Galo played every minute of Costa Rica’s Copa America campaign He helped the Ticos earn 4 points in a group consisting of Brazil, Columbia, and Paraguay. Galo showcased an impressive ability to commit to playing in a low and mid-block for the majority of the games. As the only midfielder to play every minute, the 23-year-old was charged with leading the midfield outfit of the youngest team in the tournament. He split his minutes between playing in the RCM and the CM positions in a 532 setup.
The video above is meant to demonstrate some of Galo’s patterns of play which I believe showcase who he is as a player to determine what type of team he is best suited for.
Overview
Likes:
Winning the ball and playing a progressive pass
Engaging opponents in a mid and low block while using a cover shadow
Dislikes:
Playing in wide channels in the final third
Areas to Improve:
Playing centrally in the CM/DM position
Breaking Down Actions
RCM Mid and Low Block - Shifting Quickly and Cover Shadows
Galo is great at keeping the ball in front of him when in a settled defensive shape. He stays active and quickly shifts laterally as the ball is switched across the field. He is constantly checking his shoulders and reorienting his body to block off passes to runners in behind him. His use of cover shadows takes these opponents out of the game.
Defensive Actions - Situational Awareness in the Box
When Costa Rica needed to defend their box, Galo was often able to sense danger and read the opposition movement to put out fires. He made blocks, clearances, and interceptions to make sure passes and shots did not get off. Mostly these actions were the result of tracking runners into the box and getting goal-side of them when other areas of the team were bypassed.
Ball Wins
Galo looks to pounce when he can to win the ball back for his team. He is particularly proficient at reading when to jump and when to sit, often waiting for a moment when the opponent might be receiving the ball with their back to him. He can usually poke it away from their weak side and even get his body in between the opponent and the ball at times.
Transitions to attack
Galo could use some work on his out ball after winning the ball back from the opposition. While he is quite adept at regaining possession, he can struggle to find that next action, often opting for a quick progressive through ball. These usually end up back with the opposition, forcing Costa Rica to reorganize in their defensive shape.
Attacking Play - Playing in the Half Spaces
Galo wants the ball, but he doesn’t want to keep the ball. He is happy to look for space in the halfspaces when he can receive in between the lines but he is not fully adept at playing on his own from that point. He much prefers to have runners that he can combine with and pass the ball off to after receiving in these advanced positions.
Area to Improve - Playing Centrally
Playing as Costa Rica’s starting CM seems to be the future for Orlando Galo and it would be good for him to get some more minutes there as he grows. Galo doesn’t look uncomfortable with the responsibility but seems to feel the pressure. His actions are usually much quicker and more rash; his tackles become fouls, he passes the ball away too quickly which leads to turnovers, and he can lose track of his teammates’ current actions and positions as he tries to engage opponents, which leads to gaps.
Thank you for reading. This is obviously the first time I have done anything like this (especially with respect to the video). Any suggestions or feedback would be greatly appreciated. I have really enjoyed working on this project and presenting it in this format so I hope I can continue to improve it in the future.
You will notice that there are many differences between the videos and formatting of this information between the five players in this series that will be released throughout the week so please let me know which ones you like and which you don’t!
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