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World CupNotificationsNotificationsHot Takes4 lessons Fiorentina can take from the World CupThe parallels between the
domestic and international games aren’t always clear but the Viola are taking notes.by The TitoJul 22, 2026, 10:57 PM
UTCFacebookLinkAnother trophy Fiorentina probably won’t win any time soon. Maddie Meyer - FIFA/FIFA via Getty
ImagesI’ve spent the past few days thinking about what we learned from the World Cup that’s applicable on a club
level: tactical stuff, coaching ideas, all that. Some of the secrets to success—have a midfield that can grind
opponents into dust a la Spain, have 6 world-class forwards a la France, have the best player in history a la
Argentina—aren’t really options for Fiorentina. The Viola brain trust will instead have to look for somewhat more
widely-applicable conclusions. Here are four that jumped out at me.1. Know thyselfAll four semifinalists were among the
pre-tournament favorites but what stood out to me about them is how each had a defining characteristic: Spain’s
masterful possession rendered it untouchable; Argentina had Messi and the power of friendship/bullying; France’s
tornado of daggers in the front four was unstoppable’ and England combined effort and control. Going back, what almost
all the other teams in the knockout stages was a clear identity. The teams that underwhelmed (Germany and Brazil in
particular), on the other hand, never seemed certain what their own strengths were.That’s an obvious conclusion to
draw but one Fiorentina could learn from. Last year’s team under Pioli had no idea how it wanted to play (other than
very badly). Paolo Vanoli’s accomplishment was instilling the outline of an identity in the group. Fabio Grosso’s
job is to figure out what approach best suits his players and implement it. Looking at the roster right now, I think
this team is built to play a stubborn mid-block that prevents opponents from playing through the middle and breaks very
quickly the other way, eschewing possession in favor of verticality. Fabio Paratici’s next few moves in the transfer
market could change that, of course, but Grosso needs to know how he wants this squad to play and he needs to have
explained it enough detail that everyone understands.Beyond the obvious tactical identity, though, there’s also the
need for an emotional identity. Under Pioli, it was sullen frustration. Under Vanoli, it was
slacker-doing-the-bare-minimum-to-pass-chemistry-with-a-C-minus. That attitude has ranged from a snarling, swaggering
aggression (Vincenzo Italiano) to 80% stolidity-20% arrogance (Raffaele Palladino). I don’t know any of these
individual players well enough to know how they’ll react to anything, much less what happens when they’re all
together. But if Grosso can establish an esprit de corps based around some sort collective identity, he’ll be more
than halfway there.2. The system is kingI’ve seen a lot of people talking about how Spain beat France (the best
collection of attackers in the world) and then Argentina (the best single player in history), proving the supremacy of
the system over the individual. I think that’s an absolutely insane take. Spain’s roster is chock full of
world-class players; this isn’t the Little Engine that Could so much as a roster that had no weaknesses from top to
bottom.Similarly, France and Argentina and every other team played a system and pretending otherwise is willful
ignorance at best. The Spanish model was predicated on everyone being passing and moving until a gap opened up that any
of the outfield players could exploit. Its French and Argentinian counterparts were designed to put specific players in
advantageous positions, usually isolated against a single defender in space. Those both require all eleven players doing
their jobs conscientiously. That principle applies to every team at the World Cup. Also to every team ever, I suppose,
but bear with me.What jumped out to me was how few teams had a Plan B. Some of this is the lack of practice time
inherent to the international game but I was astonished at how few tactical adjustments I saw most of the managers make.
Spain, in fact, had the most obvious fallback in Mikel Merino, who created a completely different threat as a substitute
that opponents had trouble adjusting to. For the most part, though, every team’s Plan B was essentially Plan A but
better and maybe with a couple different players.I thought this was most obvious in France’s case. Despite having the
colossal Jean-Philippe Mateta on the bench, Didier Deschamps didn’t turn to the target man when chasing the game
against Spain. He ordered his back six to push the ball forward even more quickly, leading to more errors which Spain
could exploit. Given how well the Spanish defense shackled Mbappé and company, I didn’t understand why Deschamps
didn’t toss on Mateta, which would’ve offered Cubarsí and Laporte an entirely different challenge and possibly
given France a path back into the game.That’s just one example. It felt to me like most of the subs in this tournament
were like-for-like. Some of the players did slightly different things but not in ways that changed how the team played;
Norway’s approach didn’t change even after Erling Haaland subbed off. I think that’s an echo of the rise of the
system manager at club level. Players are used to that approach. The mister has to stick by his principles or lose
credibility as a tactician. The real trick is convincing the squad to follow along even if the results aren’t there.
