Wales vs England Tactical Breakdown: Craig Bellamy's New Style Explained
Wales have adjusted their approach of football with Craig Bellamy.
When comparing the previous manager's final 12 games in charge with Craig Bellamy's first 12 games leading Wales, one clear change is a new approach to focus more on possession and dominating games through possession.
The Page Era: High-Energy Play
Under Page, Wales' high-energy approach was based on pressing aggressively off the ball, mainly in wide areas, mostly employing a adaptable 3-4-3 setup to push forward aggressively.
Craig Bellamy's New Direction
Bellamy has consistently employed a defensive line of four, encouraging his players to maintain possession and develop plays more methodically.
Statistical Differences
The change in approach has resulted in a significantly increased possession rate, a increased pass count and a small decrease in how frequently they lose possession in advanced positions.
The team also shows a improved expected goals metric under Bellamy.
The Big Question
Can Bellamy's approach give Wales a improved likelihood of defeating England?
The tactical evolution with the new coach signifies a significant departure away from the old system.
- More ball control
- Slower, methodical attacks
- Fewer losses in advanced areas
- Better xG numbers
