The Sports Lab
Analysis that makes the game intelligible.
Formation, duel, and decision — applied to football, tennis, and women's sport. For the coach who wants tactical frameworks to take into training on Monday. For the analyst who wants honest engagement with the evidence. For the player who wants to understand why positioning matters as much as pace. And for the reader who simply wants to understand what they are watching.
Inaugural Series — World Cup 2026
The Shape of the Game
Formation, Duel & Decision in the Modern World Cup
Seven editions tracking the tactical arc of World Cup 2026 in real time — from Morocco's 4-1-4-1 block holding Brazil in Week One to Spain lifting the trophy at MetLife Stadium on 19 July. The complete archive is freely available.
Read all seven editions →The Shape of the Season
Club football analysis
Tracking the World Cup's tactical legacy into the European club season. Champions League, Premier League, La Liga. Published as the season progresses.
Launching August 2026
The Shape of the Field
Women's World Cup 2027
Seven editions tracking the Women's World Cup in Brazil — the same rigour, the same format, applied with equal depth to the women's game.
Launching June 2027
The Shape of the Court
Grand Slam tennis analysis
Three editions per Grand Slam — tactical pattern analysis applied to the court. The same analytical framework. A different surface.
Launching Roland Garros 2027