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Expert Football > Training > Soccer Strategy

When looking at the game in terms of strategy we must ignore the technical means of play. That is, there are many ways to achieve the same result by using different skills. A finish could be a long-range kick or simply dribbling with the ball past the goal line. On the other hand, both a shot and a clearance are identical in execution but vary in intent. When analyzing a match, we must think about what the players are trying to do, rather than how they go about it.

As footballers develop and mature, their polished skills and strengthened physique allow them a wider range of possibilities. Apart from their physical maturation, the broadening of their intelligence helps them find innovative ways of solving problems. Implementation and success become significantly more dependent on the strength of will rather then technique.

From this brief inspection, nothing suggests that a developed player is a obedient worker following team tactics. Good footballers are self-efficient individuals operating logically by exploiting enemy weaknesses and capitalizing on their own assets. At the higher levels of the game, where mistakes are very costly, a sound individual understanding of football strategy is therefore a must.

-finishing
-passing
-dribbling
-control
-clearance
-finishing runs
-support

The hallmark of a complete footballer is consistence. His performance is not deteriorated by negative outside influences like a team slump. On the contrary, superior footballers thrive in the face of adversity.

-mentality

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