Post 1/8 Best of June 2026 — My most useful and popular posts from the month. Principles of Play posters, 3v3 attacking games, England DNA analysis and more.

Who would you pick? Lets think about the World Cup Golden Boot race leaders. Imagine you are building your club. Imagine all four are twenty five, but not the players they were at 25, they are playing as they are at the 2026 World Cup. Four top scorers. Four different skill sets. Which one would you build your club around?

Improvisation and Creativity Better opponents are better organised, making them harder to break through.

Beat One. Beat Two. Beat The Low Block. France passed a severe test against Paraguay. The game was always going to be tough. Paraguay playing with the tough, disciplined low block that has been one of the features of this World Cup. Then came the physical aggression. Paraguay essentially resorted to kicking the French players in a manner that would have fitted into Italia '90 rather than 2026. France had to be brave to persist with their 1v1 brilliance in the face of potential injury. Desire Doue's intricate dribble drew three defenders to him, resulting in a foul and a penalty. One vs one excellence and bravery eventually broke down the low block and continued France's run at the World Cup. "The benefits to having multiple players who are comfortable one versus one (or against greater odds) really start to show when the players begin to mature. If every player is competent defending one on one, a team will be able to defend with solidity. If a number of players on a team are excellent when taking on defenders that is when real advantages are created. In June 2017, France defeated England in a friendly at the Stade de France, 3-2. France had a player sent off but were still able to attack very effectively. The reason for this was that they had Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé, Thomas Lemar and Paul Pogba; all players with wonderful dribbling ability. Not all one versus ones are equal. When the attacker is superior to the defender, a one versus one becomes an attacking overload. France effectively had four overloads despite being a player down." (From Developing Skill, 2018) #SundayShare

Humbled. By Haaland.

And once more.

They Play 3v3 In Norway

Some great points in this #SundayShare on asking your players

🚨52 Top Tips 🚨 Tip 49 - Ask The Players; How Can I Help You Today? If you want all 52 Top Tips in one go visit the Gumroad link in my pinned post. I am running a "pay what you want offer for the document. You can pay 50p, £1, £10 or £1000 it is completely up to you! #SundayShare

FIFA are trying very hard to ruin their own World Cup.

Corruption in the land of the Corrupt.

I compiled my World Cup themed 3v3 posters into one collection. Grab them all. thebeardedcoacg.gumroad.com/… #SundayShare

What If Your Principles Are Just Preferences? Principles belong to football. Preferences belong to coaches. #SundayShare

How can space teach? #SundayShare

The in depth analysis continues as we head into the business end of the World Cup.

The specific passage from Developing Skill, referring directly to Mbappe and Dembele. "The benefits to having multiple players who are comfortable one versus one (or against greater odds) really start to show when the players begin to mature. If every player is competent defending one on one, a team will be able to defend with solidity. If a number of players on a team are excellent when taking on defenders that is when real advantages are created. In June 2017, France defeated England in a friendly at the Stade de France, 3-2. France had a player sent off but were still able to attack very effectively. The reason for this was that they had Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé, Thomas Lemar and Paul Pogba; all players with wonderful dribbling ability. Not all one versus ones are equal. When the attacker is superior to the defender, a one versus one becomes an attacking overload. France effectively had four overloads despite being a player down."