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
Tag: free-kick
Christiano Ronaldo has been ordained as one of the best free kick takers of all time. His unique approach to striking the ball during a free-kick has left goalies baffled and players envious. There are 3 simple tips that, if practiced continuously, can be the catalyst for your shot to become a rocket. Here are the tips that no one else is willing to share.
Free-kicks in soccer have been discussed in previous blogs on Goalden but after recently coming across a new video that breaks down how David Beckham takes a free-kick I felt it was worth re-visiting this and sharing a few key points that stood out for me. Some of the point are listed below. They are also routinely missed, if not completely ignored by many players. Watch the video of David Beckham below and look for the following bullet points. Then in training try to apply them to your own free-kick.
While watching the FIFA 2010 World Cup, teams and players are committing errors that they would normally not do at club level. There are moments of brilliance followed by moments of complete mental lapse and selfishness. The problem at the top level is that good teams will punish you for your errors and often times it is the smallest detail that will determine whether you win or lose. No matter your level of play, whether you’re playing in the world cup or college level, each of us can take away from this and learn not to make the same errors.
The importance of talking on the field is immeasurable. Communication, like in any area of life, helps make any type of relationship work. Whether that is a romantic relationship between a man and woman, a professional relationship between a boss and his employee, or an on-field relationship between teammates, communication can resolve almost anything.
A free kick in and around the 18-yard box can be taken many different ways. One of the approaches is a curving shot over the wall or around the wall. When this technique comes to mind, many immediately think to Beckham – and rightfully so. What many people seem to forget is that there are magical free kick takers all around the world who are just as talented as Beckham. One of those masters is the superstar Juan Riquelme of Argentina. Riquelme has scored free-kicks that rank among the greatest of all time. 
David Beckham is famous for many things: his hairstyle; his fashion and modeling stints; and his marriage to famous pop-star and fashionista Victoria “Posh Spice” Beckham.
Then there is Beckham’s reputation in the soccer realm, which is largely attributed to his incredible command of a soccer ball during a free-kick.
Imagine yourself with a free-kick right on the 18 yard box. You know you are the one that is going to take the free kick, so you begin to ask yourself:
- Can I go through the wall with a hard shot? – I do not think so; it is too wide and I can barely see the net
- Can I go over the wall and dip it in? – I doubt I can get it over the wall and under the ball with enough pace to beat the keeper
- I need to get around the wall somehow, or at least make the wall break – my best bet might be to place it low in the corner.
There are multiple crosses that can be executed from multiple positions on the field. One of the most difficult crosses to execute – and to deal with as a defender and goalie – is the curving cross to the near post.
Whenever crosses or freekicks are mentioned, David Beckham’s name is usually mentioned in the same breath. He has established himself as a great freekick taker, but also as a pin-point crosser. In order to develop the ability to cross the ball like Beckham and many other effective crossers, there are a few techniques that need to be understood, practiced and eventually mastered.
Creating a defensive wall when a freekick is being taken is one of the most underappreciated and misunderstood aspects of soccer. If a wall is incorrectly placed and does not carry out the responsibilities of a wall, disaster can strike in the form of a goal.