Good morning!

Kyle Boas Author of the Tactics Journal

In today’s email:

• Anthony Gordon on why England’s intense training did not fully transfer to tournament matches
• The ring tells you what a couple of steps are worth
• Anthony Gordon on how successful tournament habits contributed to England’s semi-final defeat

TACTICALLY INTERESTING

Teams and games I am following.

• Raphinha: ‘In my head I was leaving Barça, but a few small words can change you’ — The Guardian
  Two years ago the Brazilian thought his time at Barcelona was ending but, two La Liga titles later, he is now captain and the most potent No 9 in Europe For once, Raphael Dias…

Anthony Gordon on why England’s intense training did not fully transfer to tournament matches

Anthony Gordon:

I think just more when I say we didn’t perform the way we wanted to, I thought the performances were good and we played well, but in training the training sessions were as high a level as you would have ever seen. So I just didn’t feel like that replicated on the pitch.

We did well, but I feel like if we would have played how we trained—which is not always easy because they’re two different environments—we would have dominated anyone we would have played, I felt, because the intensity we trained with and the attacking power we trained with was at the highest level. And I think that’s what bred so much confidence into the squad and into the manager.

But tournament football is really difficult because there’s so many twists and turns. I felt like that Mexico game, although I said it was the best experience of my life, kind of set us up a little bit. I remember it took me about four days to recover from all the emotion. It took a lot out of me emotionally. The travel was tough, obviously, and Jordan Henderson falling—I felt like that was a massive moment in the tournament. In the Norway game, I remember feeling really tired and fatigued and couldn’t perform maybe how I would have liked to.

So, I feel like it’s hard to know the right answer all the time, but Torma football throws things at you that you wouldn’t have in training. Although we were training really well, it’s completely different environments because you don’t come under that much adversity as you would in a moment like that.”

Unironically, my favorite part of the international break is watching England train on YouTube. They are so damn clinical, I could watch a full 90 minutes of them training.

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The ring tells you what a couple of steps are worth

Professor, Soccermatician and co-founder of Twelvle, David Sumpter:

A shot from the top corner of the penalty area is about a 2% chance. Take a few steps in towards the middle and it becomes 6% or 7%. Roughly the same distance from goal. Three times as likely to go in.

That is what the squashed ring in the picture is for. Every point on the outer line is a 7% chance, the next one in 15%, the innermost 30%. The rings are squashed rather than round because the goalkeeper matters: former Ajax sports scientist Vosse de Boode measured reaction times and how long a dive takes, and found that keepers are more or less chanceless within 16 metres of goal — if, and it is a big if, the shot is placed in the top corner at full pace. But further out the advantage rapidly switches to the goalkeeper: at 25 metres the goalkeeper can almost always save.

Players sometimes read the 7% ring as a rule about when they are allowed to shoot. That is the wrong reading, and I say so in the lesson. The ring tells you what a couple of steps are worth.

I miss long-range goals.

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Anthony Gordon on how successful tournament habits contributed to England’s semi-final defeat

Anthony Gordon on whether England became too defensive against Argentina, Gordon explained how the mentality that worked in earlier rounds carried into the semi-final:

“I think it’s really difficult because that same mentality was the reason we progressed through the previous two rounds. You almost carry on doing things that have worked, and it’s difficult in life to ever change something that’s working because why would you if you know something works? The Mexico game was by far the best experience I’ve ever had in my life, but I think that probably set us up in a way. The red card made us show a different side of us. We wasn’t so much the team that wanted to play anymore; we needed to really fight to get the victory, which we did. But then that probably became a bit too much for the next two games and ultimately didn’t work for us in the semi-final. There’s no telling that if we would have stayed with the four at the back, we still wouldn’t have lost that game. So I think, in hindsight, everything’s easier.”

I was actually surprised at how positive England played against Mexico. They were much more proactive than I thought they would play.

Anthony Gordon on what England should learn from the semi-final, Gordon contrasted Spain’s possession style with England’s ability to play physically, directly, and on the counterattack:

“I think now that we’ve had that experience, probably the next time we’re in that position we’ll go the other way. That’s why I said that scar doesn’t have to be a negative one, because it might lead us to victory in the next tournament. Culturally, it’s not just that tournament or that game where we couldn’t control a game. England as a nation, we don’t have that strength like the Spanish, where we control games like they do. It’s not in us. I’m not sure it’s something that can be taught, because now I think, playing in Spain, I can speak with an educated view on the way they keep the ball. It’s much different than I’ve ever experienced playing in this country. I’m not sure we can ever get that, but we can definitely get better or maybe go the other way and really play to our strengths, which is play physical, play direct football and on the counterattack. You can go either way, and there’s no perfect way to win a football match. It’ll be interesting to see what we do.”

