“Because maybe, you’re gonna be the one that saves me, and after all, you’re my wonderwall”… Yep, we’re still singing and our boys came through in the end but they don’t make it easy to watch, do they?
Everyone knows, (possibly because we keep saying it), the longer England can stay in the tournament the better it will be for all you marketers, too. After all, a happy consumer is likely to spend more.
The drinks industry is already benefitting, with pubs now allowed to stay open until 5am Monday morning, although whether that will be good for the rest of the economy remains to be seen.
Now, as I’ve already said, I’m no expert, but it doesn’t take a genius to work out that this could be England’s toughest game yet; luckily I have spent the past couple of days working out how Harry and Co can break down Javier Aguirre’s defensively pragmatic Mexico side at the Azteca. But brace yourselves, if you thought marketing was full of jargon, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
Let’s be fair, it’s going to take a fluid 3-4-2-1 system to bypass Mexico’s front-three press, isolate the half-spaces, and manage the gruelling altitude.
First up, Jordan Pickford and a back three anchored by John Stones must execute slow, horizontal circulation to bait Mexico’s narrow front line before playing vertical, line-breaking passes.
If we can drop Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo into a deep double-pivot to form a box midfield structure, that could outnumber Mexico’s engine room and secure those all-important second balls.
Meanwhile, Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon must act as high-and-wide wing-backs, hugging the touchlines to drag Mexico’s full-backs wide and open up vertical passing lanes.
I reckon that, in the first phase at least, Stones and Marc Guéhi must use patient, horizontal ball-circulation to draw out Mexico’s aggressive press. By dropping Rice deep, England will create a numerical advantage, inviting Mexico’s midfield to step up and vacate the space behind them.
As most people know, once the press jumps, the centre-halves must immediately thread progressive passes into the half-spaces.
This is where Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers operate as twin inverted number tens. By floating between the lines, Bellingham can turn and drive at centre-backs like César Montes and Johan Vásquez. Their positioning creates a tactical dilemma for Mexico’s defensive anchor, Edson Álvarez, dragging him out of position and leaving space for Harry Kane to drop deep as a false nine or run the channels.
In the final third, England’s shape must morph into a suffocating 3-2-5. Saka and Gordon provide maximum width to stretch Mexico’s compact back five, enabling underlapping third-man runs.
If all else fails, just make sure King Harry stays on the pitch; without him, we’re screwed…
Foxy has ditched X but is still on Instagram, just don’t get too excited as she’s never there
Be the first to comment on "Second balls are crucial to Foxy’s tactical masterclass"