The Debrief · Football explained
How teams force a turnover
Steering the ball into a trap, then winning it back where it hurts the opponent most.
By Harry Lowe · 6 min read
Read the article →
Introduction
The best defending teams decide where they want to win the ball back, then shape their pressing to send it there.
A turnover high up the pitch is one of the best ways to create a chance, because the opponent is spread out and often facing the wrong way.
Here are four things to watch for. In every board, Blue is the team trying to win the ball.
01 · Showing one way
Watch which way the press sends the ball
- What you see
- The first player to press comes in at an angle, blocking one pass and leaving another open.
- How the team does it
- The striker presses the centre-back from the inside, so the pass across to the other centre-back is closed and the easiest way out is wide.
- Why the team does it
- Closing one option lets the pressing team decide where the ball goes next, and the players behind can move there early.
- What is the benefit
- Once the ball goes wide, the touchline helps the defenders, and the next part of the trap is ready.
02 · The trap
Find the pass they leave open
- What you see
- The team leaves one opponent free, waits for the pass to them, then several players close in at once.
- How the team does it
- The pass into the midfielder is the trigger. Players arrive from in front, from the side and from behind.
- Why the team does it
- A player who receives under pressure from three directions has very little chance of keeping the ball.
- What is the benefit
- Here the ball is won in the middle of the pitch, with teammates already close and the opponent’s defence exposed.
03 · The second ball
Watch where the ball lands
- What you see
- When the opponent goes long, the team wins the header and has players waiting where the ball will drop.
- How the team does it
- One defender attacks the first contact while the midfielders move towards the landing zone before the ball arrives.
- Why the team does it
- Winning the header does not guarantee possession. The ball usually drops to whichever team has players waiting where it lands.
- What is the benefit
- The team turns a long ball into a turnover, often in midfield, without having had to press high.
04 · After the turnover
Count the players breaking forward
- What you see
- The moment the ball is won, several players run forward and the first pass goes forward too.
- How the team does it
- The forwards break into the space behind the defenders, and the player who won the ball looks for them straight away.
- Why the team does it
- For a few seconds after a turnover, the opponent is out of shape. That window closes quickly.
- What is the benefit
- The forwards can attack a defence that is still out of shape, before it gets back into its lines.
05 · Put it into practice
Try it on a match
Watch one team for 20 minutes and note every time they win the ball. Write down where it happened and what happened just before.
After ten examples, look for the pattern. Did they win it in the same area each time? Was there a trap, a second ball or a mistake? How many turnovers led to a shot?
Then use What? How? Why? to explain one example. Read How to read a team’s pressure for how the press starts.
The Debrief · Football explained
How teams force a turnover
Steering the ball into a trap, then winning it back where it hurts the opponent most.
By Harry Lowe · 6 min read
Read the article →Introduction
The best defending teams decide where they want to win the ball back, then shape their pressing to position the opposition where they want them.
A turnover high up the pitch is one of the best ways to create a chance, because the opponent is spread out, making a recovery more difficult. Plus the fact the team regaining possession is now positioned closer to the opponents goal, with the ball.
Here are four things to watch for. In every board, Blue is the team trying to win the ball.
01 · Showing one way
Watch which way the press sends the ball
- What you see
- The first player to press comes in at an angle, blocking one pass and leaving another open.
- How the team does it
- The striker presses the centre-back from the inside, so the pass across to the other centre-back is closed and the easiest way out is wide.
- Why the team does it
- Closing one option lets the pressing team decide where the ball goes next, and the players behind can move there early. Guiding the opponent into a desired area.
- What is the benefit
- Once the ball goes wide, the touchline helps the defenders, and the next part of the trap is ready.
02 · The trap
Find the pass they leave open
- What you see
- The team leaves one opponent free, waits for the pass to them, thats the trigger to press. The defending team wait, read it and go.
- How the team does it
- The pass into the midfielder is the trigger. Players arrive from in front, from the side and from behind.
- Why the team does it
- A player who receives under pressure from three directions has very little chance of keeping the ball.
- What is the benefit
- Here the ball is won in the middle of the pitch, with teammates already close and the opponent’s defence exposed.
03 · The second ball
Watch where the ball lands
- What you see
- When the opponent goes long, the team wins the header and has players waiting where the ball will drop.
- How the team does it
- One defender attacks the first contact while the midfielders move towards the landing zone before the ball arrives.
- Why the team does it
- Winning the header does not guarantee possession. The ball usually drops to whichever team has players waiting where it lands. Getting players around the second ball gives you more opportunities to regain.
- What is the benefit
- The team turns a long ball into a turnover, often in midfield. Forcing long or anticipating a long ball is often a strategy used to put the ball into contest. Giving the defending team an equal chance to force a turnover.
04 · After the turnover
Count the players breaking forward
- What you see
- The moment the ball is won, several players run forward and the first pass goes forward too. Their original out of possession structure will often have a turnover in mind. Placing players in certain areas that are designed to hurt the opposition should a regain be successful.
- How the team does it
- The forwards break into the space behind the defenders, and the player who won the ball looks for them straight away.
- Why the team does it
- For a few seconds after a turnover, the opponent is out of shape. The team who were in possession (grey) are likely to be more unorganised following the immediate loss of possession. That window closes quickly.
- What is the benefit
- The forwards can attack a defence that is still out of shape, before it gets back into its lines.
05 · Put it into practice
Try it on a match
Watch one team for 20 minutes and note every time they win the ball. Write down where it happened and what happened just before.
After ten examples, look for the pattern. Did they win it in the same area each time? Was there a trap, a second ball or a mistake? How many turnovers led to a shot?
Then use What? How? Why? to explain one example. Read How to read a team’s pressure for how the press starts.