The Variability of Full Backs (& Wing Backs) at the 2022 World Cup
The role of the full back continues to change, but this evolution has accelerated over recent seasons. The tactical awareness, game understanding and skill level have improved to a level where they are required to support their team more and more from an attacking perspective, both in central areas and out wide. The flexibility can mean at one moment they are central to support build up, followed by advancing into vacated space after the winger in front of them has inverted.
There is also the context of the world cup to consider. Even more so at the 2022, held in the gulf state of Qatar. A first ever winter world cup, and with some domestic league only finishing the week before the start of the tournament, national team have almost no time preparation time for what could be the pinnacle of a players or coaches career.
Then there is the nature of International football. While the rules surrounding naturalization have changed slightly in recent years, National team coaches cannot simply recruit players who match their ideal way of playing. They cannot wait multiple world cup cycles for their nations to develop the players that suit their style (they’ll probably be out of a job by then). They must select the best players at their disposal (or the players that match their style the best), and find a way to incorporate them into a starting XI that maintains an equilibrium whilst illuminating player’s qualities.
With these factors in mind, this article will look at some of the common themes surrounding how both full backs and wing backs have been utilised at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This has ranged from players being deployed deeper, to advancing to the point that they basically become wingers, and everything in between.
The article will solely focus on the full backs use in possession, as a full thesis could be written about their deployment from an out of possession perspective.
Inverted Full Backs
Probably one of the most common differences for the role of full back from the norm has been the inversion into a central position. Instead of the roaming up and down the wing, they have gradually moved alongside the deepest midfielder. The inverted full back is routinely used to include an additional player in central areas in possession, whilst taking advantage of a full backs possessional skill set. More and more within the modern game, the inverted full back is being utilised for their qualities when it comes to rest defence, positioning so that they can help control a team’s negative transitions.
Brazil — Danilo & Dani Alves
Brazil were the first exponents of the inverted full back at this world cup. This is something they have commonly used in the build up to the world cup, with Tite developing a Brazil side that can blend the gaucho/joga bonito style that traditional fans of Brazil crave, with the concepts of positional play that have dominated domestic football worldwide. The use of positional play, the dominance of it as a ‘European’ idea/construct, and the focus on the socio-affective qualities has been discussed at length here, here and here.
In their opening game v Serbia, Danilo at right back was the full back tasked with inverting during build up. His movement would occur when the ball shifted to the far side and on returning to the right centre back (Marquinhos), would offer multiple options. Either the ball could be progressed centrally (to either Danilo or Casemiro), or to winger Raphinha, with the passing lane between the two opened up through the right back’s positioning. His positioning also had the advantage of allowing Lucas Paqueta, starting as a more defensive midfielder in a 4–2–3–1, the ability to maintain an advanced position in the right half space (thus creating one of the hallmarks of positional play, the attacking line having a player occupy each of the 5 vertical channels):
This was consistent throughout the tournament for Brazil. Danilo would still invert when on the opposite side (v South Korea), and Dani Alves would also invert from RB during their final group game v Cameroon (something he had done in the previous season at Barcelona):
France — Eduardo Camavinga
More curiously, France opted for the use of an inverted full back in their last group game v Tunisia. Curious in the sense that it wasn’t a full back they were using. Eduardo Camavinga started at left back, usually deployed as a centre midfielder for club side, Real Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti had used Camavinga as a left back previously in a 2–1 loss to Sheriff in the 2021/22 season, with his justification being that he had history in the role:
“Camavinga is used to playing there [at left-back] as he played there a lot when he was younger”
The inclusion came as somewhat of a surprise to teammate, Aurelian Tchouameni. When asked his thoughts on the subject, he responded, ‘I didn’t know he could play there, that’s why I’m not a coach. But our coach thinks he can contribute in that spot after Lucas’ injury and he definitely can’.
In the first half v Tunisia he played more of a reserved role, remaining wide and deep, often having to cover the width of the pitch with France’s line-up having no recognized left-sided winger. With Coman on the right, Guendozi and Vertout would often interchange to take up a position in the left half space:
It wasn’t until the introduction of Kylian Mbappe that Camavinga started to make inverted movements. With Mbappe taking up a wider position than usual, he was now able to invert into advanced central positions:
Spain — Marcos Llorente
Another make shift full back who also made inverted movements was Spain’s Marcos Llorente. Though usually a central midfielder, Luis Enrique has entrusted him to fulfill a role at right back for the spanish national team. As Kiyan Sobhani mentioned on the Churros y Tacticas podcast during Euro 2020, Lllorente can play in this role due to his versatility and reliability:
‘Im not saying its his best position, but he’s reliable in that role. […] He has the stamina to cover the wing back position, he has the lungs and the fitness for it […] he can make those overlap runs, those underlap runs with ease. He’s provided an outlet for Koke a lot, combined with Ferran Torres. Also defensively he’s going to be reliable, and he’s a good ball carrier from the back.’
