Football Offensive Tactics

Football or soccer is the easiest sport to learn. Ironically, scoring a goal is the most difficult thing to do. With the use of the following tactics, you can increase your team's chances of ruffling the net and winning the game.

Counter-Attack

Your opponent's desire to score a goal can be an advantage. The key to counter attacking is to have as much opponents as possible inside your half while leaving a man or two further up the pitch. Once they have too many men committed to the attack, all you need to do is to play a good defense and take the ball away from them. Once you have the ball, pass it to your striker who has few players to negotiate.

While this type of play is very risky and require solid defending of all players in the field, it can lead to scoring opportunities when executed well. This is often the type of play used by teams with 4-5-1 formation (4 defenders, 5 midfielders and 1 striker up in the field).

Wide Play

The key to this offence is the wide midfielder attacking at the side of the field. A wide play can place the defenders of the opposing side out of position; create a number of opportunities for the winger; allow a different angle of attack; whip a cross; or cut inside, drive and attack.

Wide play relies on the winger's ability to create the right play at the right situation.

Long-ball

Any team who can exploit their opponent's mistake can benefit on this type of play. The main element for long ball is accurate passing. To execute, a defender can directly pass the ball to the striker who is further up the pitch or, you the defender can pass it to the midfielder who will rely the ball quickly to the striker.

Set play

For a team that has an exceptional striker with great accuracy to kick the ball towards the net, the set play is very useful. Free kicks, throw-ins and corner kicks can be utilized to create a play or score a goal.

Possession

The principle in football is simple: you cannot score a goal if you do not have the ball. To put it in other words, you have a greater chance of scoring if you have the ball. There is logic behind this. If you keep the ball in your possession, the other team is always in pursuit. Eventually, the frustration of chasing the ball and the frustration to catch the ball can lead to small spaces where you can create scoring opportunities.
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