National team tactics built from culture and history — Koeman's Total Football 3-2-5 Netherlands, Potter's hybrid Sweden and Lamouchi's wide-focused Tunisia.
Welcome to the sixth part of FM Blog's twelve-part series, 'Football Heritage — FM Blog's Road to the World Cup'. In this article, I will be going through all four nations in Group F, their respective World Cup histories, their respective football cultures, and their respective, current tactics. I hope you enjoy!
Netherlands
The Netherlands, this summer, will be playing at their second World Cup in a row, and their twelfth in total. Across these twelve World Cup campaigns, the Netherlands have reached the Final three times — however, they have never won football's ultimate prize. In North America, this summer, they will be looking to finally breach that historical barrier.
Football and the Netherlands go hand-in-hand. It's a special, spiritual relationship that transcends the sport entirely. The Dutch, namely and most famously Johan Cruyff, are the ultimate, footballing innovators and inspiration around the world — Rinus Michels was the first noteworthy innovator, as his Total Football (totaalvoetbal) style of play, characterised and epitomised by Johan Cruyff, swept many to the side in the 70s.
It was a possession-based approach that centred around seamless, constant rotations, quick, short passing, and attacking with freedom... within structure. The influence of Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff has relentlessly reverberated around the footballing world, with the echoes of the ideology bouncing beautifully off the walls around us — of course, this has had a massive effect on Dutch football itself. Dutch football is now known for building up play from the back, creating and occupying space, and the use of the third-man: all key components of the Total Football style of play.
Ronald Koeman is the man to try and bridge the gap between the Netherlands and footballing, international immortality this summer. His approach with the Netherlands has remained relatively consistent over the past few years: a clear 3-2-5 in-possession shape is absolutely key to his system with the national team. With the ball at their feet, the team are quite patient in waiting for space to appear and will happily circulate the ball side-to-side to try and disorganise an opposition's defence.
Let's Break Down the Tactic
In Possession
Here, I've aimed to combine Ronald Koeman's tactical ideologies with the national team and the 70s 'Total Football' approach, where players are allowed to express themselves within the confines of structure.
Out of Possession
A large criticism of Koeman's Netherlands is centred around their out-of-possession work, with the manager's defensive pragmatism frustrating fans and pundits alike. Therefore, I've channelled the ideas of Rinus Michels' 'Total Football' side and the Netherlands' hyper-aggressive '74 side — of which would recklessly step up to play an offside trap constantly — to add more spirit and desire to the Dutch's off-ball approach.
Player Roles
Ball-Playing Goalkeeper | Sweeper Keeper
No additional instructions.
Advanced Wing-Back | Full-Back
In this system, the right-back moves very high and wide on the right whilst the right-winger will invert into the right half-space.
(DCR & DCL) Ball-Playing Centre-Back | Centre-Back
No additional instructions.
Inside Full-Back | Full-Back
In this system, whilst the right-back advances higher and wider on the right, the left-back will stay deeper and wider to form a wide back-three with the two centre-backs.
Defensive Midfielder | Defensive Midfielder
No additional instructions.
Midfield Playmaker | Defensive Midfielder
In build-up, Koeman's Dutch side will rotate between a single-pivot and double-pivot in midfield — however, as play progresses up the pitch, this midfielder will drop deeper to help form the side's 3-2 base. I added 'Dribble More' as it suits Frenkie de Jong's player profile in-game.
Attacking Midfielder | Attacking Midfielder
The '10', in this system, will drift into the left half-space as the right-winger will usually occupy the right half-space. From this position, the '10' will often make runs in-behind off the back of the dropping striker. I added the 'Roam From Position' instruction to add an extra layer of unpredictability to our rather rigid 3-2-5 in-possession shape.
Playmaking Winger | Wide Midfielder
The right-winger, in this system, will largely invert from the right flank and occupy the right half-space. From here, upon receiving the ball, he will usually drive the ball forwards.
Wide Forward | Wide Midfielder
On the left flank, the left-winger will usually hug the touchline. Upon receiving the ball, he will look to take on his man before cutting inside. If the ball is on the other flank, particularly with the advanced right-back, the left-winger will aggressively attack the back-post.
False Nine | Centre Forward
Here, I've taken inspiration from Cruyff's role in Rinus Michels' sides of the 70s — a forward that was given freedom to roam to find pockets to receive the ball in, constantly destabilising and threatening the opposition's defence. For more on getting the most from this role, see our guide to using the False 9 in Football Manager.
Results
FIFA World Cup 2026: Winners
Japan
Unfortunately, I was unable to create a tactic for Japan as they are yet to be licensed and available to play as in Football Manager 26 — however, once they become available to play as in-game, I will be creating the tactic/s and will be releasing an article specially about them, as I found researching them incredibly interesting. I look forward to sharing this.
Sweden
Sweden are back on the world's stage of the FIFA World Cup, qualifying for the first time since 2018 and qualifying for the thirteenth time in total. In that particular case, in 2018, Sweden put on a good showing as they reached the Quarter-Finals, only to be defeated by England 0-2. They have, however, tasted better success in this competition before as they reached the Final on home soil in 1958, ultimately losing to a Brazil side featuring a 17-year-old Pele. This summer, the nation will be dreaming of going one better this time around...
