ANALYSIS OF THE TACTICAL FORMATIONS USED IN GROUP “E” OF THE EUROPEAN UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING FOOTBALL COMPETITION IN THE 2021/22 SEASON

ABSTRACT Tactical formations play a crucial part in the outcome of every football match. The selection of a formation is based on various factors (e.g., the skill set of players on both teams, the particular vision of the coach, etc.) and is subject to dynamic changes throughout the course of the game. This paper aims to analyze the matches played in the European Under-21 Championship qualifying competition in the 2021/22 season and to assess the effect of the tactical formation on the overall performance of each team. To achieve this, a thorough comparative analysis was carried out on all 60 matches that have been played in the qualification group. Additionally, 70 Bulgarian coaches holding varying professional licenses were surveyed on their views and preferences in terms of tactical formations. The results of the analysis performed indicate a strong correlation between the best performing teams and the teams which employed the 1-4-4-2 tactical formation. Further, the data suggests that using both variations of the formation is more advantageous than strictly using only one. On the other hand, the survey suggested that the most preferred and commonly used formation among Bulgarian coaches is 1-4-3-3. Given these results, we propose that the 1-4-4-2 tactical formation should be one of the first to be considered when preparing for a match, with the specific variation being dependent on the particular skill set of the opposing team.