---Z--- Tactical Analysis - Seleccao 2016/17

I think now is a good time for me to contribute with an expert tactical article on the Seleccao in the current cycle.

As we know, Portugal bears the mantle of European Champions and is currently in the midst of qualifying for the World Cup. There will also be the Confederations Cup this June, which will present a good opportunity to acclimatize to Russian conditions, experiment with players/tactics, and build team chemistry.

Since I am the most knowledgeable individual on these boards when it comes to tactics and football, I am the appropriate man to write this piece.

Euro 2016 : Tactical Shift Yields Dividends

The Euro 2016 side saw a rigid Portugal side blending experience and youth capture the Henri Delaunay trophy. Anyone who knows anything about football realizes that players dictate tactics.

Thankfully, Santos is almost as smart as me and realizes that. He was correct in realizing that Portugal suddenly found itself with a glut of viable, dynamic options in the midfield. Andre Gomes, Moutinho, Sanches, Mario, Adrien, Danilo, and William. A blend of physicality, technique, tactical superiority and technique that few other sides could match. In response to this, Santos decided to switch to 4-4-2 to play with an extra midfielder and use our wingers, Ronaldo and Nani, in striker roles. After all, both of these players have an eye for goal so it made sense. Santos did away with Portugal's long commitment to the 4-3-3 and built a strategy to help us win. We were a gritty resilient team, and our midfield was aggressive and made it difficult for other teams to play against us.

Post 2016 : New options

If it took Santos some time to settle on his best side in the 2016 tournament, he will likely find it more difficult come 2018. That is why I see the 2017 confederations cup as a perfect opportunity to experiment with new options. In 2016 we were able to get away with it because the format was more forgiving with slow starts, allowing Santos to tinker with the team, qualify in third place, before settling on his XI in the knockout stage.

The likes of Bernardo Silva, Gelson Martins, and Andre Silva will IMO have a big impact on the tactical evolution of the team. They could make Santos wish to switch to a 4-3-3 again. As a result, Nani and Quaresma's influence will probably decline - unless they resist the ravages of time as they continue to age.

Of course, there are many other players out there who could force their way into the lineup but at the moment I see Gelson, Andre Silva, and Bernardo Silva as the most likely to play significant roles come 2018 WC.

I correctly predicted Portugal to prevail at EURO 2016 and was laughed at by many on this forum. Santos won following exactly the same tactics I would have used.

in 2018, if Santos continues to think like me I expect him to run a 4-4-2 against stronger teams with physics midfields (i.e. Germany, Brazil, France) and use a 4-3-3 against teams where we can expect not to be overpowered in the midfield by their physicality (i.e. Spain) or against theoretically weaker opposition (i.e. a shit team like England). This would make Portugal very dynamic and unpredictably, and could see us triumph and win the World Cup.

4-4-2 --> when against tough powerful midfields

---------Ronaldo----Andre Silva (Nani)--------
------------------Bernardo Silva--------------
-------Sanches----------------Adrien (A.Gomes/Mario/Pizzi)---------
-------------------William-----------------
-Raphel------Pepe---Fonte---------Cancelo/Cedric---
---------------------Patricio-------------------------------

4-3-3 "Can-Opener" (When needing to stretch the wings and score from A. Silva/Ronaldo Headers, or against teams whose midfields we dont need to worry about physically)

-Ronaldo--------A. Silva--------Gelson Martins-------------------

-----------J.Mario-------------Bernardo-----------
-------------------William------------------
Raphael-----Pepe----Fonte-----Cedric (top crosser)---
---------------------Patricio--------------------


of course some diff options can be used but this is an example.

Obviously ,our Defense will likely be the main problem. I think Pepe and Fonte can still be good, but perhaps it is time for Daniel Carrico to get a look in come 2018 if he continues to perform for Sevilla.

The Darkhorse:

Diogo Jota, IMO a darkhorse to look out for in the coming cycle...

 

I think 2018 team will be stronger than 2o06 for sure.

Some crucial positions:

Ricardo Patricio
Costinha /Petit William/Danilo
Valente Guerreiro

Pretty obvious

and Andre Silva looks promising at a key position...

Portugal has more options now and that is helping us. Players form will fluctuate but when you can pull form a pool of William, Danilo, Sanches, Mario, Gomes, Adrien, Pizzi, Bernardo, Neves, Gelson, soon Geraldes, Guedes, Podence etc things are looking up

Even in 2004/06 I dont think we had depth like this.

 

Football is really simple for me, I usually spend my time with my other investments.

but I enjoy writing about it....

bottom line I think the next WC is between....Portugal...and BRASIU

 

most people dont actually realize that Portuguese football is superior right now (esp for what the resources of the country are vis a vis other soccer powers)

best player: Ronaldo
best agent: Jorge Mendes
top coaches like Mourinho, Jardim, etc

European Champions

strong youth teams.

look, a average Portuguese coach like Marco Silva goes to EPL and can beat Liverpool and Man U (LOL). I been saying it for a few years but a game like Tondela vs Chaves is more advanced tactically than Everton vs Leicester in the EPL.