OSM Counter Tactic for Passing Teams: Best Formations

OSM Passing Game Counter Tactic 2024

Vialand Theme Park presents this new entry in our counter-tactic series; while riding the full excitement of Euro 2024, we'll look at what strategy we can build against Spain's passing game, the best-performing side so far, and how we can beat them.

OSM Passing Game Counter Tactic 2024

OSM Passing Game Counter Tactic: Spain's Strengths and Challenges

Spain stands out as an extremely tough team to beat. Their passing game, their commitment to the old tiki-taka style, and their ability to play vertically all draw attention. In particular, Nico Williams on the left wing and Lamin Yamal on the right have added a different dynamism to the team. While they used to control the game with horizontal passes, they've now built on that and play a more effective game by also going vertical.

We want to show this through Online Soccer Manager (OSM) as well. Let's look at what kind of tactic we can use in OSM against strong opponents who play this way.

OSM Passing Game Counter Tactic: Away Tactics with the 5-2-3B Formation

Our first suggestion is an away tactic. We'll use the 5-2-3B formation. We have 5 defenders at the back. We can use at least one of these players as a wing-back. One of the reasons we picked Serbia is that the team has almost no fullbacks. The players' ratings might be a bit low, but that doesn't matter here.

We put Pavlovic at right-back. For left-back, we do have an option, but since his performance is low, we put Gel in instead of Mladenovic. At centre-back, we prefer players with low attacking output. In midfield, it's more enjoyable to play with a 6 and an 8. We don't have a good 6 available, so we can pick a balanced player instead.

Attack and Defense Balance

Serbia is currently a team lacking tempo. Normally, they'd have no chance against a fast-playing team like Spain. But since we're playing the game, we can try a few things. We could also use Mitrovic, but we picked Zivkovic instead because his defending is stronger. We'll prioritize our defense.

Our tactic will be a counter-attack. Our forwards sit deep, our midfield stays in position, and our defense holds its position. When we pull the midfield back or push it forward, big gaps open up. That's why we need to keep the midfield in position. We also pull the front three back to form our defensive line. Since we're playing counter-attack, the players will wait behind the ball and look for goals through quick attacks. Against fast-playing teams like Spain, this tactic is ideal for disrupting their fluid game.

We shouldn't pull the defense too far back, because we could end up under incredible pressure. If you take that kind of pressure against big teams, technical players can unlock your defense. That's why the precision of your tactics matters a lot.

Press, Style, and Tempo Settings

We shouldn't sit the team too deep. We should play with a press value of 59, a style value of 39, and a tempo value of 69. These settings let the team move quickly while defending. Finding a goal against this kind of team from set pieces is nearly impossible. We use zonal marking and don't use the offside trap. This tactic should be your first choice against strong opponents who play a passing game.

Alternative Tactics: 4-2-3-1 Formation

Our second tactic suggestion is the 4-2-3-1 formation. This tactic works better once you're a bit stronger and more confident. Here too, our intent is to keep five players in midfield to create numbers there. Let's keep the back line defensive, using 3 centre-backs. You can use a 10 on the left and one on the right. We can turn one of our 8s into a 6. Up front, go with a true striker.

Shooting whenever you see the goal is the smartest move. Our tackling depends on the referee, but with a five-man midfield we can afford to be aggressive. This tactic is a risky one. If you trust your squad and have a good five-man midfield, give it a try. We use 60-60-60 settings. We use zonal marking and don't use the offside trap. Depending on the situation, you can also consider wing play.

With the tactics given in this guide, you can learn how to build a strategy against a passing team. We hope it helps! :)

About Vialand Theme Park

Vialand is known as an entertainment center with free on-site parking where a single ticket gets you unlimited fun all day, and as Türkiye's first theme park. With the E5 highway to its south and the TEM motorway to its north, it's very easy to reach by car, and it's also easy to reach by metro. (Visitors wanting to reach the theme park can take the M7 Mecidiyeköy–Mahmutbey metro line and get off at the Veysel Karani-Akşemsettin stop to reach the park.)

For more details and deals, you can visit the website.

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