The USMNT employed a Christmas tree formation against Nigeria with Bedoya and Jones playing outside the central midfield three and shifting positions to create a vacant square in front of the center backs. While this formation helped the US generate turnovers, there were instances where the defensive shape broke down by not maintaining the vacant square. Maintaining the defensive structure seemed to be a priority over man-marking at times. Overall, Nigeria did not greatly test the defense, but the performance highlighted both strengths and vulnerabilities of the Christmas tree system.

1. -- how the 4-3-2-1 functioned vs. Nigeria
-- roles / responsibilities of the outside of the “3”
-- vulnerabilities
-- strictness (or lack) of formation

2. Pretty much a textbook xmas tree formation

3. They seemed to have a tactical objective to
create a vacant square in front of the CBs
The outside “3” on the ball side (Bedoya) pressured the ball, while the opposite
outside “3” (Jones) would form the top of square level w/Beckerman
BEDOYA
JONES
The opposite side FB plays vary narrow,
seeming to invite switch

4. -- the reason I am convinced we played xmas tree
is the related movement of the outside “3”s

5. 24:41 -- Ball on Jones's side, he is active in pressure /
marking. Bedoya pinches in to complete the vacant square
JONES
BEDOYA
BECKERMAN

6. 24:58 -- field is switched. Bedoya assumes a pressure / marking
role; Beckerman slides across flat; Jones completes the square
The top of the
xmas tree is ready
to collapse and
pressure balls
played into this
area. We
generated several
turnovers this way
BEDOYA
BECKERMAN
JONES

7. 25:09 --- ball is switched again. Jones applies individual pressure;
Beckerman slides across; Bedoya shifts to complete the square
There was
interchanging at
the top of the
xmas tree
BECKERMAN
BEDOYA
JONES

8. -- an instance of not establishing the “vacant
square” in front of back four

9. Jones is a little late getting back based on ordinary game flow (I don't recall
the specific circumstance here); Bedoya pressuring ball

10. Jones does get back, but Bradley occupied so doesn't pressure ball.
Lots of players walking (both teams) but player making run behind MB

11. Jones feels obliged to pressure vertically near circle; ball is played to the side he
is supposed to pressure wide; square broken; runner comes in under Beckerman
JONES
BECKERMAN

12. Nigeria not pressing hard (they never attacked our corners)and ball played
back, but now Beckerman marking (getting to goal-side shoulder) and has to
follow runner; Jones still not back to square (but Bedoya getting to his corner)
JONES
BEDOYA

13. Beckerman pulled out; Jones too high; Bradley too far from ball to
apply direct pressure. Note also how narrow far-side FB is (Fab-J)
JONES

14. Nigeria able to play short thru ball into space;
forces multiple defenders to collapse

15. Leads eventually to pretty harmless shot but potential
was there for more damaging attack

16. -- JK's comments about how formation doesn't
matter
-- how this xmas tree transitions in attack

17. From slow build-up out of our third/half, MB receives
deep and they attack as a 3-5-2. Bedoya stayed very
high and wide when we had sustained possession.
On the left, Beasley is advance of Jones. But on the right, Bedoya is
advance of Johnson

18. Here's the 3 from the 3-5-2....

19. But when play developed differently, they sometimes attacked like the 4-4-2
diamond with Bradley at the top (in this particular moment, he is ahead of the “2”)
The fullbacks
providing width as
would be
expected in skinny
diamond
DEMPSEY
JOZY

20. -- another example of the “vacant square” being
broken

21. I don't recall the specific circumstances but here a runner has gotten behind the
front line of the square. Also MB gets pulled too far wide pressuring the ball
BECKERMAN

22. Ball gets centered; Jones + MB out of position; Beckerman breaks to
pressure ball and now the Nigeria player in the square is unmarked --
Beasley + Besler both man-marking. Again, very narrow
BECKERMAN

23. However, ball is played wide the other way. Jones has to hustle to
close up his corner of the square

24. well done -- he gets there. Again, so narrow on the opposite side

25. Nigeria notices imbalance. Switch play;
one wide attacker unmarked
Besler marking this guy

26. Fortunately for US, Nigeria very casual. However multiple
defenders need to switch off their marks

27. Ball is eventually laid back for shot from on-running
midfielder. Not especially threatening but could have been if
under pressure from a more energized or skilled opponent
Nigeria not really committing numbers to attack

28. -- an example of recovering defensive shape after
a breakdown breakdown. Indicates level to
which this “system” is understood . This one as
a result of Jones getting clipped on the ankle
and staying down without the official stopping
play

29. Jones is down upfield after a break so positioning very fractured. CBs
too close, Beckerman too deep, nobody to form corners of square
Jozy tracking back as
he did multiple times
(in this game and in
other send-offs)
BECKERMAN

30. MB with aggressive pressure as usual. Beckerman trying to get in
position. CBs not getting pulled out of line by stepping forward to mark.
Seems very intentional that they not get out of square

31. But Beckerman has to man-mark, Jones is still down.
Jozy got back but trying to pressure ball. Square open...
BECKERMAN

32. But again lack of urgency from Nigeria has ball wide. Bedoya back to
pressure ball that side, Jozy takes Jones's corner of the square...
Beasley totally isolated with much
bigger striker on far post. Nigeria
never served in anything....
JOZY
BEDOYA

33. ...and in fact Jozy cuts across to tackle away an entry pass. See how
CBs remain totally flat back there at all costs. Even leaving Beasley to
mark that much taller striker while being so narrow.

34. -- one more instance of a defensive breakdown
-- I think in this case we had just countered on
Nigeria but a pass was cut out and they brought
it back against the grain with many of our
players out of position

35. Ball on far side; CBs not on same line; Beasley marking tall striker;
Beckerman totally playing zone (has back to runner)
JONES

36. Beckerman now has to man-mark as ball played back. Jones + both
CBs way too close together. Defense incredibly narrow as usual.
There is no “square” to be found
Jozy tracking back
once again
JONES

37. Jozy pressuring
ball now
Jones not being at his corner of the square means Beasley now
has two players to be accountable for. Plus still one free winger
JONES

38. Because there was no top to the square, Jones could not stop the wide pass, nor
the thru pass that player makes towards goal. Beasley frozen due to wide run
One of the few times
where both our CBs
were man-marking. To
my eyes it seems this
scheme is to ensure
there is always one
defender free to clean
up the mess

39. Fortunately Besler sees this run all the way and tackles ball away for corner. Both he
and Howard complain to ref about no offside call but honestly he looked on to me

40. Summary / Notes
-- Nigeria didn't put a whole lot into their attacking play.
Perhaps flattered the defensive shape, Beckerman's ability
to contribute
-- MB is key to everything
-- Jones had a great match
-- Jozy did a lot of little things besides the brace
-- there were 5-7 flicked-on headers in attack that I have not
seen much of under JK. New wrinkle perhaps? The triangle
at top of xmas tree works well for that
-- Beasley very positionally sound, but this opponent did not
seem very invested in attacking the corners/wide