Wales vs England Tactical Breakdown: Craig Bellamy's Fresh Style Unpacked
Wales have altered their style of football under Craig Bellamy.
Looking at Robert Page’s last dozen matches as coach to Bellamy's opening 12 as Wales head coach, an obvious difference is a strategic change to focus more on ball control and dominating games through possession.
The Page Era: High-Energy Football
Under Page, The Welsh intense style was based on applying high pressure off the ball, mainly in wide areas, predominantly using a adaptable 3-4-3 setup for direct attacks.
Craig Bellamy's Different Style
The new coach has only utilized a defensive line of four, encouraging his players to hold the ball and develop plays with greater patience.
Measurable Differences
This tactical shift has produced a much greater amount of possession, a increased pass count and a small decrease in how often they turn the ball over high up the pitch.
The team also shows a better xG statistics under Bellamy.
Key Consideration
Can Bellamy's approach offer Wales a improved likelihood of overcoming England?
The tactical evolution since the change represents a significant departure from the old system.
- More ball control
- More patient build-up
- Less giveaways in attack
- Enhanced scoring probability
