Analysis

Even though they failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties in the playoff semi-finals, Wales are currently undergoing an exciting tactical revolution under Craig Bellamy. It’s the 46-year-old Welshman’s first-ever managerial job outside of the academy level, and he is already showing his tactical acumen. For many […] The post Craig Bellamy Tactics At Wales 2026: Transforming The Dragons’ Identity – Tactical Analysis appeared first on Total Football Analysis.

Tony Pulis explores why Tottenham are in such a mess and what their new manager Roberto de Zerbi might do to change things as they seek to stay in the Premier League.

As always seems to be the case in Bundesliga 2, there is little to choose between the sides jostling for position near the top of the second-tier table this season and promotion up to the big time.

ROUND THE WORLD: Breakdown of USMNT's wasted window f/t belts to ass from Belgium and Portugal. Did we answer ANY questions? Is Poch playing the long game or flailing wildly? What is our best XI right now? HALFTIME: What If the French national team played in the Premier League... where are they finishing? PREMIER LEAGUE: What is the best-case scenario for Tottenham's 5-year deal - LOL - for Roberto De Zerbi? Arsenal's (shrewd) shamelessness continues. STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

This is not new to us AS Roma fans, a late season wobble and collapse when the club is in a good position, and they will end up playing catch up. We have seen this story before and how it plays out. The club is now looking in from the outside with Como, the… The post Analyzing the Roots of AS Roma’s Late-Season Collapse first appeared on Breaking The Lines.

Calculate the winners of each group and the knockout rounds and choose a champion Leer

For examples of how little a team’s form in the World Cup run-in matters in the tournament itself, look no further than the US The last time the United States men’s national team entered into the final stretch of their preparations for a World Cup on home soil, the results were dire. From January through April of 1994, the Americans, who were mostly sequestered in a full-time training camp, played 12 games and won just twice. They even managed to lose to Iceland, who were a total non-factor in global soccer back then. Then, that ’94 team went on to survive the group stage and narrowly lose to eventual champions Brazil, 1-0, in the round of 16. They delivered on expectations in spite of their deflating run-in.

Bosnia-Herzegovina and Italy went toe-to-toe in a one-off game that would determine which nation would go into Group B of this summer’s FIFA World Cup, with the Bosnians winning on penalties. They played out a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes of football, and two missed penalties cost the Azzurri in the shoot-out. This was […] The post Bosnia And Herzegovina Vs Italy [1-1 (4-1)] – 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification Playoff Final – Tactical Analysis appeared first on Total Football Analysis.

If Tottenham are relegated from the Premier League it will be one of the biggest stories in the competition's history.

Sweden faced Poland in the finals of UEFAs FIFA World Cup qualification playoffs, and the match ended in a decisive 3-2 win for the hosts after an entertaining battle. Sweden earned a long-awaited return to the World Cup following their absence in the most recent edition; back in 2018, they reached the quarter-finals. Poland have […] The post Sweden Vs Poland [3-2] – 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification Playoff Final – Tactical Analysis appeared first on Total Football Analysis.

A deep dive into how Mikel Arteta has transformed Arsenal into genuine Premier League title contenders through tactical innovation, smart recruitment, and a record-breaking defensive system.

From Algeria to Uzbekistan, our writers and contributors from around the world assess the state of the 48 nations to qualify for the tournament “There’s more talent and potential than in 2022,” Kylian Mbappé said ominously this week after France had beaten Brazil 2-1 despite having Dayot Upamecano sent off after 55 minutes. He may well be right. For the second game of this window, against Colombia, Didier Deschamps changed the entire starting XI but was still able to field an attack of Marcus Thuram, Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki and Maghnes Akliouche. Doué scored two in a comfortable 3-1 victory. “I’m well aware that there are some very good players that I won’t be bringing because, in my opinion, there are even better ones,” Deschamps said. Marcus Christenson