Swedish football has a very interesting history and culture. Traditionally, the side emphasises organisation, teamwork, and physical fitness — however, in recent times, there has been a gradual shift to a more technical, attacking style of football. The team are known for being rugged and tactically disciplined, as well as showcasing a high level of pragmatism down the years; this particular component of their historic approach birthed the phrase: 'Swedish pragmatics'.
Tommy Svensson's Swedish outfit largely characterised this pragmatism, as his solid, compact 4-4-2 brought similar levels of success as the aforementioned '58 side — in 1994, Svensson guided his nation to a bronze medal in the FIFA World Cup... that was played in America. A good omen, perhaps?!
Graham Potter, Sweden's relatively new manager, combines this historical, Swedish pragmatism with a more modern, forward-thinking, possession-based approach. As he's only managed a few national team games with Sweden, there isn't a large knowledge or idea behind how he's going to set up Sweden — however, there have been small signs of what's to come, tactically speaking. So far in his tenure, Sweden have either used a 3-5-2 or a 3-4-3 formation, as the manager tussles between starting one, or both, of star strikers Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak.
Additionally, we can take his successful stint at Brighton as a potential hint as to how he may set up Sweden in large parts: his Brighton side were a pragmatic, yet possession-oriented side that looked to funnel play wide — from here, wide overloads would ensue, and Brighton would create ample space and a number of very high-quality chances. When his side didn't have the ball, they would initially press high whilst trying to funnel the ball wide, wherefrom they would jump into an aggressive, man-to-man system. However, they would tend to drop off into a back-five, such as a 5-2-3 or 5-4-1.
Let's Break Down the Tactic
In Possession
Here, I've blended the directness ('Pass Into Space'), discipline ('Be More Disciplined'), and general pragmatism of traditional Swedish sides with Graham Potter's tactical ideologies as beautifully showcased in his tenure as Brighton boss.
Out of Possession
Here, again, I've blended the pragmatism of Swedish sides from yesteryear, the defensive solidity that was a hallmark of Tommy Svensson's Swedish outfit, and Graham Potter's wide-pressing ideas from his time as Brighton boss. The mechanics of funnelling opponents wide and triggering an aggressive press are explored further in our FM26 pressing principles guide.
Opposition Instructions
Player Roles
Goalkeeper | Sweeper Keeper
No additional instructions.
Wing-Back | Full-Back
Despite Graham Potter's consistency in using a back-three formation as Sweden manager so far, I, personally, felt as though the 4-4-2 formation suited the squad better — it's also rather handy that Sweden has a pretty vast and fruitful past with the 4-4-2 formation. However, to blend in Potter's tactical ideologies, I made sure the roles were specially selected with creating a 3-4-2-1/3-4-1-2 in-possession shape... hence this right-back being a 'Wing-Back', whilst being asked to 'Stay Wider'. Both full-backs, in this system, are asked to 'Tackle Harder' and 'Mark Tighter' to replicate Potter's 'wide-pressing' at Brighton.
Ball-Playing Centre-Back | Centre-Back
In Potter's Brighton system, both of the 'wider centre-backs' in their back-three formation were quite adventurous and would carry the ball forward often, before even staying higher up the pitch and attacking themselves with overlaps and underlaps — I've aimed to (somewhat) replicate this with our 'back-three' in-possession... hence the 'Dribble More' and 'Stay Wider' instructions for this right-sided centre-back.
Centre-Back | Centre-Back
No additional instructions.
Inside Full-Back | Full-Back
Same logic from the right-sided centre-back's role choice applies here, with the addition of 'Make More Runs' to encourage the overlapping and underlapping runs from deep.
Defensive Midfielder | Screening Defensive Midfielder
In Potter's 'wide-pressing' approach, the midfielders will largely remain zonal and will screen the back-four/five.
No additional instructions.
Box-To-Box Midfielder | Screening Defensive Midfielder
In Potter's Brighton system, one of the double-pivot would consistently make runs forward from midfield to crash the box late. I added the 'Roam from Position' instruction to encourage this midfielder to be rather random and spontaneous in the timing and positioning of his box-crashing, late arrivals into the penalty area.
Wide Midfielder | Tracking Wide Midfielder
This role and player is crucial to completing the 3-4-2-1/3-4-1-2 in-possession shape/s I am after, as he will assume the typical positioning of a wing-back in a back-five. From here, I want him making runs in-behind often and/or supplying Gyökeres ahead of him with riskier passes into the channels for him to chase. I added the 'Dribble More' and 'Cross From: Byline' instructions to add extra attacking thrust to his role. Without the ball, to replicate the 5-2-3/5-4-1 shape from Potter's Brighton days, I want this player to drop into the backline to create the back-five.
Inside Forward | Tracking Winger
In this system, I've largely tried to maximise the team's best attackers: Anthony Elanga, Alexander Isak, and Viktor Gyökeres. In this position, I wanted Elanga to remain in close proximity to the dropping Isak, before making penetrative runs in-behind to counter the dropping movements of Isak. I added the 'Roam From Position' instruction as Graham Potter likes his front three to be positionally fluid.
