Week 38: Attacking Full-Backs

If a system of play with both flanks occupied by two players is used, playing through a third player as well as underlapping and overlapping runs are particularly suitable for getting in behind the opposing full-back. As soon as there is some space on the wing and the wide midfielder dribbles forward, the full-back can make an overlapping run at top speed.

When overlapping, it is important that the wide midfielder dribbles directly at the opposing full-back and ties them up sufficiently. Dribbling diagonally towards goal opens up the flank for your own full-back. In addition, the opposing full-back also has to cover the dribbling route into the centre in case the overlapping player is not released. As soon as your own full-back is almost level with the opposing defender, the wide midfielder plays the ball in behind. But even if the full-back is not released, the overlapping run is a huge help to the team. Because of the overlapping run, opposing full-backs often gamble on a pass down the flank, which opens up the dribbling route into the centre.

An alternative way of bringing the overlapping full-back into play is playing through a third player. Here, the wide midfielder plays the ball to the ball-side striker. The striker then plays the ball on in behind to the full-back, who has previously made an overlapping run around the wide midfielder.

A less common alternative to the overlapping run is the underlapping run. Here, too, the wide midfielder dribbles directly at the opposing full-back and ties them up. In this case, however, the full-back does not run behind the wide midfielder but in behind, past the opposing full-back. This variation has the advantage that the full-back receiving the pass is already on the inside line if the opposing full-back tries to follow.

The second session on attacking position-specific training for full-backs will focus in particular on playing deliveries. In a match, crosses are played from different positions and can also be set up in several ways – after an overlapping run from the goal line, after a switch of play from the half-space, after winning a 1 vs 1 level with the penalty area, …

When training crosses, it is above all important that the drill is designed to be match-realistic. That no dead balls are hit into the penalty area, but that the crosses come from a dribble or after a pass. If the level of difficulty is to be increased further, pressure from an opponent is added when playing the deliveries.

Like lofted balls, crosses are played with the inside of the instep. With deliveries, however, the kicking leg follows through fully. This gives the ball the desired spin. However, players training crosses still often have difficulty putting enough spin on the ball. An additional tip that can help here is that the ball should be struck as far round its outside as possible.

Precision and height also often cause difficulties at the beginning when practising deliveries. However, both usually come fairly quickly when crosses are trained regularly. If the players have problems getting the ball high enough into the penalty area, the ball should be struck lower down. In addition, the player crossing can lean back a little more to drive the ball higher. With regard to accuracy, the players also develop a better feel by practising regularly. Varying the run-up angle and the contact point on the ball usually leads, bit by bit, to the necessary precision.

A key task of the full-backs in the build-up is to give the game width and depth. Because the full-backs push up one position in the build-up (a 4-4-2, for example, is actually a 2-4-4 when your team has possession), the opposing wingers are kept a long way from your own goal. If the full-backs also manage to draw the opposing wingers wide, the centre-backs can exploit the half-spaces very well.

As possible solutions are very helpful in the build-up, 3 attacking patterns from the 4-4-2 in which the full-back is involved in building up play are presented here:

• 4-4-2 vs 4-4-2: The centre-back plays the ball to the full-back. The receiver is then closed down by the opposing winger. The full-back receives the ball with the outside foot as if wanting to play it down the line to the team-mate on the flank. The opposing winger tries to cut off the pass down the line (a pass feint can help here). This opens up the dribbling route into the centre and the full-back can play the ball forward.
• 4-4-2 vs 4-1-2-1-2: If the opposing team plays with a midfield diamond, there is usually a lot of space on the flanks. If the ball is switched quickly from the left to the right full-back, the wide midfielder can play very wide and draw the opposing full-back outside. The gap between the opposing full-back and the centre-back should now be easy to exploit. It can be attacked very well by the far-side striker. In doing so, the far-side striker moves parallel to the back line. If the ball-side striker also moves out a little and thereby pulls the opposing ball-side centre-back out of the line, the full-back can exploit the gap even better.
• 4-4-2 vs 4-3-3: if the full-backs push up and the wide forwards are drawn along with them, the two centre-backs can exploit the numerical advantage over the opposing team's centre-forward. If, on the other hand, the wide forwards hold their line, the full-backs can drop back just far enough that they are no longer in the cover shadow. If a centre-back plays a firm pass to a full-back, the 3 strikers can be played past with a good, quick first touch. However, if the wide forwards play very wide, the centre-backs can play through the gaps between the opposing centre-forward and the wide forwards.