Rog and Rory Smith break down a dramatic end to qualifying across the globe. They start with Italy’s stunning playoff collapse and what it says about the future of one of football’s traditional powers, before turning to Turkey’s growing threat and what it means for the USA ahead of their group stage meeting. From there, the focus widens to stories like Iraq’s emotional return and DR Congo’s breakthrough underline both the chaos and meaning of qualification. Plus, England’s attacking questions and whether Max Dowman could factor into the squad. Presented by Christopher Ward. To celebrate our partnership with Men in Blazers, Christopher Ward is giving one lucky soccer fan the chance to win any Trident watch of their choice. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Roberto Baggio proposed an overhaul of talent pathway in 2011 but it was never acted on and the national team’s approach now is just not working The decline of Italy’s footballing expectations can be read in the headlines that greeted their third consecutive failure to qualify for a men’s World Cup. When the Azzurri lost their playoff against Sweden in November 2017, La Gazzetta dello Sport defined it as “The End” and an “Apocalypse”. After defeat by North Macedonia in 2022, Il Corriere dello Sport saw a country sinking “Into Hell”. On Wednesday both newspapers led coverage of elimination by Bosnia and Herzegovina with a simpler, perhaps sadder, “Tutti A Casa” – Everybody Go Home. What else is there left to say? Italians understood long ago that 2018 was not some aberration but the continuation of a trend, their team having failed to reach the tournament’s knockout stage in 2010 or 2014.

Matt Doyle and Tab Ramos react to another disappointing USMNT performance against Portugal, questioning the tactical approach from Mauricio Pochettino, including the decision to deploy Christian Pulisic as a lone forward in a false 9 role. Tab voices concerns over the lack of a clear identity, while Matt breaks down exactly what went wrong tactically. They also react to Pochettino’s eye-opening claim that the U.S. doesn’t have a single player among the world’s top 100, and what that says about his coaching style. Looking ahead, Tab reveals his projected Starting XI for the FIFA World Cup and dives into the toughest roster decisions facing the USMNT. Plus, an early scouting report on Turkiye, as they claim their spot as the U.S.’s third opponent in Group D. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liverpool’s Next Winger: Why Olise, Diomande and Barcola Lead the Race Liverpool’s forward line is approaching a moment of recalibration. With Mohamed Salah expected to depart, attention has shifted firmly towards identifying the next elite wide threat. This is not a like-for-like replacement scenario; it is a structural rethink. Recruitment is already being framed around […] The post Analysis: The data behind Liverpool’s top three Mohamed Salah replacements appeared first on anfieldindex.com.

Losses to Belgium and Portugal came with some positives, but showed just how perfect the U.S. has to be to beat the best in the world

Newcastle may be in a fight to secure European qualification – but they’d be better off if they miss out altogether rather than sealing a Conference League spot. That’s the view o…

Who will come out on top in North America with all the teams now confirmed for football's biggest tournament?

In a system historically based on control, tempo, and numerical superiority in midfield, the true holding midfielder doesnt emerge easily; rather, he is gradually made within the tactical context. Marc Bernal is one of the most prominent rising stars in La Liga, reflecting this transformation at FC Barcelona. Despite his young age and relatively limited […] The post Marc Bernal Scout Report At Barcelona 2025/2026: Barça’s Next Positional Pivot – Player Analysis appeared first on Total Football Analysis.

Bernardo Silva joined Manchester City in the summer of 2017 from AS Monaco for a €50m fee; it’s safe to say he’s lived up to that price tag. Although he was never a player tasked with scoring many goals or providing many assists, he plays a deeply important role for Pep Guardiola’s side by controlling the ball, […] The post Bernardo Silva Scout Report At Manchester City 2025/2026: Where Does Pep Guardiola’s Midfield Controller Fit Next? – Player Analysis appeared first on Total Football Analysis.

IAN LADYMAN: Fast, devastatingly clinical and easy on the eye. This was a great night for Japanese football at Wembley. As for Thomas Tuchel's England, this was the 90 minutes from hell.

The USMNT coach oddly undercut his players when discussing defeat to a second straight European power

Praying his captain and talismanic striker is fully fit seems the head coach's best chance of success this summer

Explaining how Michael Carrick has changed they way Manchester United play in ten games

Australia beat Curacao 5-1 on Tuesday night as they prepare for the World Cup in the summer

Those who played under Ange Postecoglou might detect similar tactics. De Zerbi likes technical players in all areas and to play out. This involves the goalkeeper, which is particularly interesting.

The Italian national team failed to qualify for their third straight World Cup, and a major overhaul is needed

The most important goal of Sweden's bizarre World Cup qualifying campaign was arguably scored in UEFA's Nations League in November 2024

OLIVER HOLT AT WEMBLEY: It was not a fond farewell. England did not take their leave of Wembley wreathed in laurels and serenaded with hosannas, put it that way.

