England vs Wales Strategic Breakdown: Bellamy's New Style Unpacked
Wales have altered their approach of play with Bellamy.
Looking at Robert Page’s last dozen matches in charge to Bellamy's opening 12 as Wales head coach, one clear change has been a tactical switch prioritizing possession and dominating games with the ball.
The Page Era: Aggressive Play
During Page's tenure, The Welsh aggressive tactics centered around pressing intensely without possession, especially in the wings, mostly employing a adaptable 3-4-3 setup for direct attacks.
Bellamy's New Direction
The new coach has so far exclusively used a four-man defense, encouraging his players to maintain possession and build attacks more methodically.
Measurable Differences
The change in approach has produced a far higher average possession rate, a increased pass count and a small decrease in how often they turn the ball over in attacking areas.
The team also shows a higher expected goals tally since Bellamy took over.
Key Consideration
Can Bellamy's approach provide Wales a greater chance of beating England?
The strategic changes under Bellamy signifies a notable shift from Page's methods.
- Increased possession
- More patient build-up
- Fewer losses in advanced areas
- Improved expected goals