While having a torrid time against morccon winger Soufian Boufal, there were few moments where he could move into the right half space, something he typically does at club level.
This was mainly due to the compactness of Moroccan’s defensive shape. With little space to play into the centre midfielders, and with the atlas lions midfielders blocking these passing lanes, both Gavi and Pedri resorted to dropping outside of the Moroccan defensive block to receive. On the right, with Ferran Torres maintaining width, Llorente was then tasked with inverting between the lines to maintain Spain’s positional structure:
Advanced Full Backs
As you would probably expect from the modern day full back, they’re getting up the pitch into attacking positions. The role is no longer just about defending, but contributing in wide areas in possession. What’s been interesting throughout this world cup is the differing contexts that have created the need for these full backs to advance. One has been the need for the full back to advance in order to occupy the wide space after the winger ahead has moved centrally. This has also been complemented with the opposite full back remaining in a deep position, but this will be discussed later in the article.
Germany — David Raum
While exiting in the group stages for consecutive world cups, a capitulation in the second half in their opening game v Japan began Germany’s eventual demise. Their first half performance, was somewhat of a high point, with attacks stemming from the space created in wide positions for left back David Raum. Playing in a 4–2–3–1, Thomas Muller and Jamal Musiala in the advance positions were keen to receive in pockets of space behind Japan’s midfield line. With both moving centrally, and Serge Gnabry on the right maintaining width, Raum had the freedom to advance in the wide space.
Musiala’s movements further facilitated this as Japan’s right back, Hiroki Sakai, moved narrower to track the German’s runs:
And the decisional crisis these runs caused eventually led to the awarding of the penalty, and opening goal, for Germany. Both Sakai and June Ito are drawn towards Musiala to stop the threat, which ultimately lead to Raum having the freedom of the left side of the pitch:
USA, South Korea & Saudi Arabia — Antonee Robinson, Kim Jin-su & Mohammed Alburayk
Similar scenarios could be seen from both the United States and South Korea. Both having a wide attacking player who prefers to move into central spaces to receive, combine with teammates and attack. The task then of providing width, and moving into the wide space was left to the full back. Antonee Robinson (USA) and Kim Jin-su (Korea) would compliment the attackers movements.
For the United States, Robinson would advance when Christian Pulisic would move more centrally into the half space:
And similar for Kim Jin-su, who would advance with Son Heung-min often moving more centrally to affect play:
Saudi Arabia’s winger Salem Al-Daswari also created similar situations, with his more fluid position space for teammate, Mohammed Alburayk to advance into. Al-Daswari helps create decisional crisis for opposition full back (Matty Cash in this example), putting him in the dilemma of following him (and moving out of position) or holding position (allowing Al-Daswari to get on the ball with ease). Cash does the former, creating space in the wide area that full back, Mohammed Alburayk has the ability to advance into and receive:
Morocco — Achraf Hakimi & Noussair Mazroui
Morocco have been the surprise package of the tournament. Their run to the semi finals has inspired a whole continent and the arabic world, with the exception of probably Algeria. Their defensive displays against top European powers such as Belgium, Spain and Portugal have impressed many, especially with a group of players who are not household names. However, even before the tournament it could be argued that Morocco have the best pair of full backs of any team at the world cup, Achraf Hakimi of PSG and Noussair Mazroui of Bayern Munich.
While they haven’t been as attacking as many would usually see them at club level (and injury issues haven’t helped), they have still shown flashes of their ability to get into advanced positions, usually through overlapping their respective wingers who move inside with the ball.
Overlapping runs have been on the down turn in recent seasons. With wingers staying wide, full backs have adapted by making their advancing runs inside of their wide teammates. With Moroccan winger Sofiane Boufal and Hakim Ziyech keen to move invert with the ball, both full backs have then had the chance to get around the winger. This was never clearer than in their opening game against Croatia. Mazraoui overlapping Boufal who dribbles inside, and playing a diagonal pass to Hakimi who has overlapped Ziyech who has moved centrally to try to combine:
Netherlands — Denzel Dumfries
There is also the theme of full backs or wing backs being able to advance into higher positions due to the security of players behind them. In Netherlands 3–5–2 shape, Denzel Dumfries has the freedom to advance to the point where he becomes somewhat of an auxiliary winger. With one of the forwards occupying wider spaces on the left, and the other remaining central, Dumfries is able to end attacking runs in the box, often being on the end of crosses from the left. This is typified by his goal in the round of 16 match v USA:
He has the protection behind him of Jurien Timber, who moves wider in Netherlands build up to the point he basically becomes a right back. Timber’s positioning can then cover in the event that the Oranje lose the ball.