A manager with a history of combativeness, who fans are protesting against getting the job is now the man tasked with saving Tottenham

Roberto De Zerbi faces a huge tactical dilemma if he takes over as Tottenham head coach. The Italian has been announced as the new manager at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. De Zerbi, who left his r…

When Barnsley publish a statement like Jon Flatman’s, supporters tend to do one of two things. Some switch off the moment words like sustainable, efficient and long-term start appearing. Others brace themselves for the bit where they are politely asked to lower expectations again. This update had a bit of both about it. On the surface, it was calm, sensible and measured. The club says Neerav Parekh remains committed, no money is being taken out, and Barnsley must make sure every part of the budget is used effectively. In isolation, none of that is outrageous. In fact, some of it is plainly true. Because when you look at the latest accounts, the financial picture is not exactly one of a club cruising along in rude health. Barnsley’s turnover rose to £10.28 million for the year ending 30 June 2025, up from £8.97 million the previous period. That sounds positive enough. But the overall loss also ballooned to £6.58 million, compared with £2.84 million before. Cash at bank stood at just £882,480 by the year end, while shareholders’ funds remained negative at around £2.68 million. The strategic report also states that £5.4 million of operating cash was required from the owners during the year. So let’s be fair from the start. The club are not inventing a problem that does not exist. The need for financial restraint, or at least financial realism, is there in black and white. But that is not the whole story, and it is certainly not the whole feeling around the place. What the statement is really saying Flatman’s message is essentially this: Barnsley want to remain competitive, but they also need to be smarter, leaner and less reliant on owners endlessly plugging the gap. He points to rising costs across League One, the fragility of the football model, and the need to create a club that is attractive to future partners and investors. Again, taken at face value, that is hard to argue with. Most clubs at this level are balancing on a tightrope, and Barnsley are hardly unique in that regard. But football supporters do not read statements in a vacuum. They read them through the lens of what they have watched, paid for and put up with. That is where the unease starts creeping in. What the accounts actually show The accounts reveal something quite awkward. Revenue improved. Matchday and commercial income improved. The club benefited from a decent cup run and increased central EFL distributions. Yet the losses still worsened dramatically. The strategic report says the playing budget available for the first team was sufficient for a top-six finish, but the final league position in that accounting period was 11th. That matters. Because if Barnsley were skint and scraping the bottom of the barrel, the argument would be straightforward. Tighten belts, accept pain, hope for better days. But that is not really what the club’s own report says. It says the budget was there to compete. It says revenues rose. It says the club invested. And still, the end result was another season that fell short. That is why supporters are unlikely to simply nod along when the language of sustainability comes out again. It is not that fans do not understand the figures. It is that they have heard enough versions of “steady as she goes” to know it often arrives after another campaign that has gone nowhere near as well as planned. Sustainability is fair. Stagnation is not. This is the balance Barnsley have to get right now. Nobody sensible is asking the owners to chuck money into a bonfire forever. The accounts make it obvious that the current situation depends heavily on that support. There was also a further share allotment after the year end, underlining that shareholder backing has continued to be part of the picture. So yes, the club are right to talk about sustainability. But supporters are equally right to ask what exactly they are being asked to sustain. A club with rising revenues but worsening losses. A club that talks about recruitment and long-term planning, yet still feels stuck between ambition and caution. A club that keeps sounding like it is preparing for the future while the present remains stubbornly underwhelming. That is the problem. Not the use of the word sustainability itself. The problem is that Barnsley supporters have seen too little evidence that the pain of patience is actually building towards something. The table tells its own story That mood is sharpened by where Barnsley sit now. They are not staring into a relegation fight, but nor are they anywhere near where supporters believe this club should be. Mid-table is the worst kind of football existence. Not disastrous enough to force major change. Not good enough to build real belief. Just a slow, dragging trudge through a season that always seems to promise more than it delivers. That is why statements like Flatman’s land the way they do. Fans do not hear careful stewardship. They hear another warning that expectation needs trimming while the football side continues to flatter to deceive. Sometimes unfairly, perhaps. But not irrationally. The real question Barnsley have not answered The accounts show the model is under strain. Fine. What they do not answer is why Barnsley still seem so far from the stable, competitive, smartly run club they keep describing. If the budget was built for the top six and the club finished 11th, that is not just a financial story. It is a football story. If turnover rises and losses still worsen, that is not just bad luck. It raises questions about efficiency, judgement and return on investment. And if supporters are being asked to buy into another period of prudence, they are entitled to want more than warm words about infrastructure, opportunities and long-term thinking. They are entitled to ask when all that starts looking like progress. Final Whistle Jon Flatman’s update was not outrageous, and it was not baseless. The latest Barnsley accounts show a club still heavily reliant on owner support, still losing serious money, and still in no position to act like the financial rules of gravity do not apply. But the numbers also show something else. Barnsley are not merely battling harsh realities. They are also dealing with the consequences of another season in which the spend, the planning and the ambition did not produce enough on the pitch. That is why supporters will not just swallow the message whole. The warning is fair. The frustration is too.