Really really interesting insight from Gordon that he’s feeling now that he is playing for Barcelona.

Anthony Gordon on how he learned Spanish so quickly after moving to Spain, Gordon explained his self-study, professional lessons, and reluctance to give interviews before he can express himself properly:

“I used to learn Spanish when I was at Everton, just self-taught. It was always an ambition. I never had a teacher or anything. Over the past couple of months I’ve had teachers and I’m getting better. I can understand most Spanish and I can speak really well, but speaking Spanish and understanding Spanish are two different things. When they’re speaking at me really quick, sometimes I get a bit lost. I’ve been a bit hesitant to do the press conferences in Spanish just yet because I want to say exactly what I would say in English. I want to really mean what I say. I don’t want to get caught up in saying really basic interviews; that’s not the type of person I am. I don’t want to sound too robotic, so I want to wait until I’m really perfect in Spanish before I start.”

These players have Spanish speaking teammates. I get that it makes for fun banter online that a player is gettting Duolingo streaks over the winter break waiting for a transfer to another club, but learning several languages is a massive differentiator now for everyone.

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NEWS

• De la Fuente brings insatiable Spain to England knowing World Cup is not enough — The Guardian
  Spain have won back-to-back major tournaments, but there is still one more to go to draw equal with feted team of 2008-2012 “I’m going to tell you a story,” Luis de la Fuente…
• How Ireland v Israel become the world’s most controversial fixture — independent.co.uk／author／miguel-delaney／rss
  The tension and anger ahead of the Nations League double header is seen as ‘unprecedented’ for a match between two countries not in conflict, reports Miguel Delaney in Dublin…
• Thomas Tuchel has realised England’s ultimate challenge and only Spain have the answer — independent.co.uk／author／miguel-delaney／rss
  Tuchel has moved on from the World Cup and must now develop an ideology for England to harness ahead of Euro 2028…
• Gakpo denies Klopp perfect start as Xavi’s Netherlands rescue draw against Germany — The Guardian
  At least Germany can be sure it will not be dull. Jürgen Klopp had predicted his debut as head coach could be wild, a trait he would accept as long as his team were lively enough.
• Arsenal’s Kai Havertz to leave Germany camp after injury, set for scan — The Athletic
  The 27-year-old will return to his club's facilities, with optimism that the suspected hamstring injury is not serious.
• James Garner keen to live up to ‘mini-Valverde’ tag after late England call — The Guardian
  Everton midfielder’s spirit and intelligence earned him another chance and he is eager to test himself against Spain in the Nations League on Saturday “It’s a very good…

RECOMMENDED READING

Everything published yesterday by the writers I follow

• Grace Robertson for graceonfootball.com／feed: I’m worried about Florian Wirtz
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• The Athletic: Xavi versus Klopp was a landmark moment in international football’s new era of big-name managers
  As the Netherlands and Germany look to bounce back from the 2026 World Cup, they have turned to heavyweight coaches with a clear vision…
• tacticsjournal.com／feed.xml: Anthony Gordon on why England’s intense training did not fully transfer to tournament matches
  Anthony Gordon: I think just more when I say we didn’t perform the way we wanted to, I thought the performances were good and we played well, but in training the training sessions…
• theguru for trainingground.guru／feed: King reunited with former mentor Mawson at Man Utd
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• David Garcia for David Garcia: We Start Tomorrow
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• tacticsjournal.com／feed.xml: The ring tells you what a couple of steps are worth
  Professor, Soccermatician and co-founder of Twelvle, David Sumpter: A shot from the top corner of the penalty area is about a 2% chance.
• tacticsjournal.com／feed.xml: Anthony Gordon on how successful tournament habits contributed to England’s semi-final defeat
  Anthony Gordon on whether England became too defensive against Argentina, Gordon explained how the mentality that worked in earlier rounds carried into the semi-final: “I think…
• Alvaro Romeo for learning.coachesvoice.com／feed: Carlos Vicens: Europa League tactics
  SC Braga head coach and ex-Manchester City assistant Carlos Vicens explains the tactics behind a Europa League win against Nottingham Forest The post Carlos Vicens: Europa League…
• David Garcia for David Garcia: Exactly What We’re Doing in Unlock Player Potential
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• theguru for trainingground.guru／feed: Ross promoted to Assistant Sporting Director by Newcastle United
  The post Ross promoted to Assistant Sporting Director by Newcastle United appeared first on Training Ground Guru.
• Kyle Boas for tacticsjournal.com／feed.xml: AMA with Jon Mackenzie on The Spectre of Pep
  Today we are hosting an AMA with Jon Mackenzie, Writer and Presenter at Tifo Football for The Athletic.