Soccer Guides / Positions and tactics
Positions and tactics
What every position does, how the classic formations compare, and the big tactical ideas such as pressing, possession and the counter-attack.
Tactics are simply a plan for where eleven players should be, with and without the ball. Once you know the jobs of each position and a handful of ideas such as pressing and counter-attacking, televised matches start to look like a chess game you can read.
TacticsFormations compared: 4-3-3, 4-4-2, 3-5-2 and 4-2-3-1How to read formation numbers, and a side-by-side comparison of the four systems you will see most often, with strengths and weaknesses of each.
TacticsPositions: goalkeepers and defendersThe jobs of the goalkeeper, center-backs, fullbacks and wing-backs in the modern game, and the skills each one needs.
TacticsPositions: midfielders and forwardsHolding midfielders, box-to-box runners, playmakers, wingers and strikers explained, with what coaches look for in each role.
TacticsPossession play and building from the backWhy some teams try to keep the ball for long spells, how positional play and tiki-taka work, and what "building from the back" really involves.TacticsPressing and the high lineHow teams win the ball back high up the field, what "gegenpressing" and "pressing triggers" mean, and the risks of playing a high defensive line.
TacticsSet pieces: corners, free kicks and long throwsWhy dead-ball situations decide so many matches, the marking systems teams use, and the routines coaches design for corners and free kicks.TacticsThe counter-attackHow teams turn defense into attack in seconds, the ingredients of a good transition, and why the counter-attack remains one of the most effective weapons in soccer.
TacticsPositions: goalkeepers and defendersThe jobs of the goalkeeper, center-backs, fullbacks and wing-backs in the modern game, and the skills each one needs.TacticsPositions: midfielders and forwardsHolding midfielders, box-to-box runners, playmakers, wingers and strikers explained, with what coaches look for in each role.TacticsPossession play and building from the backWhy some teams try to keep the ball for long spells, how positional play and tiki-taka work, and what "building from the back" really involves.TacticsPressing and the high lineHow teams win the ball back high up the field, what "gegenpressing" and "pressing triggers" mean, and the risks of playing a high defensive line.TacticsSet pieces: corners, free kicks and long throwsWhy dead-ball situations decide so many matches, the marking systems teams use, and the routines coaches design for corners and free kicks.TacticsThe counter-attackHow teams turn defense into attack in seconds, the ingredients of a good transition, and why the counter-attack remains one of the most effective weapons in soccer.