When a back-five press leaves two midfielders covering too much width
07 July 2026
Australia’s back-five press opened when Bos or Behich jumped wide without cover. Volpato, Irankunda and Metcalfe pressed ahead, so O’Neill and Irvine had to screen both half-spaces with two players.
Trivela called it an efeito dominó de espaços, a domino effect of spaces. Australia’s front three gave Tony Popovic first pressure, but O’Neill and Irvine had to fill the whole second line laterally unless a wing-back stepped up. 1
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