This week, we head to the United States to analyse one of the most impressive teams of the season. A 3-4-3 diamond, diagonality and the youngest coach in MLS. Saint Louis CITY SC | Tactical Analysis With @tmccabe98 & @EdwardStratmann youtube.com/watch?v=EbPGjWGG…

Elversberg’s first four games in the Bundesliga have shown that many of the principles behind their promotion can translate to the top level. Seven points from games against established Bundesliga sides like Leverkusen, Gladbach, Bayern and Schalke is an impressive return, but the performances have also shown a clear identity on both sides of the ball. In possession, goalkeeper Nicolas Kristof is an active member of the build, regularly stepping outside his box to create a back three with two wide center backs as Elversberg look to control the tempo of the game. Further forward, they often create a narrow 2-2 base between the center backs and holding midfielders, who position themselves on slight angles to remain available to receive. Felix Keidel has been particularly important within this structure, highlighted by his recent call-up from Klopp. Ahead of this base, Elversberg create constant vertical countermovements between their fullbacks, wingers and front two: as one player moves towards the ball, another looks to attack the space behind. One trademark movement has seen LB Günther move forward into the half-space, opening the passing lane into LM Campbell, while the front two make opposite movements to threaten the space behind the opposition’s last line. Without the ball, Elversberg defend from a 4-2-4 zonal block, selectively increasing the pressure when the ball travels wide or backwards. These pressing triggers, combined with the aggressive height of the wide midfielders, allow them to force turnovers in areas where young, dynamic attackers such as David Mokwa, Cole Campbell, Noah Darvich, Francis Onyeka, Lukas Petkov and Maurice Krattenmacher can immediately attack in transition, particularly through 1v1 and dribbling situations. This has contributed to a high-quality shot profile rather than one built purely on volume. Behind the press, center backs Lukas Pinckert and Maximilian Rohr have also been important. Their management of the defensive line allows Elversberg to control the space behind and step forward to intercept, while both have excelled when forced deeper through their volume of blocked shots. Those interventions have been an important part of Elversberg’s strong start, while also helping them outperform what some of the underlying defensive numbers would suggest. Written by @tmccabe98 If you want to watch the complete analysis on YouTube, check the link below.

How Henrik Rydström Uses Relationism at Hammarby | Tactical Analysis @Ruxiiii4 and @tmccabe98 , two active professional footballers, analyze Hammarby in detail and share their thoughts on Rydström's relational approach. Link below.