Again, I’m not sure what system Grosso’s going to install. But my guess is that it will be THE system and the only
deviations will be weird one-offs.3. The fullbacks are crucialTo paraphrase media tactics godfather Michael Cox, “The
team with the best fullback pairing is usually the one that wins the World Cup.” I think that’s slightly less true
from 2010 to 2022 but the importance of fullbacks in tournament play can’t be overstated over the past 3 decades. In
fact, FIFA has picked at least one fullback from the winner in every Team of the Tournament since 1992. This time
around, both Pedro Porro and Marc Cucurella made the XI.Fullbacks are foundational because their impact is felt in every
third of the pitch. At least one of the pair has to be elite going forward, as opponents will either leave the winger
high on that side and deal with the danger in other ways that deform the shape even more or have the winger track that
fullback, removing an attacking threat. Defensively, having a fullback who can hold up in the sort of 1-v-1 situations
that usually decide knockout games is obviously critical. As Spain demonstrated, top fullbacks are more important than
top wingers.The position isn’t quite as important at the domestic level. The length of the season means teams have
more training time and thus more tactical flexibility to sort out wrinkles; think of how Palladino mitigated the
defensive weaknesses of Robin Gosens and Dodô while emphasizing their attacking strengths. Even in Serie A, though,
good fullback play matters. Against a deep block, your fullbacks provide extra attacking impetus. Against a team that
presses high, they’re often the simplest out ball.I don’t think the World Cup has influenced Paratici’s transfer
strategy but it’s hard not to see connections. Despite lacking a single senior winger besides Albert Guðmundsson, the
DS has focused on rebuilding the defense. Alex Jimenez is in the team, João Mário might join him, and Victor
Valdepeñas is one of a number of leftbacks linked to the Viola as well. With Gosens already out the door and Dodô
following shortly, the revolution at fullback is well underway.Paratici’s targeted a specific profile at rightback:
rapid, technical, better going forward than defending, and primarily an overlapper rather than an inverter. Valdepeñas,
nominally a centerback, is an entirely different profile; while quite athletic and happy to carry the ball forward,
he’d probably be far more reserved in his positioning. Those differences could foreshadow what types of wingers
Paratici wants. For now, though, it’s obvious that his primary criterion at fullback is athleticism.4. Fast, fast,
fast is backIt’s not just at fullback that Paratici’s looking for athleticism. Viery, Radu Drǎgușin, Arthur Atta,
Jimenez, and Christ Inao Oulaï are all specimens, albeit in different ways. That matches what we’ve seen at the World
Cup: no matter how you play, the most important thing these days is having athletes who can win their individual battles
in both attack and defense. The most perfect tactical plan falls apart if the players lack the physical capacity to
execute it.This shift has been ongoing for the past decade or so as teams reacted against Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona by
increasing their out-of-possession ability. That’s most visible in England, where size and speed are now the most
valuable commodities, and due to the Premier League’s stature, everyone else is following suit in hopes of reaping the
comically inflated transfer fees those clubs are willing to pay. It’s resulted in an arms race to find increasingly
rapid refrigerators wearing boots and that approach has spilled into the international game as well.What I find
interesting is that it doesn’t matter what style a team plays; big lads who can run are in demand regardless. Teams
that sit deep, pack the box, and try to break need the pace in forward positions to get in behind but also need
midfielders quick enough to support those counters and defenders who aren’t so slow-footed that they’ll give up
space on the edge of the box. Teams that prioritize possession also need that pace, because keeping the ball doesn’t
mean anything without the ability to burst into the tiny spaces that clever passing creates; having rapid defenders who
can recover when opponents go long is also critical.Gone are the days of louche playmakers and maverick geniuses,
replaced by hard-charging tanks, the type that Carlos Bilardo deemed “useful idiots.” This isn’t the permanent
state of affairs, of course. It’s a pendulum that’s currently swung about as far to one side as it can get. Chasing
trends isn’t always profitable, particularly for smaller teams with ambition. Bigger clubs swoop in and take the most
desirable players, leaving the have-nots with a squad of misfit toys that can’t execute whatever tactical ideal
currently holds sway. However, Paratici’s clearly understands what profiles are hot right now and is acting
accordingly.See More: Hot TakesMost Popular4 lessons Fiorentina can take from the World CupFiorentina vs Gubbio: Match
thread [update: there’s no video anywhere]We’re spinning this Moise Kean transfer story out of nothingHow is
Fiorentina funding its spending spree?Report: Fiorentina interested in Bryan GilAdvertiser Content FromThis is the title
for the native adMore in Hot TakesJun 25How Fiorentina can get the best out of Moise KeanJun 125 Sassuolo players Grosso
could target for FiorentinaJun 33 players from each relegated team that could help FiorentinaMay 28Guessing how Paratici
will evaluate the underachieversApr 30Trying to make sense of Moise Kean’s off yearApr 27Let’s talk about this
Riccardo Braschi thingHot TakesJun 25Hot TakesJun 25How Fiorentina can get the best out of Moise KeanThe Viola need to
get their best player back on track if they’re going to do anything next year.By The TitoLatest NewsJun 12Latest
NewsJun 125 Sassuolo players Grosso could target for FiorentinaThe new mister might bring some of his old charges to
Florence.By The TitoLatest NewsJun 3Latest NewsJun 33 players from each relegated team that could help
FiorentinaThere’s some interesting talent descending through the trapdoor.By The TitoHot TakesMay 28Hot TakesMay
28Guessing how Paratici will evaluate the underachieversThe DS has to extricate the team problems from the personnel
problems.By The TitoHot TakesApr 30Hot TakesApr 30Trying to make sense of Moise Kean’s off yearAn investigation of
Moise Kean’s “underperformance” this year.By The TitoHot TakesApr 27Hot TakesApr 27Let’s talk about this
Riccardo Braschi thingWhether or not a 19-year-old plays at the end of this season isn’t what we’re really arguing
about, is it?By The TitoAdvertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adThe LatestAn hour agoWe’re spinning
this Moise Kean transfer story out of nothingJul 22Fiorentina vs Gubbio: Match thread [update: there’s no video
anywhere]Jul 21Report: Fiorentina wants João Mário for some reasonJul 20How is Fiorentina funding its spending
spree?Jul 19OFFICIAL: Fiorentina signs Christ Inao OulaïJul 18OFFICIAL: Amir Richardson returns to Le
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