Wales vs England Strategic Breakdown: Bellamy's Fresh Style Unpacked
The Welsh national team have adjusted their style of football with Craig Bellamy.
When comparing Robert Page’s last dozen matches in charge to Bellamy's opening 12 as Wales head coach, one clear change is a strategic change to focus more on possession and controlling matches through possession.
Under Robert Page: Aggressive Football
Under Page, The Welsh aggressive tactics centered around pressing intensely off the ball, mainly in the wings, typically using a flexible 3-4-3 system for direct attacks.
Craig Bellamy's Different Style
Bellamy has so far exclusively used a defensive line of four, urging the squad to maintain possession and build attacks more methodically.
Measurable Changes
This tactical shift has led to a significantly increased amount of possession, a higher tally of passes and a modest drop in how regularly they give the ball away in attacking areas.
Wales also boast a improved expected goals metric under Bellamy.
Main Talking Point
Will Bellamy's tactics give Wales a improved likelihood of overcoming England?
The strategic changes under Bellamy signifies a clear move away from Page's methods.
- More ball control
- Slower, methodical attacks
- Less giveaways in attack
- Better xG numbers