The United States became the last of the three host nations to be eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. A World Cup campaign that started and ended with the same result, but very different feelings. The start of this tournament brought great energy and momentum to the team. A 4-1 win vs Paraguay and 2-0 win vs Australia clinched the group for the US. These two results showed the US at its best. A team that excelled in the counter-press, high press, attacking with runs in behind which were created through the fluidity and close connections of their front 5-6 players. A question going into the tournament based on the roster selection was: Who was going to play next to Tyler Adams and how would this midfield operate? The answer to this quickly became central to the US’ best performances. The team found balance with Adams operating often as a single pivot with Tillman and McKennie in more advanced positions. This platform gave the US ability to play with an extra attacker as Dest and Robinson often provided the width as wingbacks. Pulisic started wide left looking to move inside on his stronger right foot as attacks developed. Balogun often operated on the blind side of the farthest center back, looking to attack the space created by the three 10’s. Or he allowed attacks to break in behind on the near side to then attack the box at speed. The US looked at its best when they were aggressive, dynamic, forward-thinking, confident to combine in short spaces, and willing to selflessly run off the ball. They did so tactically by creating a 3+1 base in build-up and rest defense with Adams’ mentality and mobility covering the space of two defensive midfielders. In attacking moments, the front 6 created a balanced attack. Mobile players in high and wide positions complemented the strong central relationships, often combining in close distances to threaten inside and behind lower/more compact blocks. This balance and the athletic qualities enabled the US to repeatedly get into valuable attacking positions around the box. These relationships also allowed the US to be aggressive in the counterpress. In many of the preparation matches, the US gave up too many goals in transition moments. They were often building and organizing for transitions in a 3+2 shape. The decision to field Tillman higher rather than a double pivot gave the US an extra attacker closer to the ball and freedom for 10’s like Pulisic, Tillman, and McKennie. This made the US more dynamic in attack, but in an interesting way it helped the US be more effective in transition moments. The profiles and reactions of these central players to hunt the ball in the immediate transition moment stifled the potential for opponents to hurt them in transition. Defensively, the US opted for a back 4 through the phases, whereas in the lead-up to the tournament the US shifted between back 4 in pressing moments and a back 5 lower. This decision to field a consisten back 4 felt natural but through much of the tournament the US was the more dominant team and didn’t have to spend much time in their defensive block until the Belgium game. The Bosnia match reinforced many of the strengths that had emerged during the group stage. The US continued to create attacks from their press, counterpress and the relationships within the front six. However, the match also became a turning point for reasons that had little to do with the football itself. A moment that changed the narrative and momentum surrounding the team away from the actual play on the field. Now, the Belgium game will leave a sour taste for everyone. The other host nations knocked out in this round did so playing fully to their identity. Canada remained a high pressing, aggressive, vertical team that wanted to disrupt any sort of rhythm for the opponent and was undone ultimately by Morocco being more clinical. Mexico pushed England to their limits as England put on arguably their most defining team performance in their World Cup history. Simply, this was not the US’ day and Belgium proved twice in the last 6 months that they are a better team. The US rushed simple actions that all players will admit they can complete 9/10 times, while also making high profile errors for goals. Much of the talk will be about how this tournament ended for the US, which should not be lost in the discussions. In addition, there needs to be a honest reminder that the country has critical steps that must be made in preparation for the next World Cup cycle but also for the next generation of American players that were captivated by a home World Cup. In the short term, the questions surrounding certain positions and depth remain true as the US prepares for the future. The team can benefit from continuity within the group especially players in their early to mid 20s like Alex Freeman (21), Chris Richards (26) Antonee Robinson (28), Tyler Adams (27), Weston McKennie (27), Malik Tillman (24), Folarin Balogun (25), Sergiño Dest (25), Christian Pulisic (27), and Ricardo Pepi (23). The US will need to find a strong CB partner(s) alongside Chris Richards who can defend large distances and support the US’ aggressive press and counterpress identity. Understand their GK depth, a position typically of strength. The team can also benefit from more variety and depth in attacking profiles, especially at winger and striker with more players who can unlock the game in different situations. The Belgium game was also a reminder in the need for stronger depth. Belgium, although much older, was able to bring on Romelu Lukaku, Jeremy Doku, Axel Witsel, Alexis Saelemaekers, and Hans Vanaken, while leaving Kevin de Bruyne as an unused substitute. One of the beautiful aspects of the United States and its sociopolitical landscape is that it is a melting pot of cultures. This has positively impacted the national team which now features players born across the world who come from a variety of backgrounds. People from across the world coming to the US, whether physically living here for much of their childhood or arriving here through the national team, and finding a home is one of the most central points to the modern American identity. Globalization of the football world has helped recent Western European national teams achieve success, not without its own pains and tensions. Teams such as France, England, and Germany have built their recent successes with many immigrants in their team. This is a potential strength of the United States and must be a part of their national team planning in the future. The hope for the long term future is that soccer in America continues to broaden its cultural reach across all communities making soccer the sport of necessity in the streets while the professional structures continue to broaden their scouting networks making their academies stronger and more accessible to all communities. These decisions over generations hopefully make soccer the strongest cultural reference. In the context of the soccer world, there are three external geo and sociopolitical factors that I think can help build a strong national team for the future. First, as we have seen with recent teams, exposure to the European elites of football especially German and English academies where the type of football being taught and the physical and mental demands make players more robust and prepared for elite levels of the sport. Players such as Richards, Adams, McKennie, Tillman, Balogun, Pulisic spent time in top level academies of Europe (especially Germany) where the identity of pressing and counter pressing is at the core of their national footballing identity. Second, the US must not lose their sense of the American underdog/comeback fighting spirit. This has been central to great American sports stories such as Miracle on Ice and USWNT 1999ers, and I think why many fans of American soccer found themselves supporting players like Sebastian Berhalter and Diego Luna over the past two years. Finally, the United States must do a better job of investing time, energy, and resources into the Latin American communities in this country. The strength of Latin American football is its emotional, almost spiritual, connection to the game and the role of the individual in the game. Culturally, the game belongs to the individual and in the countries like Argentina the game belongs to “el pibe” and on the biggest stage when your country has this identity, these are the players that decide games and win trophies. A coach like Mauricio Pochettino brought some of the Latin American qualities to the forefront of the national team. In the future, I hope this aspect of American culture, the role of the Latin American immigrant, becomes more central. The United States at 2026 World Cup showed they are right where they should be. The game is building momentum as the sport of the youth and American culture. If it continues to blend the harmony of the influence of the elite European club experience, the American fighting spirit, and the power of the individual and passion in Latin American culture then the United States will have the potential to move into the world’s elite footballing nations. Written by @tmccabe98.

World Cup 2026 | Group D Analysis. United States, Australia, Turkey and Paraguay. @Ruxiiii4 - @tmccabe98

World Cup 2026 | Group C Analysis. Brazil. Morocco. Scotland. Haití. Expected line-ups, attacking & defensive intentions, tactical camera clips and images for each team. @Ruxiiii4 - @tmccabe98

World Cup 2026 | Group B Analysis. Canada, Switzerland, Bosnia Herzegovina, Qatar. @Ruxiiii4 & @tmccabe98

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