Deep-Lying Forward | Centre Forward
Here, I wanted Isak to complement those around him. Knowing Isak's game, I know he is technically strong and possesses elite link-up play abilities, so I've tried to play into this fact. Upon receiving the ball, he's encouraged to take risks to find team-mates running beyond him, whilst also possessing the initiative to take the ball on the half-turn and drive forwards himself.
Channel Forward | Centre Forward
This role simply suits Gyökeres best. He's asked to make more runs to penetrate in-behind, whilst being allowed to be selfish.
Results
FIFA World Cup 2026: Winners
Tunisia
In North America this summer, Tunisia will compete at their third World Cup in a row, and in their seventh World Cup in history. Across those seven qualifications, they have never managed to surpass the group stages and, this summer, they will be looking to finally break that duck.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find a whole lot of content/information about Tunisia's football culture, nor history, however, what I was able to find proved to be very intriguing. Tunisian football is, in fact, often intertwined with music and creative expression — this could, perhaps, be translated onto a football pitch...! Their 2004 side used two versatile full-backs and a tempo dictator in the midfield, often making them elusive in build-up. There has also been a collective emphasis, over time, on being tactically disciplined and retaining a solid defensive structure.
Sabri Lamouchi's Tunisia side is a very fascinating football team, with clear principles in place that often guides their play. Additionally, their football is largely very player-based, as Lamouchi looks to maximise his players. His side are often set up in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation, and there is a big focus on getting the ball into wide areas to work dangerous crossing opportunities, rather than quickly whipping the ball into the box as early as possible like other teams.
In general, Tunisia are rather patient in-possession, however, they can easily shift into a quicker gear to progress play forward. Without the ball, Lamouchi's side will usually sit off in a compact mid-block, with no more than 35 metres separating the defensive line and the attacking line.
Let's Break Down the Tactic
In Possession
Here, I've predominantly recreated what we see from Lamouchi's Tunisia side in-real-life, with a nod to the country's unification of football, music, and creative expression ('Be More Expressive'). Tunisia are a team that will build-up play in deeper areas often, and the 'keeper will often hold onto the ball for long periods.
There is also an emphasis on playing the ball down the dominant left-side, wherefrom the team can try and find the overlapping left-back. Tunisia try and make their games a complete fight, with settled possession hard to come by for opposition teams.
Out of Possession
Here, I've recreated what we see from Lamouchi's Tunisia in-real-life, whilst sprinkling in the odd instruction here and there to represent the side's traditional emphasis on defensive discipline.
Opposition Instructions
Player Roles
Goalkeeper | Sweeper Keeper
No additional instructions.
Inside Wing-Back | Full-Back
The right-back, in this system, will usually invert into midfield, allowing the right-sided midfielder to advance higher.
No additional instructions.
Centre-Back | Centre-Back
No additional instructions.
Ball-Playing Centre-Back | Centre-Back
No additional instructions.
Wing-Back | Full-Back
In this system, the left-back will tend to move higher and narrower. From this narrower position, however, he will run from in-to-out to offer overlapping runs as he tries to reach the byline for cut-backs.
Deep-Lying Playmaker | Dropping Defensive Midfielder
This role was chosen as a nod to the 2004 team's inclusion of a tempo-dictator in defensive midfield. In this system, Tunisia will initially sit off in a 4-1-4-1 mid-block — however, as they drop deeper, the holding midfielder will drop to create a back-five temporarily.
Box-To-Box Midfielder | Screening Central Midfielder
In this system, the right-sided midfielder will begin deeper before penetrating the right half-space, particularly once play has been switched from the left side towards the right side. Both central midfielders in the side's 4-1-4-1 mid-block are very defensively disciplined, never really being caught in a poor position or being dragged out from their zones.
Advanced Playmaker | Screening Central Midfielder
In this system, Hannibal is the team's attacking orchestrator on the left side of midfield, contributing greatly to the team's left-side triangle. I added the 'Dribble More' and 'Roam From Position' instructions to add another layer of unpredictability to his positioning.
Winger | Wide Midfielder
The right-winger, in this system, will hold the width on his side.
Wide Forward | Wide Midfielder
On the opposite side, the left-winger will also hold the width. However, he is generally more direct in attacking the goal, and will often take on a man before cutting inside.
Centre Forward | Tracking Centre Forward
No additional instructions.
Results
FIFA World Cup 2026: Winners
Conclusion
Thank you very much for reading the sixth part of this twelve-part series: Football Heritage — FM Blog's Road to the World Cup. I hope you have enjoyed this style of writing and content, and keep your eyes peeled for the other eleven parts of this series through DAILY tactic releases from the 31st, May until the 11th, June.
If you want a taste of these symbolic tactics, make sure to download the tactics using the link attached to this article and make sure to follow FM Blog (@fmbIog) and myself (@AshtonGgmu) on our respective socials. You can also explore every system in this series and more in the FM Blog tactics library. I hope you have enjoyed this article, and I wish you much success with these tactics on your saves! Thanks for reading!
