Four national team tactics built from culture and history — Nagelsmann's narrow 4-2-3-1 Germany, Advocaat's direct Curaçao, Faé's possession Côte d'Ivoire and Beccacece's counter-attacking Ecuador.
Welcome to the fifth 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 E, their respective World Cup histories, their respective football cultures, and their respective, current tactics. I hope you enjoy!
Germany
Germany arrive at the FIFA World Cup for nineteenth time in a row with an aim and ambition of winning their fifth World Cup trophy. Their most recent World Cup success came twelve years ago, in 2014 — 60 years on from their first ever World Cup triumph in '54. This summer, in North America, they will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of the legendary teams of yesteryear.
Germany has a proud footballing history as the second-most successful nation in World Cup history; only Brazil have won more World Cups than Germany in football history. German football, traditionally, is defined by teamwork, togetherness, discipline, and passion, with the latter being clearly evident and showcased week-in week-out by loyal fans turning up en masse to league games across the country.
Germany is also the breeding ground of a number of football's great innovators, with the 'Gegenpressing' style of play being birthed by Ralf Rangnick and made famous by Jürgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool. Germany has always been enamoured by high-intensity, attacking football — the sort of football that will always please those in the stands. However, German football is famously efficient, modelled on punctuality with teams tending to be disciplined, well-drilled, and physically fit.
Julian Nagelsmann is the man to lead Germany through this upcoming tournament, and he is one of the most tactically astute managers in world football. His football is a mix of the classic, heavy-metal, gegenpressing football from German sides down the years and a more positional-play-focused approach from the likes of Pep Guardiola, however, with an even greater emphasis on creating and attacking space, especially between the lines of the opposition and in-behind their defence.
In Euro 2024, Nagelsmann used a very narrow 4-2-3-1 shape with both full-backs advancing higher and wider to supply the width — additionally, one of the double pivot would drop into the backline to create a wider back-three at the base of their 3-1-6 shape. Nowadays, due to the lack of a clear right-back option and Toni Kroos' retirement from football, Nagelsmann has tweaked his shape: now, Joshua Kimmich plays at right-back and will move into midfield areas, wherefrom he can make penetrative runs into the right half-space and channel. To complement his inverted positioning, the right-winger will stay wider on the right to hug the touchline, whilst one of the double-pivot will advance from midfield to occupy the right half-space. For a closer look at how inverted full-backs and these half-space rotations dovetail, our FM26 role synergy guide breaks down the key pairings in depth.
Let's Break Down the Tactic
In Possession
Here, I mainly tried to replicate Julian Nagelsmann's Germany side in recent months, with a slight sprinkling of Germany's football culture ('Counter-Attack', 'Be More Expressive', etc).
Out of Possession
Here, I've tried to incorporate more of the heavy-metal, gegenpressing approaches that have become synonymous with German football down the years. If you want the underlying principles behind a press like this, our FM26 pressing principles guide breaks down how to build and train an effective gegenpress.
Player Roles
Ball-Playing Goalkeeper | Sweeper Keeper
No additional instructions.
Playmaking Wing-Back | Full-Back
As aforesaid, Kimmich's new role for the German national team is that of a flexible, inverted full-back that can make more runs into space and penetrate the right half-space/channel. This role best replicates that in-game.
(DCR) Ball-Playing Centre-Back | Centre-Back
No additional instructions.
(DCL) Ball-Playing Defender | Centre-Back
I added the 'Dribble More' instruction as it suited Schlotterbeck's role best in-game.
Wing-Back | Full-Back
The left-back, in this system, will tend to stay wider. I added the 'Dribble More' and 'Cross From: Byline' instructions to add an extra, attacking thrust to the role.
Box-To-Box Midfielder | Defensive Midfielder
The right-sided defensive midfielder will almost always advance higher and occupy/penetrate the right half-space with runs in-behind. I added the 'Roam From Position' instruction to add a layer of unpredictability in his positioning and movement to the mix.
Defensive Midfielder | Defensive Midfielder
No additional instructions.
Attacking Midfielder | Attacking Midfielder
The '10's' role, in this system, is quite nuanced generally. However, he will usually look to attack the channels and half-spaces with runs in-behind, whilst also being given licence to roam from his position.
Winger | Wide Midfielder
In this tweaked system, the right-winger will hold the width on the right. Upon receiving the ball, he will look to take on his man before cutting inside to link with central players or shoot.
Playmaking Winger | Wide Midfielder
Florian Wirtz, in this system, will begin wider in build-up before drifting inside as the team progresses up the pitch. Upon receiving the ball, he will look to cut inside and carry the ball forward often.
False Nine | Centre Forward
The striker, in this system, will tend to drop off the frontline to link play and create for the penetrative team-mates around him.
Results
FIFA World Cup 2026: Runners-Up
Curaçao
Curaçao, this summer, will be playing at their first-ever World Cup — an immense accomplishment for the country! In North America this summer, they will be looking to create further history for the nation.
