Week 32: 4-4-2 – Creating Goal-Scoring Chances

Particularly against opponents who have only one player on each flank, for example in a 4-1-2-1-2 or a 4-3-3, attacks down the wing in a 4-4-2 can be an effective weapon. Thanks to the overload on the flank, a breakthrough out wide can be achieved more easily through good combination play and is therefore less reliant on winning attacking 1 vs 1 situations.

The full-backs and wide midfielders learn ways of exploiting an overload on the wing in Exercises 1 & 3.

Exercise 1 is a passing drill for playing through the third player. A holding midfielder or centre-back plays an opening pass to the wide player, who is operating in the half-space. The wide player has an opponent on their back and plays the ball on first time to the ball-side striker. It is important that the wide player plays the ball on with the foot furthest from the opponent. At the same time as these two passes, the full-back sets off down the wing in behind. The full-back receives a pass into their path from the ball-side striker. Good timing by the full-back is crucial here. The full-back should set off in behind at top speed, but must not be offside when the pass is played. Ideally, the full-back is level with the dummies when the pass in behind is played.

In Exercise 3, wing play is then trained under pressure from opponents. 3 attackers play against 2 defenders on the wing in order to set up a delivery. This opens up several ways of combining. For example the one-two, the underlapping or overlapping run, or playing through the third player. Make sure in particular that the attacks are played through to the end with purpose and that the player on the ball immediately dribbles forward in order to tie up an opponent. In addition, after passing, the player should immediately look to make a run in behind again in order to create a passing option.

Exercise 2 of this session trains a duel with equal numbers, 2 vs 2, on the wing. A possible scenario when both teams play a 4-4-2. Solving the situation through combination play thus becomes somewhat harder, and resolving 1 vs 1 situations comes more to the fore. But if the full-back manages to get away from their opponent after a pass or to beat them with a dribble, the 2 vs 2 can also be solved very well with a one-two, an underlapping or overlapping run, or a simple pass in behind. In this drill too, the aim is to play the attack through to the end quickly.

Only by carrying out the attacks quickly in Exercises 2 and 3 does the training become match-realistic. In a match, there will only briefly be this much space and overload situations on the wing, because the opponent will quickly make the space compact again and create an overload, or at least equal numbers, near the ball.

Today's training session deals with creating goalscoring chances in a 4-4-2 through the centre and the half-space. To combine through a congested centre, concrete approaches are helpful. Your players can then fall back on these in competitive matches, provided they have been sufficiently internalised in training.

Today, the main focus will be on opposite movements off the ball. If one of the two holding midfielders has the ball and can play facing the direction of play, the ball-side striker comes short. This is intended to draw the opposition's ball-side centre-back out of the line, or to allow the striker an open first touch if the centre-back does not follow.

If, however, the centre-back is drawn out of the line, this space can be run into. Either by the ball-side winger, the far-side striker or the 2nd holding midfielder. If the winger attacks the free space, the winger ideally moves from wide towards the opposing full-back. As soon as the holding midfielder plays the ball in behind the defence, the winger sets off in behind and receives the ball through the gap. It is important that the wide player does not start moving only when the pass is played, but is already moving beforehand (moving from wide parallel to the line). This gives the wide player a head start and significantly increases their chances of reaching the ball in behind ahead of a defender.

If the 2nd holding midfielder runs into the gap that the ball-side striker has opened, it becomes dangerous for the opponent. The rest of the back four usually has a good view of their opponents, but runs in behind from midfield come far more unexpectedly. If your 2nd holding midfielder is already on the way in behind, it is usually too late for the direct opponent by the time they notice the run, and they can no longer follow the holding midfielder in time. However, your own team also loses a lot of cover if possession is lost while the holding midfielder is on the way in behind the defence.

The last session on attacking in a 4-4-2 is about the players finding solutions on their own to get in behind the defence or into dangerous zones in front of goal.

Of course, the players can and should also use the approaches from the last two sessions in order to score. So far, the following ways of shaping the attacking play have been rehearsed:

• The flank occupied by two players in the 4-4-2 should be exploited, particularly against opposing teams that have only one player on the flank. To do this, the full-back can overlap or underlap the wide midfielder. It is important that the wide player dribbles straight forward and the full-back overlaps at high speed. The timing of the pass is also important. Ideally when the overlapping player is level with the player on the ball.

• Another way of using the two wide players is for the wide midfielder to show for the ball in the half-space. This is particularly suitable against a 4-4-2. If the opposing full-back follows the wide midfielder, your own full-back can set off down the wing in behind. Either via a lofted ball or a “through ball – lay-off – through ball” combination. The centre-back plays the ball to the wide midfielder in the half-space. The wide midfielder lays the ball off to the ball-side holding midfielder, who then plays the ball in behind to the full-back.

• In the centre, the ball-side striker can come towards the ball to draw the opposing centre-back out of the line. If the centre-back follows the striker, the ball can be played into the gap in the opposition's line. For example, a holding midfielder could play the far-side striker or the ball-side wide player in behind, into the gap. A run in behind by the second holding midfielder is also an option.

However, the aim of this session will not be to prescribe specific solutions, but rather to internalise principles for attacking in a 4-4-2:

• If one of the 4 most advanced players (2 strikers and 2 wide midfielders) receives the ball, it is important that the ball-side team-mates from the 2nd line (full-back and holding midfielder) push up in support in order to create a passing option for a lay-off.

• The wide midfielders should hold the width, unless a passing lane opens up in the half-space. Spreading out wide is intended to pull the opposition's line apart. This also makes it easier for the wide midfielders to run into the gaps, because the wingers can pick up speed more easily. They move parallel to the line and set off in behind as the pass is played.

• Opposite movements to get free: If, for example, the ball-side winger comes short towards the full-back in possession, the ball-side striker can run into the free space on the wing. Another example: if the ball-side striker comes short, the far-side holding midfielder can set off in behind.

• Showing for the ball in the gaps: The 4 most advanced players should recognise the gaps in the opposition's line in front of them and show for the ball behind the opposition's midfield line.