Offensive tactics in soccer consists of only two components:
1. the game structure and
2. the creation and exploitation of scoring opportunities.
There are two variants of the game structure, which are used predominantly or in a balanced way:
1. Build up play via the wing or
2.Build-up of play via the center.
The game structure as an offensive soccer tactic
When it comes to game structure, there are of course different components and approaches that make the soccer game look different from team to team. If you study the build-up of the game more intensively, you will realize that soccer teams have different spatial divisions and positional play. How many players do I position on the wing and in the center? And which players occupy which half-spaces on the field during the build-up of play? At this point, for example, there are strict positional instructions that are more predictable for the opponent, but are considered safer for your own team.
When does the build-up of play end or when does the creation of scoring opportunities begin?
Scholars argue about this question. Many soccer instructors believe that the buildup of play ends only in the opponent's final third, and thus the creation of scoring chances begins. Other soccer experts, on the other hand, are of the opinion that there is an intermediate phase in the midfield area that is neither part of the build-up to the game nor the creation of goal-scoring chances. Certainly, both sides are right somewhere - in this article, however, we will focus on the first and simpler variant: the build-up of play ends in the opponent's final third.
The creation and exploitation of scoring opportunities as an offensive soccer tactic
Basically, creating a goal-scoring opportunity means trying to get behind the opponent's back four. This is independent of the height of the opponent's four-man backline. There are also two main variants for creating and exploiting scoring chances:
1. Creating scoring opportunities on the wing.
2. Creating scoring opportunities through the center.
At this point, two different game situations arise in a soccer match for your own team:
1.Creating scoring chances against an organized, mostly deep opponent.
2. Creating scoring chances against a disorganized, mostly counterattack-prone opponent.
In order to outplay the opponent's defense, the team in possession of the ball needs different components. On the one hand, certain running routes (without the ball) of the players in the game play a role. In order for the deep pass or the pass into the interface to create danger or find a taker, the teammate without the ball must recognize and run into open spaces, interfaces and positional errors of the opponent. Running routes in professional soccer are rehearsed and basically team-specific.
Passing combinations (which are accompanied by rehearsed running routes) are also rehearsed in training. Passing against an organized opponent involves certain variations, such as the steep-clap combination or playing through the third. The goal against an organized opponent is to pull apart the opponent's defensive lines to open up gaps. When creating scoring chances against disorganized opponents, counter-attacking is a good way to play. When counter-attacking, the team's goal is to immediately look for the pass in depth (behind the chain) after winning the ball and to finish the goal within a few seconds.
When is an opponent disorganized?
The opponent is considered disorganized immediately after losing the ball. When the team is in possession of the ball, most of the players are involved in offensive tasks. If the team suddenly loses the ball, it takes a few seconds for the team to regain a basic order. These seconds must be exploited in counterattacking play.
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