Dan Hartley
Soccer Analyst
Dan Hartley focuses on the global game — from the Premier League to MLS, CONCACAF and the World Cup cycle. His analysis is particularly strong on the tactical evolution of international football.
Articles by Dan Hartley
Crystal Palace are betting the house on Pierre Sage
Crystal Palace has gambled on Pierre Sage as their new head coach. …
4 months, 1 week ago
Van der Vaart hits rock bottom with that Japan outburst
Virgil van Dijk is catching heat for his turning speed, but Rafael …
4 months, 1 week ago
Graham Potter's strange Swedish redemption arc
Graham Potter's Sweden side put five past Tunisia, but a strange pitch-side …
4 months, 1 week ago
Why England's defensive gamble under Tuchel will backfire
Thomas Tuchel's decision to shuffle the England backline just before the Croatia …
4 months, 1 week ago
The 4-4-2 resurgence is stalling in this World Cup
The World Cup's flirtation with a 4-4-2 resurgence is failing quickly. Data …
4 months, 1 week ago
Marcus Rashford at a career crossroads as Barcelona deal deadline looms
With the Barcelona option for Marcus Rashford expiring, we break down why …
4 months, 1 week ago
Cucurella’s move to Madrid signals a tactical shift for Ancelotti
Cucurella’s move to Real Madrid highlights a shift toward structural stability, with …
4 months, 1 week agoThe World Cup Round of 16 is already a slaughterhouse waiting to happen
The World Cup Round of 16 is where the fairy tales die …
4 months, 1 week ago
Manchester United are filming a tragedy not a documentary
Manchester United's move to secure a record-breaking documentary deal signals a shift …
4 months, 1 week agoFIFA's expanded bracket is a bloated disaster waiting to happen
The World Cup expansion is a bloated nightmare for player fitness and …
4 months, 1 week agoReal Madrid buying Marc Cucurella is the biggest fever dream of 2026
Real Madrid paying over £50m for Marc Cucurella is a transfer disaster …
4 months, 1 week ago
Top 10: The Defining Moments of the 2026 World Cup Opening Stages
From FIFA's logisitical failures to the rise of the counter-attack, a breakdown …
4 months, 1 week ago
Cape Verde's secret weapon ahead of the clash with Spain
Cape Verde's unorthodox roster faces the giants of Spanish football. How the …
4 months, 1 week ago
Fenway Park is an absurd venue for football, but the Tartan Army makes it work
Fenway Park is hosting the Tartan Army in a clash that highlights …
4 months, 1 week ago
Jan Paul van Hecke injury complicates Tottenham's summer defensive plans
Jan Paul van Hecke's transfer prospects take a hit after a facial …
4 months, 1 week ago
Tactical naivety is costing Tunisia their tournament life
Tunisia's tactical setup proved insufficient against Sweden's diagonal progression, exposing structural gaps …
4 months, 1 week ago
Top 10: The Defining Moments of 2026 Football
Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers headline a tactical shift in modern football …
4 months, 1 week ago
Ivory Coast face a reality check after the Amad heroics
Amad Diallo’s 90th-minute winner saved Ivory Coast against Ecuador, but tactical cracks …
4 months, 1 week ago
Sweden's predictable ball-hogging will be their undoing
Sweden's sterile possession play against Tunisia masks a deeper tactical failure that …
4 months, 1 week ago
Iran is playing football under the shadow of a handshake
Iran’s arrival in the US for the 2026 World Cup is overshadowed …
4 months, 1 week ago