‘I would assume that the stronger the country, the less they’ll be adjusting their system, and team USA didn’t adjust, they didn’t adapt, we based our tactical plan on that. But I don’t expect France, Argentina or Spain is going to adapt to the Netherlands.’
Funnily enough, that’s exactly what Argentina did for the quarter final. Mirroring them in a 3–5–2, their back 3 became a 4 in possession. Christian Romero moving into the right back position, and Nahuel Molina advancing just as Dumfries would (though, probably not to the same extent):
Ecuador & Uruguay — Pervis Estupian & Mathias Olivera
You also have the teams that employed ‘La Salida Lavolpiana’. Credited to Argentine coach, Ricardo La Volpe, simply put it is the concept of having a midfielder dropping between centre backs to allow them to cover the full width of the pitch. The advantages of this idea is that you can create a numerical overload against the opposition (if 2 forwards are defending a back 4). Pushing the centre backs into wider positions can also ease ball progression, where a team can play around the defensive block in wider areas. This will also help push the full backs higher.
In the opening game of the World Cup v Qatar, Ecuador used this idea to play in the space around the hosts 3–5–2/5–3–2 shape and vacate central spaces. The animation within the South Americans 4–4–2 shape occurred with Midfielder, Jhegson Mendez, dropping between both centre backs to create the back 3. Both full backs, Angelo Preciado on the right and Pervis Estupian on the left, had the option to either advance in wider areas to make penetrating runs:
Or receive in deeper positions with little pressure on the ball. The extent to which Ecuador looked to position within space out wide is apparent when they almost fully vacate the centre of the pitch. Moises Caicedo also moves into a wide left position:
Uruguay also used Rodrigo Bentacur to drop from midfield into the first line, yet this was more to push left back, Mathias Olivera, higher up the pitch. With Olivera able to move higher, Darwin Nunez (Starting as the left-sided winger in a 4–3–3) could move into a more central position:
Deep Full Backs
One theme that has come out of the this word cup is the lop-sided roles of teams full backs in possession. While we have talked about full backs advancing, on the opposite side their is often a full back who remains deeper to compliment (or compensate). For many of these full backs who have remained deeper, and helped create a temporary back 3, they have been deployed as both a full back or centre at domestic and international level.
Germany — Niklas Sule
With David Raum marauding up the left side of the pitch for Germany, Niklas Sule occupied the role of 3rd centre back. Sule typically plays as a centre back at club level (for Borussia Dortmund and previously Bayern Munich), so while in a unfamiliar full back role, positioning more centrally adds a level of familiarity:
USA — Sergino Dest
Similarly for The United States of America, while left back Antonee Robinson had more freedom to move higher up the pitch, right back Sergino Dest would take up a deep position. Dest wasn’t necessarily positioned as a 3rd centre back, but in their opening game v Wales, he would often be alongside both centre backs, Tim Ream and Walker Zimmerman. From these positions, when receiving he would often look to play long passes behind the welsh defensive lines for Timothy Weah to receive:
This positioning was also the case v England. Variations between the two games were that rather than playing long balls in behind, Dest would start deep, receive and look to progress the ball through dribbling:
England — Kyle Walker
For England, the tactical transfer from domestic to International football has been seen most in Kyle Walker. Before Pep Guardiola’s introduction into English football, Walker was seen solely as a pacey full back, able to get up and down the pitch with relative ease due to his speed. However, the Catalan has helped evolve Walker into a key positional piece for Manchester City and England, being able to play as a right back, a right sided centre back, or both!
