A one-hour live class from earlier has been added to this collection for all subscribers. 

In there, we discuss 

• the 3-4-3 against the 4-3-3

• when and how to play around, rather than through

• the counter-attacking issues against a 3-4-3

• wide play, and how it can pin an opponent back

https://tactxcoach.com/programs/japan-1-2-brazil-tactical-analysis

New Analysis: Japan 1-2 Brazil 🔍

A really sharp tactical breakdown of how Brazil eventually unlocked Japan's compact 3-4-3, and why it took until the second half to find the answer.

The piece covers the shape battle between Brazil's 4-3-3 and Japan's setup, the issues Brazil ran into trying to play through centrally in the first half, Danilo's role dropping into a back three and the problems that created, and how Ancelotti's second half adjustment to play with width rather than through the lines turned the game.

We're also running a live class on this one today at 4pm UK time, where we'll go through the analysis in more detail. Can't make it live? No problem, the recording will be added straight after for anyone who misses it and is subscribed to Tactx.

Give the analysis a read before then, if you can, and fire over any questions

https://tactxcoach.com/programs/japan-1-2-brazil-tactical-analysis

Short notice, but we are going live at 4pm UK time with analysis of the Japan vs. Brazil game.

The class is open to everyone and will be available as a recording for all subscribers. 

Pre-register here. 

https://tactxcoach.com/programs/live-sd7x2tutbzu

Practice 4 of The Core is now live 

Building again on the previous sessions, this one moves into 5v4 and 5v5 as we continue to develop the patterns and principles of playing out from the back.

More to come before we bring everything together in a collection and live class. Fire away with any questions, and we'll make sure they're covered when we go live

Live Class: Best Formations for Youth Teams 

If it's a topic that interests you, then you can read more here.

We're running a live class this Thursday at 6.30pm UK time, based on our recent article with Simon Collins on formation selection across all youth formats.

If you've read the article and have questions, or if you just want to dig deeper into the ideas, this is the place to do it. We will be on hand to go through the recommendations and talk through how to apply them with your group.

Available for subscribers. See you Thursday.

Pre-register for the event 👈

New Article: Formation Selection in Youth Football 

It's a question we get a lot. What formation should I play at the youth level?

We've just released a really useful piece on choosing the right formation across every youth format, from 5v5 through to 11v11.

It's built around a conversation with Simon Collins, Director at Tactx and the architect of our grassroots player development pathway. Simon spent years working in the Leeds United academy before taking his methods into youth coaching abroad, and the article draws directly on that experience.

The core idea is simple but important. Start with what you want to play at 11v11 and work backwards. Every formation decision from 7v7 onward should build a direct pathway to your full-sided system, not something you abandon when the numbers change.

Covers every format with clear recommendations and the reasoning behind them.

Give it a read and let us know your thoughts below. We will cover this in a class this week and add the recording to the blog page.

https://tactxcoach.com/pages/Blog

Tactical Analysis: Assessing Iraola's Scalability 

A brilliant piece of analysis this one, looking at what makes Iraola's model so effective and whether it can scale to the very top of the game.

Written by Mufaddal Idris Burhani, who you can also find on X at @MeiaArmador__

The analysis covers the core principles behind Iraola's approach, the structural trade-offs that come with it, and what the data tells us about his teams when they dominate the ball. Some really thought-provoking ideas on where his model sits alongside some of the game's most influential coaches.

Well worth a read. Fire over your thoughts below

https://tactxcoach.com/programs/andoni-iraola-tactical-analysis-can-his-style-scale-to-elite-football

Practice 3 of The Core is now live 

We're building again. This one moves into a 4v3 and 4v4 as we start to look at playing through with the central midfield units and creating familiar patterns in build-up play.

If you want to support your defenders in their build-up play alongside these practices, we have some great links to technical work in our Grassroots bundles. They're well worth a look and available to all subscribers now 👇

Grassroots Block 1
https://tactxcoach.com/programs/grassroots-training-programme-block-01

Grassroots Block 2
https://tactxcoach.com/programs/grassroots-training-programme-block-2

More practices to come before we bring everything together in a collection and live class. Fire over any questions, and we'll make sure they're covered when we go live.