Theme 3: Using defensive structures to counter-attack and score

Analysis shows that, in the 2023 tournament, 18% of teams’ total time out-of-possession was spent in a low block shape, up 3.5% from 2019. This increased use of low blocks as a defensive strategy has led to an increase in the percentage of time teams spend in unopposed build up when in possession (+2.6%) and a decrease in time spent in opposed build up (-3.1%). In practice, this means that defensive teams were high pressing/counter-pressing slightly less often at this tournament than in the past. 

This shift also meant that transitions to attack were taking place further from the opposition goal, and the TSG members were struck by the length of the runs made by counter-attacking players to get themselves into the final third. As Julio González points out: 

“This was an important theme in the tournament and many teams, including all four semi-finalists, were very effective at counter-attacking from defensive blocks. Many games are won through attacking transition moments because opposition defences are not organised in this phase and often have numbers committed forward for their own attacking purposes.”

His TSG colleague Pascal Zuberbühler underlines the importance of counter-attacks at this tournament, and the physical effort required to execute them: 

“Teams frequently operated in aggressive blocks in this tournament and initiated very fast and powerful counter-attacks when they won the ball back, resulting in serious goal-scoring opportunities. Another factor that stood out to us was the number of players who committed to these counter-attacks, making long sprints forward to maximise the danger to their opponents. Often, the team that was transitioning to attack had equal numbers to, or numerical supremacy over, the opposition as the counter-attack reached the final third.”

The clips below showcase some outstanding examples of how teams used defensive blocks to create goal-scoring opportunities after regaining possession. The first of these led to the opening goal in Uzbekistan’s round of 16 match against England, with Amirbek Saidov (9) heading in after England goalkeeper Tommy Setford had blocked the initial shot from Lazizbek Mirzaev (7). Uzbekistan used a 4-4-2 mid-block to win the ball back in their own half before launching a counter-attack that included both centre-forwards and two wide midfielders, while the remaining six outfield players maintained a rest defence structure. The four counter-attackers committed early to making long forward runs at speed, and this allowed them to expose the vulnerable space in behind England’s retreating centre-backs.

The next clip shows the opening goal in France’s group-stage meeting with the USA. In this example, France transition to attack from a 4-1-4-1 mid-block shape, following an unopposed build-up by the USA. France regain possession following an attempted line break and commit their front five players to the counter-attack against USA’s disorganised defence. By the time Joan Tincres (19) converts the cross from Mohamed-Amine Bouchenna (18), France have five players in their opponent’s penalty area, supported by a five-man rest defence.

In the third and final video, we see a game-defining counter-attack launched by Germany in their quarter-final clash with Spain. Following an attempted line break by Spanish centre-back Jon Martín (4), Germany intercept the ball and transition to attack. Within 4.7 seconds of regaining possession, they break through Spain’s unstructured defensive line and Paris Brunner (7) receives the ball in behind. Within 13 seconds of the original transition, Brunner wins his side a penalty. He stepped up to take the resulting spot kick himself, scoring what proved to be the match-winning goal.

The increased use of mid and low defensive blocks when out of possession meant that defending teams were often in their own half when they won the ball back. As a consequence, attacking teams tended to be relatively open in their build-up phase, pushing players high up into the opposition half. When defending sides were able to regain possession in this situation, they had immediate opportunities to capitalise on defensive instability by launching committed counter-attacks.  Forward players committed to strong (and, at times, long) attacking runs as soon as their team won the ball back, and displayed the desire to play forward early to exploit vulnerable space. These fast transitions to attack helped the counter-attacking teams to gain numerical parity against opposition defenders or to isolate opponents in dangerous 1v1s. Quick counter-attacks from defensive blocks also allowed the team in attacking transition to maintain a well-balanced rest defence that would be able to intervene if they lost the ball.

From a tactical point of view, this tournament provided a striking example of how youth sides are contributing to the tactical development of the game as a whole by applying innovations like the low block and the counter-press and adapting them to suit their own styles – with exciting results for fans, coaches and players.