The Athletic’s John Muller coined the role of elbow back. A player who can take up the positions of both full back or centre back fluidly throughout a game. While he didn’t start for England’s 2 opening games, Walker was present for the final group game and both knockout games. v Senegal, we started to see him used in this hybrid role, playing at right back but taking up positions similar to a centre back when building possession:
And then was used in a similar way vs France. In the build up to the quarter final, there was much discussion about whether England should maintain their 4–3–3 shape they have used throughout the tournament, or to switch to a back 3/5 in order to try and mitigate the French’s attacking threats. England used a 4–3–3, and the use of Kyle Walker at right back allowed England to switch between 2 centre backs and a back 3. With Saka at right wing, pinning Theo Hernandez in deeper positions, Jordan Henderson would often drift into wider positions to receive:
Netherlands — Daley Blind
With Denzel Dumfries being one of the Netherlands main attacking threats from his wing back position, Daley Blind on the other side was slightly more reserved in his positioning. Different to say, Germany and the USA who used lop-sided full backs (1 advancing and 1 as a 3rd centre back), Blind would still take up the usual positions that a full back would, though he was tasked more with ball progression rather than moving into advanced areas.
While there have been calls for a more cavalier wing back to start ahead of Blind, Kees van Hemmen eloquently explains the reason for his inclusion:
‘Blind has started for every manager that’s ever coached him because he’s a generationally talented passer of the ball, with an elite game IQ with the ball at his feet. […] Blind will start at this tournament because he’s been vitally important to every good side he’s ever played in.’
Versus Senegal, Blind would often look to progress the ball centrally from his wide position, looking for passes into Steven Bergwijn (playing on the left of the Netherlands’ front 2). With Blind in deeper positions, Bergwijn would also be tasked with covering this left side when required:
The Attacking Option: Winger as Wing Back
There is also the option of not using full back or wing backs at all. If your team is looking to dominate possession and have the majority of play in the opposition half, then the full backs are out and in comes wingers. The role of the full back has evolved to almost becoming that of a secondary winger. This has created the dual threat that while full backs can work in attacking areas, wingers are also developing the defensive skills that can help facilitate them being used as a full back.
Belgium — Yannick Carrasco
In order to get their wealth of attacking talents on the pitch, Belgium did just that. In their opening game v Canada, they started in a 3–4–3, with Timothy Castagne at right wing back (who typically plays as a full back) and Yannick Carrasco at left wing back. Carrasco is an oddity in that while traditionally a winger, has been reformed as a somewhat attacking wing back since his return to Atletico Madrid from Dalian Yifang/Pro in 2020.
Belgium often attempt to maximise playing space when in possession. As a team (almost to an extreme) they fan out. This can often lead to poor connections between players when progressing the ball, but can also be incredibly difficult to defend against. In the image below you can see the extent to which the team spread out, with Carrasco (circled) advancing to the point he is on the last line:
Japan — Kaoru Mitoma and Junya Ito
There is also the context that a team is chasing a game, and requires more attacking payers on the pitch to help turn a defeat into a draw or even a win. This was the case for Japan throughout the tournament, especially in their standout wins against German and Spain.
Leading up to the world cup, Japan had predominantly used a 4–2–3–1 and a 4–3–3. After Germany, and David Raum, had ghosted through the team, coach Hajime Moriyasu deemed a change was needed. At the start of the second half the change was made to move to a 5–2–3 with Takehiro Tomiyasu replacing Takefusa Kubo. Still needing a goal, Moriyasu changed both wing backs, finishing the match with Kaoru Mitoma and Junya Ito at wing back. The risk reaped a famous 2–1 win over the 4-time winners, and a similar set up was used in their final group game against Spain, helping them top the supposed ‘group of death’:
Conclusion
The variability of the full back and wing back positions at this world cup are probably heightened by the way that football is evolving as a whole. As highlighted by Jon Muller in his piece about the tactical evolution of football through the world cups, teams have become more defensively disciplined. This has created units that stop play going through the centre and have forced play out to the wings. Looking at John’s graphic of touches by zone at each world cup, the 2018 vintage shows the extent to which this has happened:
This theme continued in Qatar. Mark Carey mentions how at the 2022 World Cup, 55% of all attacking third entries during the tournament came from the wide areas:
If all the play is now being shifted out to the wings, the need for full backs to provide an arsenal of attacking talents increases. And with this heightened defensive mindset, the need to have varying positions provide an attacking threat increases further. To quote Michael Cox on the lack of playmaking at this world cup:
‘Aside from the true elite — Lionel Messi, Neymar, Antoine Griezmann — you won’t find many playmakers thriving in this competition at all. This World Cup has been characterised by a lack of invention between the lines and lack of dribbling out wide.’
While the playmakers are finding it harder and harder to find the space needed to create, full backs and wing backs are using their varying skills to try and create something.
*While there is little mention of both finalists, Argentina & France, my plan is to write something about the use of full backs in the final. Hopefully I’ll be able to write it relatively soon.*