The Debrief · Football explained

How teams build from the back

Playing out from the goalkeeper: the shape, the first pass and going long when the press comes.

By Harry Lowe · 6 min read

Football Explained · Building from the back

Introduction

Building from the back means starting an attack from the goalkeeper and defenders with short passes, instead of kicking the ball long.

It looks risky, because a mistake near your own goal can be costly. Teams do it because a short build-up keeps the ball and can draw the opponent forward, which leaves space further up the pitch.

Here are five things to watch for. In every board, Blue is building from its own goal at the bottom of the page.

01 · The splitWatch the centre-backs at a goal kick
02 · The dropCount the players at the back
03 · Drawing the pressLook for the player the press leaves free
04 · Past the first lineFind the pass through the forwards
05 · Going longWatch when they choose to go long

01 · The split

Watch the centre-backs at a goal kick

What you see: At a goal kick, teams that play out often move the centre-backs apart to the edges of the box, and push the full-backs higher up the touchlines.
How the team does it: Both centre-backs are in position before the ball is played, standing side-on so they can receive and pass forward in one movement.
Why the team does it: Spreading out makes the pitch as big as possible, so the opponent has more ground to cover when they press.
What is the benefit: The first pass is easy to make, and the team can start its attack with the ball under control.

The split gives the goalkeeper two short options. Ringed: the players in focus. Dashed: where they started.

02 · The drop

Count the players at the back

What you see: A midfielder drops between or alongside the centre-backs as the team builds up.
How the team does it: The midfielder joins the back line, the centre-backs split wider and the full-backs push on.
Why the team does it: Against two forwards, two centre-backs are matched. A third player gives the team someone with time on the ball.
What is the benefit: One of the three usually has space to pass forward or carry the ball, which is where the build-up moves on.

Three at the back against two forwards. Ringed: the player in focus. Dashed: where they started.

03 · Drawing the press

Look for the player the press leaves free

What you see: The team plays a short pass, an opponent presses it, and a teammate close by is left free.
How the team does it: The ball goes to a defender to invite the press. When the forward goes, the pass goes into the space they have left.
Why the team does it: Every player who presses leaves a position behind. The build-up is designed to find that space.
What is the benefit: The free player receives facing forward, and the opponent’s first line has been taken out of the game.

The press is drawn to the ball, and the holding midfielder is free. Ringed: the player in focus. Dashed: where they started.

04 · Past the first line

Find the pass through the forwards

What you see: A defender passes forward between the opponent’s forwards to a midfielder standing behind them.
How the team does it: The midfielder positions themselves in the space between the opponent’s forwards and midfield, and the defender plays the pass through the gap.
Why the team does it: Once the ball is past the forwards, the first line of the press is beaten and the opponent’s forwards have to turn and chase back towards their own goal.
What is the benefit: The team moves the ball up the pitch with only the opponent’s midfield and back line left in front of it.

One pass takes Grey’s first line out of the game. Ringed: the player in focus. Dashed: where they started.

05 · Going long

Watch when they choose to go long

What you see: When the opponent presses everyone high, the goalkeeper will often kick long to a forward instead of playing short.
How the team does it: The forward drops to compete for the ball, and two midfielders move up to be close to where it lands.
Why the team does it: A press that marks every player leaves no safe short pass. Going long skips it.
What is the benefit: With teammates close to the forward, the team has a chance to win the second ball against a defence that has pushed up.

Going long, with support close to the 9. Ringed: the players in focus. Dashed: where they started.

06 · Put it into practice

Try it on a match

Pick one team and watch their goal kicks and build-ups from the back for 20 minutes. Each time, note how wide the centre-backs went, whether a midfielder dropped and where the first pass went.

Then look at what happened next. How often did the build-up get past the opponent’s forwards? When did the team go long instead, and why?

Finally, use What? How? Why? to explain one example. Read How teams use the goalkeeper and How to read a team’s pressure alongside it.