Despite the national team failing to appear at any World Cup prior to this summer's edition, football is a major part of life in the country, with the sport often being played by kids in the street. This may also be because of the country's strong link to the Netherlands — a large part of the Curaçao national team were actually born and raised in the Netherlands. This connection between Curaçao and the Netherlands has birthed a 'Dutch-Caribbean' culture, with many Dutch people regularly going on holiday in Curaçao; I know this first-hand, seeing Dutch family members of mine frequently jetting off to the country.
Dutch manager Dick Advocaat will be leading Curaçao into the World Cup this summer, despite previously resigning from his post due to a family emergency back in the Netherlands. Dick Advocaat, in his tenure (or in both of his tenures), has introduced strict, structural football from the Dutch school to his team, creating a well-drilled group that will be difficult to beat this summer.
His Curaçao team are a lot more direct than traditional Dutch sides, however, as they look to defend deeper, soak up pressure, before attacking directly on the transition. On the counter-attack, Curaçao will quickly move the ball wide to supply their direct, pacy wingers with the chance to cause chaos — from here, Curaçao will utilise dynamic, wide triangles to work the ball into a crossing position.
Let's Break Down the Tactic
In Possession
Here, I've tried to blend Dick Advocaat's Curaçao system with the more tactically disciplined Dutch School of football ('Be More Disciplined', for example) and the street-football heritage of the country ('Dribble More').
Out of Possession
This is my replication of what we've seen from Dick Advocaat's Curaçao side across his tenure, along with my expectation of how they will play in the World Cup ('Low Block').
Player Instructions
Player Roles
Goalkeeper | Sweeper Keeper
No additional instructions.
Wing-Back | Full-Back
Both full-backs, in this system, will move wider — however, I chose this more advanced role for the right-back to accompany the inverted right-winger.
Ball-Playing Centre-Back | Centre-Back
No additional instructions.
Full-Back | Full-Back
Whilst, in real life, both full-backs will move wider, I actually opted for the 'Sit Narrower' instruction to complement the width-holding of the left-winger.
Defensive Midfielder | Screening Central Midfielder
All midfielders, across all systems and formations, are very positionally disciplined OOP, mainly sticking to their respective positions and rarely closing down the opposition on their own accord.
No additional instructions.
Wide Central Midfielder | Screening Central Midfielder
I added the 'Roam From Position' instruction to add more fluidity to our right-sided wide triangle.
Attacking Midfielder | Screening Central Midfielder
I chose this role as it suited Hansen best — I added the 'Dribble More' and 'Take More Risks' instructions as they suited Hansen's player profile in FM26.
Inside Forward | Wide Midfielder
I chose this role to maximise Tahith Chong's output, whilst adding the 'Cut Inside With Ball' instruction to ensure he's always getting the ball onto his favoured left foot.
Wide Forward | Wide Midfielder
No additional instructions.
Centre Forward | Centre Forward
No additional instructions.
Results
FIFA World Cup 2026: Group Stages
Côte d'Ivoire
Ivory Coast are back on the world's stage after a 12-year hiatus, as they last competed in the competition in 2014. This summer's tournament will be the fourth World Cup they would have competed in — in their previous three World Cups, they failed to surpass the group stages in all three tournaments. This summer, they will be wanting to break new ground by reaching the knockout stages for the first time in history.
For many in the Ivory Coast, football is a constant source of hope and unity, and the Ivorian people absolutely adore the sport, with the sport deeply ingrained in the nation's culture. Historically, Ivorian sides have tried to physically dominate their opponents, especially in duels across the pitch. Sven Goran Eriksson's Ivory Coast side channelled this in a very attacking system — they were often considered to be a 'kamikaze outfit', considering the sheer lengths they would go to score goals.
Emerse Faé is the man to try and successfully navigate a World Cup group for the first time in the nation's history, and he will certainly be one of the managers to watch this summer. Faé's route to getting the national team managerial gig was... unique, to say the least. Mid-way through the 2023/2024 AFCON, Ivory Coast sacked their manager — Faé was quickly appointed as the Interim Manager, and he stunningly managed to guide the team to AFCON success, earning him the full-time role in February 2024.
Emerse Faé is known for his strong commitment to dynamic, attacking football — however, this attacking style of play actually derives from a controlled, possession-based platform, as his side will be patient in building up in deeper areas. A key pattern in the Ivory Coast's build-up will see the striker dropping off the front line to receive the ball to feet whilst the two wingers, in their 4-3-3 formation, will run beyond to attack the space in-behind. When his side doesn't have the ball, they will press high to try and regain the ball — however, they aren't too aggressive in their closing down.
Let's Break Down the Tactic
In Possession
Here, I've recreated what we've seen from Emerse Faé's side in his tenure. There is a clear emphasis on building up play patiently in deeper regions before bypassing the press to find the target man dropping into midfield. His side are rather possession-focused; however, they will hit teams on the counter-attack often. There is also an emphasis on getting the ball wide into the isolated wingers to have a 1v1, before crossing the ball into the box.
