The tactical use of full-backs at EURO 2020
How the use of full-back has impacted attacking play
The selection and tactical use of full-backs often defines the way fans view the way a manager sets up their team.
Let’s use England for an example.
In their opening fixture against Croatia, manager Gareth Southgate selected Kyle Walker at right-back, and right-footed Kieran Trippier was the left-sided full-back in a back four.
Trippier has completed a fantastic season for Atletico Madrid, where his defensive improvement has complimented his outstanding crossing and passing ability to transform him in to a genuine A-Grade defender, attracting interest from Manchester United ahead of the transfer window.
England possess two excellent left-backs in Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell, however selecting Trippier ahead of them both solidifies the defense, but takes away some thrust going forward in a match crying out for attacking threat.
Trippier did advance up the pitch looking to overlap and connect with Raheem Sterling, however opted not to trust his left foot when the opportunity arose to cross in to the box, with no crosses featuring in his 66 passes.
Against Scotland in England’s second fixture, full-backs Reece James and Luke Shaw again remained conservative, completing three crosses between them compared to Scotland’s wing-back Andy Robertson creating 11 of his own, in a Scotland side that relinquished the majority of possession to their opponents.
Southgate has clearly selected and instructed his full-backs to be defenders first, consequently shutting the door on a tactical attacking avenue many teams have profited from throughout the tournament.
The use of wing-backs or attack-minded full-backs is a tactic that is abundantly clear for opponents to recognize instantly, however the simple attacking route is still difficult to defend against.
Denzel Dumfries has enjoyed an outstanding start to the tournament, relishing his attacking freedom as wing-back on the right-hand side of a 3-5-3 in a dominant Dutch side.
Scoring two goals and drawing a penalty so far, Dumfries has been instructed to offer an attacking threat down the right, causing overload and confusion for opposition defenses.
Dumfries has taken five shots, created three key chances, and yet has only completed 3 tackles across his 225 minutes played so far, highlighting his attacking importance in a Netherlands team looking to create from multiple avenues.
Germany boss Joachim Löw also deploys a 3-4-3, which had great effect against a strong Portugal side.
By pushing wing-backs Joshua Kimmich and Robin Gosens up the pitch, Germany had five players in attacking positions, consequently pushing back Portugal’s defense and forcing wingers Diogo Jota and Bernardo Silva to be accountable and help defend.
Gosens has accumulated 38 goals/assists in his last two seasons at Atalanta, and his attacking threat won’t come as a surprise to those familiar with the 26 year old.
Once Matthias Ginter advanced from center-back, the Portugal defense was stretched and under-manned, leaving the attacking Gosens free and un-marked at the back post on more than one occasion, portrayed as early as the fourth minute.
One of the players of the tournament so far has been Italy’s Leonardo Spinazzola.
The right-footer has been deployed at left-back in a defensive four by Roberto Mancini, and despite the defensive solidity shown by the Italians, Spinazzola’s energy and willingness to attack has been instrumental in the Azzurri’s attacking play.
Throughout Italy’s opening victory over Turkey, Spinazzola was solid in defense completing four tackles, but also pivotal in attacking completing four crosses on his non-preferred side, taking two shots and showing dynamism and threat by combining with Lorenzo Insigne.
Below, Spinazzola detected the space available to burst in to, taking a shot which ended up falling to Immobile for Italy’s second goal.
Deploying attacking full-back’s or wing-back may be common and simple to detect, however when facing a deep-lying and solid defensive structure, is a tactic that has proven to provide drive and variety in a team looking to break-down their opponents.