Would Tottenham be making a mistake by appointing 'high-risk' Roberto De Zerbi as their new boss? Listen to the audio version of the Totally Football Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or by following this link: https://podfollow.com/totallyfootballshow Get in touch with the show: Email: [email protected] X: @thetotallyshow Instagram: @totallyfootballshow TikTok: @thetotallyshow BlueSky: ‪@totallyshow.bsky.social‬ The Totally Football Show is with you four times a week this season, giving you all the football news you need to know - and plenty that you don't. We've got views, stats and analysis from the very best football writers around. It's smart, it's funny, and it's totally free – so listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. #thfc #tottenham #tottenhamhotspur #premierleague #football #footballshorts

Roberto Martinez was blunt in assessing how reliable March's friendlies are when it comes to projecting World Cup performance

Manuel Locatellis most disappointing career moment to date came less than two years after UEFA Euro 2024. Italy were off to Germany to defend their crown, having won a continental tournament three years prior, with Locatelli playing a starring, breakout role. Yet Azzurri boss Luciano Spalletti did not select the midfielder for his squad, much […] The post Manuel Locatelli Scout Report At Juventus 2025/2026: Italy’s Progressive Midfield Conductor – Player Analysis appeared first on Total Football Analysis.

Arne Slot has highlighted his side's profligacy as a key reason for their slump as Premier League champions, and the stats back him up

Relegation battle has exposed Spurs’ institutional flaws with the stupidity of the interim hire still startling Probably Tim Sherwood put it best, speaking on Sky Sports about the through-the-looking-glass world of Tottenham Hotspur and magic bean relegation remedies. “They need an arm round the shoulder,” Sherwood said. “I’d tell Xavi Simons he’s the new Luka Modric. Obviously he’s not but I’d tell him he was. I’d tell him: ‘Save us from relegation and you can go to Real Madrid next season.’ Obviously he won’t but I’d tell him that.” Sherwood has had a good Tottenham crisis period. “The Premier League has smacked him in the mouth,” was his verdict on Igor Tudor, pre-sacking. While every proper football man will like the sound of this, of the Premier League being large and unassailable, Tudor deserves a little sympathy.

SportsLine soccer expert Jon Eimer offers up his best bets as the World Cup field will be set after the playoff finals on Tuesday, March 31

Tab Ramos and Matt Doyle react to the USMNT’s disastrous second-half collapse in a 5–2 loss to Belgium. Tab breaks down what went wrong, what Mauricio Pochettino could have done differently to slow down Jérémy Doku, and shares his growing concerns about Christian Pulisic, and why the U.S. needs more from “Captain America.” Looking ahead to the clash with Portugal, Tab reveals his projected Starting XI, evaluates which players are still fighting for roster spots, and outlines what must change immediately... from tactics to mentality… and even the jersey situation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bukayo Saka is having one of his poorest seasons, despite Arsenal's good form. An analysis of whether he is really world-class. The post The Curious Case of Bukayo Saka: Arsenal’s Faltering Starboy appeared first on Attacking Football.

The Gunners are favorites to take home silverware this season, but could the long list of injuries derail their Champions League and Premier League hopes?

Players are not covering the distances of old – they are not being lazy but adapting to demands of an arduous campaign There is nothing English football admires more than honest endeavour, which is perhaps a consequence of the league’s origins in the industrial cities of the north and Midlands. “He put in a shift.” “She did her job.” “He gave his all.” The language of football is the language of the pit or the factory floor. All top-level players these days are supremely skilled, but still we demand that they be exhausted by the final whistle, legs leaden with effort, hair soaked with sweat. Which was why it seemed to cause such consternation when Alan Shearer mentioned on Match of the Day last Saturday that Chelsea have run less than their opponents in every Premier League game they have played this season.

