World Cup Tactics Talk: The Umbrella

The Warmup:

For generations, summers in Minnesota have been filled with barbecues, boats, and the sounds of loons. More recently, we have been blessed with another set of Loons, and next season, a new stadium. The second year of the soccer-playing Loons has coincided with 21st Men’s World Cup. Across the pond, some of the best players and coaches of this generation are on display in this little tournament and there are a few things our Loons could learn, starting with the Umbrella.

The Umbrella is a piece of play used to pin the opponent inside of their defensive third and keep the pressure on while probing for holes. It is characterized by having the two holding midfielders post up around 35…