Italy have stuck consistently to a 4-3-3 since 2020. Roberto Mancini’s side plays a fairly direct
way, with at least one, sometimes two, controlling midfielders. Italy like to play out from the back,
drawing teams forwards before using the long passing of Jorginho, Manuel Locatelli,
or Marco Verratti to find their quick attackers in space, or having isolated a defender.
Their deeper build-up often sees one full back staying deeper, with the other pushing up:
the more aggressive is often the left back,
while the right winger maintains his width before cutting infield. One midfielder,
usually the right-sided one of the three, pushes forwards into the half space to support this.
They score a lot from outside the box, too, with Locatelli in particular posing
a threat from half clearances or balls played back from Italy’s attackers.
Defensively, the Italians press high against weaker teams,
but settle into a 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 mid and low block. They are aggressive in individual duels,
with one centre back often pushing up to contest headers and are not afraid to break their shape
to harass the opposition if they start playing it backwards.
Italy’s strengths lie in a quick, dynamic set of forwards:
Domenico Berardi is a handful cutting in from the right, while Ciro Immobile has had
yet another strong season in Serie A. They are able to control the tempo of games well with
a good set of passing midfielders who can retain and recycle possession or go long.
If there is a weakness, it’s depth of quality at full back,
but Italy will be very strong contenders and arrive at the competition having topped
their recent Nations League Group and lost just twice in three years.
Vladimir Petkovic’s Switzerland side have focused on a three-man defensive system,
although they have used a back four twice since September 2020.
This back three is the basis of how they use the ball, though, with the wide centre backs
splitting to progress the ball up-field, generally shielded by a dynamic midfield double pivot.
Switzerland tend to focus on attacking with width, using the back three or midfield largely
to recycle the ball if attackers run down a cul-de-sac. The wing backs are key, providing
crosses but also cutting infield to support attacks in the box if a wide attacker drifts out.
Switzerland’s front three usually have a more orthodox centre forward, Haris Seferovic or Mario
Gavranovic, supported by two more fluid attacking midfielders who drop off, push up, drift wide,
or get into the box depending on the situation. Here Xherdan Shaqiri is key, often dropping off
to switch play or ping balls into the channels, but the side have options for the other position.
Switzerland are patient and not afraid to play all the way back should an attack run out of steam.
This, allied with their traditional defensive strength and physicality, means they keep the
ball well and are hard to break down. They’re a versatile squad, too: Djibril Sow is an
energetic presence in midfield, while Granit Xhaka provides bite and passing, but Switzerland can
change this department by bringing in excellent players like Dennis Zakaria or Remo Freuler.
And while scoring is sometimes an issue for a relatively weak pool of forwards, Switzerland’s
resilience and ability at keeping the ball means that they won’t concede many either.
As they didn’t in qualifying, conceding just 6 times from eight games
on their way to topping a group contained Denmark and the Republic of Ireland.
Senol Gunes has coached Turkey before and in his previous stint,
he took them to a third place at the 2002 World Cup. This experience,
coupled with a genuinely good squad, means Turkey will be a team to watch this tournament.
Turkey have favoured a 4-1-4-1 or 4-2-3-1 in recent games, and they play a compact,
pretty counter-attacking style. They will press hard if the opposition start to play backwards,
or are not very good, but against strong passing teams they’re content to sit deep,
the defence shielded by the excellent Okay Yokuslu, with limited space between the lines.
In possession, Turkey like to bring it out from the back, especially if Caglar Soyuncu is playing.
They seem to want to draw the opposition in towards them so they can then play quick, vertical
line-breaking passes towards their striker, with midfielders and the wide attackers joining in.
They’re also good at working the ball through tight areas to then switch play.
Turkey’s squad is versatile, too: Kenan Karaman has played on both flanks and as a second striker,
while Hakan Calhanoglu is a creative midfielder who plays centrally or wide.
Turkey are an interesting mix: tough and tight in defence, expansive and tricky up top.
With excellent midfielder Ozan Tufan a threat joining attacks from deep,
or with his long-range shooting, Turkey’s ability on the break will test teams,
as will the form of the ageing, but resurgent Burak Yilmaz.
Their squad is a good mix of experienced and younger talent,
guided very ably by Turkey’s most successful international coach,
and while they’ll likely concede goals, they should score plenty too.
Wales have undergone a formational shift in 2021,
ditching the back four they used for most of the preceding year and returning to the back
five system that saw them exceed expectations at Euro 2016. Head coach Rob Page has the benefit of
a number of exciting young players in the squad too, with Premier League talents Joe Rodon,
Dan James, and Neco Williams now supporting established stars Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey.
Under Page, Wales have shifted away from a more direct style, which saw a tight
defensive unit looking to play long balls up to the significant aerial presence of Kieffer Moore.
Moore is still a very useful focal point, though,
possessing a deft touch as he showed with a neat finish against Mexico.
But Wales’ general plan now sees Harry Wilson as a false nine in a fluid, tricky front three
with Bale often tucking inside from a flanking position to pull the strings more centrally, and
James bursting in from the other flank as a more direct, ball-carrying threat. Bale can and does
also stay wide - his ability to cross is excellent - and Wales get runners into the box well.
There is still an emphasis on compactness defensively,
with the 3-4-3 becoming a 5-4-1 in defence, but Wales now look to play quick,
sharp passes forwards to break the opposition block, with mobile runners in the attacking
positions allowing them to find space between the lines to link these attacks.
Wales may lack the overall squad depth of the other teams in this group and that makes them
outsiders to advance, but their star power means that they’re not to be underestimated.