Why is football seeing a re-emergence of zonal defensive organisation, and could this trend continue in future? The post Modern Football’s Evolution: A Re-Emergence of Zonal Defensive Organisation appeared first on Attacking Football.

Analysis over why Norway's national team is one to watch at the 2026 World Cup in North America. The post Why Norway Are Ones To Watch At The 2026 World Cup appeared first on Attacking Football.

Former Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given joins Mark Chapman, Chris Sutton and Rory Smith to review the weekend's key talking points, starting with City's Wembley win over Arsenal. How much will it impact the Premier League title race? Did Pep Guardiola's celebrations suggest he'll be leaving at the end of the season? What could the psychological effect on Arsenal be in the FA Cup and Champions League? The panel also ask whether criticism of Mikel Arteta's decision to start Kepa ahead of regular first-choice goalkeeper David Raya is harsh or justified, before moving onto their North London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs fan Jack Hussey and BBC Senior Football Correspondent Sami Mokbel join the MNC to discuss how Spurs can save their season over the upcoming international break. Later, Abigail Rudkin — from The Anfield Wrap and The Redmen TV — explains why Liverpool fans are suffering from their own identity crisis under Arne Slot. Finally, York City boss Stuart Maynard explains the context behind a fascinating National League title race between The Minstermen and Rochdale. TIMECODES 00:20 How important is a trophy win for City's new squad? 04:00 Is Pep going to leave at the end of the season? 07:25 Were Arsenal too lacklustre? 09:45 Was Arteta wrong to start Kepa over David Raya? 12:42 Will this turn Arsenal into the 'nearlymen' in the cups? 18:40 "He didn't put Gunnersaurus in goal!" 24:30 Tottenham's crisis, with Jack Hussey from the 'Rule the Roost' podcast, and Sami Mokbel, BBC Senior Football Correspondent 41:45 Why Liverpool fans are turning on Arne Slot, with Abigail Rudkin from the Anfield Wrap and The Redmen TV 53:40 The National League's incredibly tight title race, with York City manager Stuart Maynard

Former Premier League goalkeeper Tim Krul joins Aaron Paul and Luke Edwards to debate and analyse the weekend’s key talking points. Will Wembley victory really be enough to power Manchester City to title success, with a nine-point gap to leaders and defeated finalists Arsenal? Who’s becoming the stand-out candidate for the Manager of the Season award? Which veteran striker is ‘aging like a fine wine’? And is Virgil van Dijk at the start of a decline? Those questions and plenty more answered, as well as detailed discussion of Tottenham Hotspur’s relegation battle, Newcastle’s struggles under Eddie Howe and increasing fan pressure and plenty more. TIMECODES 01:30 What does City’s League Cup final mean for the title race? 03:00 Kepa’s horror relationship with Wembley 04:30 How impressive was this from City? 09:00 Spurs fans back the team, but the team don’t show up! 10:00 Are there similarities between Spurs now and Krul’s Newcastle in 2010? 11:10 What is Igor Tudor doing? What do Spurs do next? 19:24 Sunderland do the double over Newcastle — is Howe under pressure? How big will their rebuild be? 29:00 Should Danny Welbeck have been in the England squad? 36:20 What’s wrong with Liverpool? 41:00 Everton set for European football? 44:19 Is Chelsea’s model failing their own managers?

David Jones is joined by Jamie Redknapp and former Manchester United striker Andrew Cole to analyse Bournemouth's 2-2 draw with Michael Carrick's United side in the Premier League. Listen to every episode of the Sky Sports Premier League Podcast here: skysports.com/sky-sports-premier-league-podcast You can listen to the Sky Sports Premier League Podcast on your smart speaker by asking it to play "Sky Sports Premier League Podcast". For all the latest football news, head to skysports.com/premier-league For advertising opportunities email: [email protected]

Why the "Premier League disaster" narrative doesn't really make sense, plus some capsule summaries of the eight matches and why there was not that much to learn from the second legs. City-Real and Chelsea-PSG matches were over too early, Liverpool and Arsenal held serve at home, Bayern continued walking, why would anyone have expected more than this from Tottenham, and Barcelona-Newcastle was a fascinating watch with more to discuss but not necessarily representative of any larger dynamics.&n...

In this clip from the final word, Ste, Sam and John discussed the tactical tweak from Arne Slot that unlocked Mohamed Salah's performance after Liverpool's 4-0 win over Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.