Position: Central Defender (CD) No.

4,5

Individual fundamentals in play (W/O ball) without the ball:

Position of the two CDs against balls in the central corridor.

When the ball is inside the defensive zone - in the front of the penalty area supposedly
marked by a teammate from the midfield line:
• The 1st Central defender - in relation to the ball - will be positioned between the ball and
the first post.
• The 2nd Central defender will be positioned between the ball and the 2nd post (slightly
further back than the 1st CD, eliminating the inside passing lanes).
If the ball is controlled by an unmarked opponent possessor:
• The CD in that corridor will carry out the marking.
• The other CD will close to cover diagonally from his/her side.
• On the other side, the coverage will be mirrored by the corresponding full-back.

Position of the two CDs against balls in the outside corridor.

Individual fundamentals in play with the ball:

The 1st Central defender - in relation to the ball must show a slight closed diagonal with
respect to the full-back (at the approximate height of the first post), to cover him, while
watching his marker.
The 2nd Central defender will cover the finishing area between posts at the height of the first
central defender (he/she will alternate the marking of another possible attacker in relation to
his/her position).
One of the two CDs will be fixed on the first post, while the other (free in coverage or in
marking), will always be between the two goal posts.
- If the two opposition strikers are incorporated in this central area, the corresponding
full-back will mark one of the two.
.
Staying between the two posts.
1st Central Defender should be positioned on his first post. He will only surpass it:
• To intervene against a striker who has beaten our lateral side (full-back), or if
• "His" point - position on the first post- is being taken by the run or positon of the opposing
possessor, who is marked by our full back. In this case the 1st CD will be located between
the two goal posts.

Individual fundamentals in play (W / ball) with the ball

Receiving the ball in build-up phase

At the reception CD must guide the ball in progression and perform at least a small "fixation"
dribble before passing the ball.

CD must determine the forms of the start of the game (direct, positional or from short to long)
in relation to the opponent's proposals.

CD should avoid "long" passes and make more than 4-5 touches even if he/her have a
supposed space (except when you think you will be able to reach the end zone without
problems), since the playing spaces will have been eliminated to make an effective pass , so
that in this second or third play, possession of the ball will probably be lost, leaving the
center disabled for his/her defensive participation.
-You must therefore play the ball in depth when making the pass
just after the "fixation", or change the orientation of the game after dribbling performed.

Passing in the build up phase

Spread wider to receive a ball, creating better passing lanes and triangles with full back and
no.6 or no.8 respectively
Change which way I am facing while dribbling to vary the opposing team’s pressure paths
and create new passing lanes with teammates.

Attacking pass - choose the best open positioned player in midfield zone.
Closse pass - pass to the teammate with the space to move forward. Usually no.7,11 on his
side
Switch pass - pass to the teammate with the space to move forward on the opposite site of
the pitch. Usually no. 7,11
Through pass - long progressive pass to the attacker in the final ⅓. Usually inside forward,
attacking midfielder or overs the defensive line of the opposition to the running forward
behind the defense.
Fake passes to open up gaps and facilitate interior passes.
Possession pass - when the attacking progressive pass is not possible, CD execute
possession pass to the nearest available teammate
Recognize when to repeat a pass to modify the situation, be aware of the environment,
readjust placement, etc.

P4. W/O ball. Position of the 1st CD against balls in the central corridor.
Position: Full Back (FB) No. 2,3

Individual fundamentals in play (W/O ball) without the ball:

Orientation of the marking in outer corridor

No.2 must prevent the progression inside of the opposition player they are marking, forcing
him/her to exit outside down the line.

Movement after being beaten from the outer corridor in the finishing zone.
When FB is being beaten, he/her will correct his/her position by heading towards the first
post of his goal.
Must avoid going behind the opponent and / or parallel to the touch line.
He will swap with the 1st CD that has "replaced" him, so that he does not force the 2nd CD
to leave his/her space between the posts..
- In the execution of the replacement (movement), it will close the passing lane to the
opponent who has been left unmarked by our 1st CD in order to exchange FB, so that the
opposite possessor cannot pair with that player (avoiding the situation that occurs in these
moments of numerical superiority of the opposite 2:1). - PICTURED-

Position when the ball is in FB’s zone.(outer corridor)

When the ball is in FB’s zone, he/her will always stay within the imaginary line between the
ball and his/her goal, even if his/her opponent without the ball is more open (watching him,
but without losing the line to prevent interior progression).

Individual fundamentals in play (W / Ball) with the ball:

Progression with the ball:

• When progressing forward, FB controls the ball 2-3 meters away from the touch line.
• Avoid 1:1, if it does not guarantee success.

Full-back’s playing options in the starting sub-phase

FB has the following game options:

• To play inside to the winger, if he/she is unmarked, or if he/she supports FB diagonally
(2:1).
• To play the ​unmarked​ pivot/midfielder who supports short and diagonally (or the
striker who occupies free space).
• To play the most appropriate center-back.
• To play goalkeeper.

Full-back playing options in the progression sub-phase

FB joins the progression zone, if there is free space in this zone and is positioned in the
game's orientation.
- In this case, FB should avoid any 1:1 situation, unless he/her possesses the quality that
guarantees the ball will not be lost.
Once FB is in the progression zone, he/she can play:
• With the partner who gives him/her support (striker or inside forward diagonally and in
depth), being able to continue progression to the wing (double-up) if the situation is
appropriate.
• Making a change of orientation via pivot or via the central defender who occupies the free
space.
• For security FB should play with the central defender or with the goalkeeper who will offer
him/herself in emergency.

