and sideways movements because of their two flat lines of four. As a result, attacking diagonally is a trend we have seen more of this tournament. Playing at these angles has helped teams move from wide positions into more dangerous central positions behind the midfield. For teams oriented in a flat line, covering these angles is more difficult.

Take Morocco's goal against Brazil as an example. Noussair Mazraoui was able to find his attacking midfielder with a diagonal pass from out to in—from a wide area into a more central area—something he had done well numerous times before the goal. Brazil, who spent most of the game in a 4-2-4 shape, fielded a midfield duo of Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes in the first half who were often pulled towards the ball as their side looked to press Morocco. This opened up space on the far side. Brazil's two-man midfield lacked the horizontal coverage a midfield three might have.

A different method of using diagonal play to attack was witnessed in Ecuador's loss to Ivory Coast. Ecuador created good chances against Ivory Coast's 4-4-2 by attacking diagonally from in to out—movement of a player from central areas into wide areas. Piero Hincapie shifted into midfield as a holding midfielder, with Pedro Vite rotated into left back. One of Ivory Coast's central midfielders then picked up Hincapie, who kept making runs from central midfield to the left wing.