5 Key Aspects of Tiki-Taka Style Play
With UEFA Euro 2020 in full swing, pundits are having a field day analyzing each team’s formations and roster movements. First and foremost, many football fans and analysts are looking at the French national team to see if they can capitalize on an elite squad just like Spain did during their tiki-taka reign from 2008-2012.
At the moment, it looks like the German and Italian national teams have taken tiki-taka to heart. And fans paying attention to football betting tips in the Euros may even notice Italy in Group A is favorited above Germany in Group F to make it past the group stage with more points.
Though attempting to adapt the Spanish style of play may not be enough to help Germany topple France in the long run. Those following the advice of experts off-the-field have likely backed France to dominate the group, then contend for the Euro 2020 title.
Interestingly, France won’t be using a tiki-taka style of play. Instead, they’re opting for a narrow diamond in the midfield that will make for quick breaks up top, allowing Kylian Mbappe to capitalize on opportunities and wingers to push wide for the attack.
Though it leaves them open for counterattacks, there aren’t many teams with deeper squads than Les Bleus. Germany so far has proved unable to best France with a 1-0 loss, but their commanding 4-2 win over Portugal could indicate they needed time to adjust.
Italy, on the other hand, has hit the ground running in Group A, notching three wins to place themselves far ahead of Wales, Switzerland, and Turkey. Now that Spain seems to be moving away from tiki-taka for a more direct style, will the old Spanish style be enough to see Germany and Italy through to the finals?
That remains to be seen. For those in need of an update on the Cruyff-born, Pep-adopted style, keeping reading for the top five characteristics that define tiki-taka style of play.
Possession & Passing
Most football fans will associate tiki-taka style of play with passing and possession—often to a fault. When Johan Cruyff was first developing the tiki-taka style with FC Barcelona in the 90s, it started with a simple idea: maintain possession through a series of small passes and movement.
This is most notable in defense. Defenders are more apt to continue working the ball back and forth rather than opting for a risky pass into the midfield. Because tiki-taka emphasizes possession, there’s no hard break for defending or attacking.
In other words, there’s no switching from one to the other, but a gradual build that moves a team into the final third of the field.
Team Unity
Maintaining possession through tight passes and quick runs sounds deceptively easy. The most successful teams employing tiki-taka have a strong sense of unity. This helps players predict where others will run so that movements on the field become second nature.
One notable facet of Spain’s success from 2008-2012 was their sense of team unity. Most of the players were stars for FC Barcelona, which made transitioning to a national team seamless.
Opening Up Channels
Though from a spectator’s point of view, a direct style of play with plenty of pressure seems more effective for creating scoring opportunities—and that may be true. However, just as much work goes into tiki-taka style of play, with players moving off the ball constantly in order to open up passing channels.
This combines elements of team unity and passing; they’re both necessary to move the ball, slowly and surely, up the pitch. Players roam, interchanging positions as the team’s formation shifts as the ball is moved in pre-set patterns like give-and-gos.
Freedom Up-Top
Tiki-taka demands patience from the defense and plenty of movement and interchanging in the midfield. This is designed for midfielders and defenders to circulate the ball toward the box, using give-and-gos, as well as through balls.
In other words, the point is to wait for the perfect window for a through pass. There isn’t a set plan up-top, just creative freedom that allows players to shift and move as the ball moves into the final third. In some cases, like with Spain in 2012, there were no set strikers. It yields fewer goals (generally), but allows a team to control the game.
Aesthetics
Criticism on tiki-taka style abounds. It can lead to slow and boring play, which ultimately gets nothing done. It can also be directionless if teams don’t push for an offensive attack, resulting in a mind-numbing back-and-forth that fans loathe.
But it can also result in one of the most aesthetically pleasing sights for a football fan, in which players shift formations seamlessly, playing off one another to build toward a perfect opportunity. Though tiki-taka wasn’t created with aesthetics in mind, it’s one of the tactic’s most recognizable aspects.