01Start learningExplore The Portal → 02Keep readingBack to The Debrief → 03Be part of itJoin The Club →

The Debrief · Football explained

How teams build from the back

Playing out from the goalkeeper: the shape, the first pass and going long when the press comes.

By Harry Lowe · 6 min read

Read the article →

Football Explained · Building from the back

Introduction

Building from the back means starting an attack from the goalkeeper and defenders with short passes, instead of kicking the ball long.

It looks risky, because a mistake near your own goal can be costly. Teams do it because a short build-up keeps the ball and can draw the opponent forward, which leaves space further up the pitch.

Here are five things to watch for. In every board, Blue is building from its own goal at the bottom of the page.

01 · The split

Watch the centre-backs at a goal kick

What you see: At a goal kick, teams that play out often move the centre-backs apart to the edges of the box, and push the full-backs higher up the touchlines.
How the team does it: Both centre-backs are in position before the ball is played, standing side-on so they can receive and pass forward in one movement.
Why the team does it: Spreading out makes the pitch as big as possible, so the opponent has more ground to cover when they press.
What is the benefit: The first pass is easy to make, and the team can start its attack with the ball under control.

The split gives the goalkeeper two short options. Ringed: the players in focus. Dashed: where they started.

02 · The drop

Count the players at the back

What you see: A midfielder drops between or alongside the centre-backs as the team builds up.
How the team does it: The midfielder joins the back line, the centre-backs split wider and the full-backs push on.
Why the team does it: Against two forwards, two centre-backs are matched. A third player gives the team someone with time on the ball.
What is the benefit: One of the three usually has space to pass forward or carry the ball, which is where the build-up moves on.

Three at the back against two forwards. Ringed: the player in focus. Dashed: where they started.

03 · Drawing the press

Look for the player the press leaves free

What you see: The team plays a short pass, an opponent presses it, and a teammate close by is left free.
How the team does it: The ball goes to a defender to invite the press. When the forward goes, the pass goes into the space they have left.
Why the team does it: Every player who presses leaves a position behind. The build-up is designed to find that space.
What is the benefit: The free player receives facing forward, and the opponent’s first line has been taken out of the game.

The press is drawn to the ball, and the holding midfielder is free. Ringed: the player in focus. Dashed: where they started.

04 · Past the first line

Find the pass through the forwards

What you see: A defender passes forward between the opponent’s forwards to a midfielder standing behind them.
How the team does it: The midfielder positions themselves in the space between the opponent’s forwards and midfield, and the defender plays the pass through the gap.
Why the team does it: Once the ball is past the forwards, the first line of the press is beaten and the opponent’s forwards have to turn and chase back towards their own goal.
What is the benefit: The team moves the ball up the pitch with only the opponent’s midfield and back line left in front of it.

One pass takes Grey’s first line out of the game. Ringed: the player in focus. Dashed: where they started.

05 · Going long

Watch when they choose to go long

What you see: When the opponent presses everyone high, the goalkeeper will often kick long to a forward instead of playing short.
How the team does it: The forward drops to compete for the ball, and two midfielders move up to be close to where it lands.
Why the team does it: A press that marks every player leaves no safe short pass. Going long skips it.
What is the benefit: With teammates close to the forward, the team has a chance to win the second ball against a defence that has pushed up.

Going long, with support close to the 9. Ringed: the players in focus. Dashed: where they started.

06 · Put it into practice

Try it on a match

Pick one team and watch their goal kicks and build-ups from the back for 20 minutes. Each time, note how wide the centre-backs went, whether a midfielder dropped and where the first pass went.

Then look at what happened next. How often did the build-up get past the opponent’s forwards? When did the team go long instead, and why?

Finally, use What? How? Why? to explain one example. Read How teams use the goalkeeper and How to read a team’s pressure alongside it.

01Start learningExplore The Portal → 02Keep readingBack to The Debrief → 03Be part of itJoin The Club →