Out of Possession
Here, I've recreated what we've seen from Faé's side across his tenure — a clear commitment to pressing high to try and regain possession.
Player Roles
Ball-Playing Goalkeeper | Sweeper Keeper
No additional instructions.
(DR & DL) Wing-Back | Full-Back
Both full-backs, in this system, will largely stay wider and try to reach the byline for crosses and cut-backs into the penalty area. I added the 'Tackle Harder' instruction to every outfielder to channel the side's historical obsession with dominating physically.
(DCR & DCL) Ball-Playing Centre-Back | Centre-Back
Both centre-backs, in this system, will move wider to create space for the 'keeper to step up into in build-up.
Defensive Midfielder | Defensive Midfielder
No additional instructions.
(MCR & MCL) Central Midfielder | Central Midfielder
Both central midfielders, in this system, will stay in the pockets between the attacking midfield and defensive midfield lines to offer an immediate passing option to the holding midfielder. However, from here, they can roam from their position to find more optimal positions to receive the ball in — additionally, they will both look to crash the box at times with late runs into the box.
Wide Forward | Winger
Here, I've tried to maximise Amad within the confines of his role in the national team under Faé. In this system, he will stay wider on the right — upon receiving the ball, he will take on his man before cutting inside. I added the 'Roam From Position' instruction to add a layer of unpredictability to his positioning.
Inside Forward | Winger
Yan Diomande's role is very similar to Amad's in this system. However, he will drift inside more often to receive the ball in central areas.
Target Forward | Centre Forward
In this system, the striker will drop off the frontline to receive the ball in between the lines — upon receiving the ball, he will simply lay the ball off to a midfielder.
Results
FIFA World Cup 2026: Winners
Ecuador
Ecuador are on the world's stage for a second, successive time, and for the fifth time in their history — all five times they have qualified for the World Cup have come since the turn of the millennium. Despite featuring in four other World Cup campaigns, Ecuador have yet to go beyond the group stages. Their current golden generation will be hoping to guide them to new heights this time around.
Down the years, Ecuador have always played a very similar type of way: an emphasis on defensive solidity, with said defensive solidity being the platform to soak up pressure and quickly counter-attack from. Their 2022 World Cup team did this, under Gustavo Alfaro, and so did their 2006 outfit. Before 2006, however, the team would traditionally play a shorter, more controlled game, with an abundance of 'tip-tap' passes being played through the middle.
Sebastien Beccacece's side characterises the former style of play a lot more, as they will happily sit off teams in a compact low-block and soak up pressure before hitting the opposition on deadly, direct counter-attacks. The team's stingy, mean defence has been key, as the team boasts very respectable defensive statistics. When they don't have the ball, Ecuador will usually drop into a very dense 4-4-2 shape, with all forwards tracking back and the midfielders maintaining a compact shape in screening the centre, forcing teams wide.
Let's Break Down the Tactic
In Possession
Here, I've predominantly recreated what we see from Ecuador in-real-life. They are a very direct and disciplined team that tries to get the ball forward quickly.
Out of Possession
Again, I've recreated what we see from Ecuador in-real-life. Despite using a low-block, Ecuador keeps quite a high line and will tend to step up to tempt the opposition to play over them, wherefrom their 'keeper can sweep any loose balls.
Player Roles
Goalkeeper | Sweeper Keeper
No additional instructions.
(DR & DL) Wing-Back | Full-Back
Both full-backs, in this system, will usually stay wider and try and drive play forward using long, bursting carries.
(DCR & DCL) Ball-Playing Centre-Back | Centre-Back
No additional instructions.
(DMCR) Defensive Midfielder | Screening Defensive Midfielder
Both holding midfielders will typically move wider to support the team's wing-play. I added 'Shoot More Often' as Moises Caicedo does love to have a pop from range.
(DMCL) Defensive Midfielder | Screening Defensive Midfielder
Advanced Playmaker | Tracking Centre Forward
The '10', in this system, is the team's primary playmaker, and will constantly come towards the ball to supplement the team's play. I added 'Dribble More' and 'Roam From Position' to add more spontaneity to this player's positioning in-game.
(AMR & AML) Winger | Tracking Wide Midfielder
Both wingers, in this system, are very positionally flexible. Both will start wide before drifting inside to create space out wide for the full-backs to overlap. Both wingers will also make a lot of runs in-behind, as well as cutting inside often when on the ball.
Poacher | Tracking Centre Forward
Enner Valencia epitomises the 'Poacher' role, and will be quite selfish with the ball.
Results
FIFA World Cup 2026: Winners
Conclusion
Thank you very much for reading the fifth 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. I hope you have enjoyed this article, and I wish you much success with these tactics on your saves! Thanks for reading!
