This may sound obvious but there is a fundamental principle to running with the ball that many players don’t take advantage of. Whether you are running with the ball for 15 yards or longer the key point is to attack the open space. If you see two defenders not close together, then this is a great opportunity to pierce that hole by attacking the open space.
The final moment before you shoot on net will greatly determine how accurate your shot will be and how likely you are to score. Many players don’t even look to see where the goalie is positioned and often strike the ball as hard as they can and hope for the best. However, there is a routine you should get in the habit of doing each and every time right before you shoot the ball which will increase your scoring chances every time.
Diego Maradona is arguably the best player to ever play the game of soccer. As…
The Brazilian national soccer team that won the 1970 World Cup in Mexico was a team that we can always learn from. They played some of the best possession and attacking football seen to this day.
Watch the build up and finally triumphant goal that Carlos Alberto scored off the Pele assist in the 1970 world cup versus Italy. The Brazilian players were calm and collective with the ball in their defense third all the way into the offensive third before the goal was scored. What an incredible play to witness. I can only imagine what it must have felt like to be in the stadium and witness this moment of history with my own eyes.
There are two main reasons why a wall is created in soccer:
- Create an obstacle for your opponent who is trying to shoot/cross
- Aid your goalie who has a large net to cover
This past week in Champions League action Welsh left winger and Tottenham Hotspur player Gareth Bale made a big statement for himself. He scored a hat-trick in a 4-3 loss to defending European champions Inter Milan. Not only did he score all three goals for Tottenham but the way he ran with the ball from center field all the way into the 18 yard box before emphatically scoring made him a household name in the soccer world. One could even argue an overnight success.
Every off-season should be used to work on your weaknesses. Ask your coach and feelow teammates for feedback as to what areas of your game you need to improve. You may already have an idea which areas they are.
People will say that mentors in life are important and I couldn’t agree more! There are many areas of my life to this day where mentors have helped me make decisions which impacted my future. In fact, I wish I had more mentors growing up who could have helped me in certain areas I had doubt or was unsure of myself.
This type of pass only works when it is done to perfection. If not, it risks being a give-away and others will wonder why you even bothered making this attempt. Be sure to practice this often in training and once you become quite good at it don’t hesitate to put it into action.
Pressure. Coping with it is one of the most difficult things to master. It is especially difficult to deal with in big games, as Goalden’s own Phil talks about here. In soccer, it often turns players who are really good in practice, into players who choke in the game…they simply can’t produce. Pressure will force you to make decisions that you otherwise wouldn’t in a normal state of mind/body.
It’s good to have routines in soccer. These include pre-game routines, training routines and routines that you do the week leading up to a big game. Some players even become superstitious hoping that will be the difference in playing well or not.
The intention of a corner kick is to score off of a header or rebound. However, often times though the ball is cleared out to the top of the 18-yard box. The offensive player standing there is now able to have a direct shot on net. These shots should almost always result in a goal. Take advantage of these opportunities and make the best of them.