Euro 2024 has continued with dominant displays from tournament favourites, but also the first 0-0 score line, and some sides regaining momentum after disappointment in the first round of matches. It also remains a tactically polarising tournament, with some sides systems applauded, and conundrums over others. The Conventional Playmaker is happy to be covering the Euros for the third tournament running, and will be looking at those interesting tactical themes. For the latest article, deep-lying midfielders are the focus.
Midfielders who sit deep are either tasked with regaining possession, igniting attacks, or perhaps both, and are often integral if teams are to succeed in tournaments. If we look back at previous European Championships, Marcos Senna screened in front of the back four as Spain conquered in 2008, Andrea Pirlo was excellent at the base of Italy’s midfield diamond as they reached the final in 2012. Toni Kroos starred for a Germany side which reached the semi-final in 2016, and when Italy won the final three years ago, Jorginho and Marco Verratti proved key in deeper midfield roles.
This time around, a number of deep-lying midifelder are still setting the precedent for their sides.
Robert Andrich is the out and out holding midfielder, keeping the centre occupied and covered in case Germany lose the ball whilst other midfielders move into different areas of the pitch. Toni Kroos is once again Germany’s ball player, but he drops even deeper to form a back three alongside Antonio Rudiger, and Jonathan Tar. From the left side of Germany’s back three, Kroos can thread passes through the lines, or play long diagonals switches towards the right flank. It was a longer pass of this ilk that sent the ball Joshua Kimmich’s way, before his low pass across the penalty-area was met by Florian Wirtz to strike, and hand Germany the leads in their 5-1 win against Scotland.
Kroos’ passing range is one of many avenues of attack for Germany, alongside combinations from attackers, runs in behind, and crosses into the penalty-area Though they faced more organised pressing, and less space to Kroos from Switzerland than they did against Hungary, and in particular Scotland, Germany were still able to find ways to create openings in the final-third through combinations from the attacking midfield trio of Wirtz, Ilkay Gundogan, and Jamal Musiala, and eventually their equaliser, scored via a header from centre-forward, Niclas Füllkrug, following a cross from the left flank.
Spain have topped Group B, winning all of their three group games. Key to the first two games, before being rested as Spain defeated Albania, was Rodri. Comfortable in possession, Rodri was also important when Spain did not have the ball. For example, during Spain’s 1-0 win against Italy, Spain pushed their defensive shape high up the pitch, and congested space as Italy tried to move the ball forward in their own half, often being outnumbered as the midfield pushed closer to the forwards. In comparison to Italy’s Jorginho, who was pressed constantly, Rodri had more time on the ball to pick out passes.
And alongside Rodri in midfield was Fabian Ruiz. Ruiz provided support in deeper areas during build-up, but would also push higher to support the attack. He has a cultured left foot, and provides not only good footwork, but also combined with Dani Carvajal for a chance, playing a nice reverse pass to Carvajal on the right, before the full-back played a cut back into the penalty-area, but also taking the ball away from the Italy defence. Spain may only have won by a single goal, but they could well have scored four or five.
Stanislav Lobotka was the player of the match as Slovakia caused an upset, beating a Belgium side which created a lot of chances, which they didn’t convert, but also had two goals ruled out by VAR. Belgium may have felt hard done by, but Lobotka was excellent across the board. He was key with the ball, retaining it as Slovakia looked to dominate possession. Lobotka was also key to Slovakia’s approach without the ball working, acting as the base in their 4-1-4-1 shape, which pressed high.
Although Belgium did create more chances as the game progressed, the plan worked. But Slovakia suffered less fortune as Ukraine made up for losing to Romania by beating Slovakia. Ukraine did a good job of assigning one player in the press to cover the space in front of Lobotka. Nevertheless, Lobotka has sat at the base of the midfield, swept up possession and kept tempo of play at a speed which suits his nation, whilst also not shying away from passing forwards.
Amadou Onana has varying qualities as a midfielder; he is an adept tackler, he carries the ball well, and he can retain possession with his passing too. He was heavily involved against Slovakia, but he arguably benefited from playing alongside Youri Tielemans, rather than Orel Mangala in Belgium’s second game against Romania. Belgium kept the 4-2-3-1 deployed in the opening game defeat, but made a number of changes, with Onana now playing alongside a midfielder who is more creative, and more suited to pushing forward alongside De Bruyne, and the forwards, to support attacks.
It was a double pivot on paper, but Onana was often stationed deeper by himself, tasked with sending the ball out wide or to the advanced midfielders, whilst Tielemans was allowed to move ahead, with this even leading to Tielemans scoring the opener in what ended as a 2-0 win; with Jeremy Doku holding onto the ball on the left, waiting for the right moment to pass to Romelu Lukaku, before laying the ball off for the midfielder to rifle the ball into the right corner.
The nature of this game may suggest that Tielemans was the difference maker in midfield, and in a way, he was, but it suggests that Onana’s presence and ability enabled him to push forward. And as well as playing as one of two ‘6s’ in a double pivot, or playing as an ‘8’. Onana is just as comfortable playing as a lone ‘6’.
The Conventional Playmaker 