P2. W/O Ball.​ ​Movement after being beaten from the outer corridor in the finishing
zone

P2. W / Ball. Full-back’s playing options in the starting sub-phase

POSITION: Central midfielder No. 6

Individual fundamentals in play (W / Ball) with the ball:

Ball is controlled by a central midfielder in progression zone A: - PICTURED -

The possessor (central midfielder) will have the following game options:
• Progress with the ball if there is room.
• Play "to the foot" to the striker who faces him/her and positioned diagonally, or to the
second striker who will have occupied the space left by the first.
• Play with an attacking midfielder, if one exists, that is supporting him/her in depth /
diagonal.
• Change the orientation of the game to the other central midfielder (or the central defender
that joins the space created by the second central midfielder).
• Open "the game to its interior (or to the side that is incorporated into the space created by
its interior).

Ball is controlled by a central midfielder in progression zone B:

The possessor (central midfielder) will have the following game options:
• Finish off directly if his characteristics and those of the game situation allow him to do so
effectively.
• Progress with the ball if there is room.
• Pass the ball deep and vertically looking for the inside forward / winger who has made a
diagonal run.
• Pass the ball in depth and vertically towards the end that looks diagonally to the free space
created by the other striker ("crossing").
• Pass horizontally to the full back that is occupying the space of the inside forward/winger
created by his run forward.
• Change the orientation of the game to the other central midfielder (or the central defender
that joins the space created by the second central midfielder).

The ball is controlled by a central midfielder who guides it towards the second central
midfielder that is marked.
The 2nd central midfielder must take into account the following aspects:
• If he is marked and he is not sure of being able to beat his opponent in a 1:1, he will not
wait for the pass of the partner at his height, but will make a progressive run, to receive the
ball deep in a 2:1 situation.

If the pressure of the opponent (with the advance of his defensive line) does not allow to play
short (absence of spaces), the possessor will make a direct long change, in depth and
diagonally (game from short to long).
If this action is also not possible due to the absence of spaces, the possessor will pass the
ball to the central defender who supports him/her in emergency, so that he/she can switch
the offensive game.
Individual fundamentals in play (W/O Ball) without the ball:

When losing possession of the ball in 1st sub-phase.

In this case, as it is a universal foundation, the only possible instruction that allows a correct
marking to be carried out is that, during the offensive action of the opposition team, no
midfielder should be in front of the ball (unless he/she is ready to receive).
• The closest midfield player must press the opponent who has the ball.
• Two other players must eliminate the passing lines that may exist (staying in their zone,
without approaching the opposing keeper).
• The second closest player will cover short.

Defensive work in the progression zone in 2nd sub-phase.

• At the start of the opponent's game: Central midfielder’s objective will be to prevent the
opponent from playing his/her short / associative pass when our marking expects a pass to
be received by their player with his/her back to our goal.
- In this case, intense 1:1 pressure will be applied to hinder correct reception, prevent it from
turning around, and / or carry out an effective action.

Defensive work in the build-up zone in 3rd sub-phase

Central midfielder’s objective, as a priority, will be to specifically set the marking on his
opponent, so that he cannot receive or play the ball effectively, avoiding the possibility of
being beaten.

P6. W / Ball. Ball is controlled by a central midfielder in progression zone A

POSITION: Inside Forward No. 8

Individual fundamentals in play (W / Ball) with the ball:

Never stop the ball.

The possessor who is in either of these two zones on the flank must never stop the ball in
any case.
He can take a 1:1 action as long as there is exit space and he can take the next action
(dribble or cross) without stopping the ball.

Inside forward in the progression zone

With the ball in the progression zone (from the midfield line), the inside forward that is on the
line of play will remain:
• Constantly in the amplitude and at the height of the ball.
• With a tendency to progress to receive the ball in depth (vertical or diagonal) and into free
space, in the event of a possible pass from the possessor ( central midfielder), as long as it
is in the orientation of the game.
The inside forward that is not in the orientation of the game will remain somewhat closed and
behind in relation to the teammates of his/her line to be able to carry out a defensive
surveillance in the event of lost possession of the ball to reach the defensive zone before
any opponent.

Support to the finishing zone

• The inside forward who does not participate in the action (not in the orientation of the
game) will remain, from the moment the possessor enters the progression zone, at the
height of the ball, progressing to the finishing zone to support the possessor. - PICTURED -

Individual fundamentals in play (W/O Ball) without the ball:

Prevent effective offensive play of the opposing defensive line

• Prevent as much as possible the comfortable and efficient play of the opposing defensive
line with the ball and cooperation with the midfield line and attacking line.
• Eliminate passing lanes that allow the relationship between the opposing defensive line
and the rest of his team.
• Prevent dribbling of a defender with the ball into our field. (progression zone)

Cause doubts in the offensive game of the opponent’s defensive line and stay in
offensive disposition.
• CM should create doubts and fear in the player from the opposing defensive line who has
the ball, to avoid effective play. Applying pressure or dropping, short sprints.
• Remain in a correct offensive disposition when the ball has passed the playing area.

Support of the defensive line

Coverage in the inside corridor of P2, who advances to intercept the opponent in the
low or intermediate zone (return trajectory).

P8. W/Ball. Support to the finishing zone