The Debrief · Football explained
What happens when a team loses the ball
Counter-pressing: winning the ball back in the first seconds, before the opponent can get organised.
By Harry Lowe · 6 min read
Read the article →
Introduction
The moment a team loses the ball is one of the most important in football. For a few seconds, the team that has just won it is usually not set up to attack, and the team that lost it is not set up to defend.
Some teams use those seconds to drop back and get into shape. Others go straight back at the ball. That second choice is counter-pressing.
Here are four things to watch for. In every board, Blue is the team that has lost the ball.
01 · The first seconds
Who reacts first?
- What you see
- The moment the ball is lost, the nearest players turn on it instead of turning to run back.
- How the team does it
- The players closest to the ball close the new ball carrier within a couple of seconds. The rest of the team holds its position behind.
- Why the team does it
- The player who has just won the ball is often facing the wrong way and surrounded. It is the best moment to win it back.
- What is the benefit
- If the ball is won back there, the team is already close to goal against a defence that is not set.
02 · The lanes
Close the forward pass first
- What you see
- The players around the ball do not all chase it. Some step into the spaces between the ball and the opponent’s forwards.
- How the team does it
- One player presses the ball carrier from behind while teammates block the forward passes, leaving only a pass backwards or sideways.
- Why the team does it
- A counter-press that lets the ball forward has failed. Closing the forward pass buys time for the press to work.
- What is the benefit
- The opponent is forced backwards or into a rushed pass, and the pressing team gets a second chance to win the ball.
03 · Rest defence
Count the players behind the ball
- What you see
- Even while the team is attacking, a few players stay behind the ball, close to the opponent’s forwards.
- How the team does it
- Usually the centre-backs and a defensive midfielder. They position themselves before the ball is lost, not after.
- Why the team does it
- Counter-pressing takes players forward. If the ball gets past them, someone has to be there to stop the counter-attack.
- What is the benefit
- With good rest defence the team can press with confidence, because a lost duel does not mean an open run at their goal.
04 · When to drop
Watch for the moment they stop
- What you see
- If the ball escapes the first players, the team stops pressing and runs back into its defensive shape.
- How the team does it
- Once the opponent plays forward past the counter-press, the players turn and sprint towards their own goal to rebuild the block.
- Why the team does it
- Chasing a ball that has already escaped leaves gaps everywhere. Some teams set a limit, around five or six seconds, before they drop.
- What is the benefit
- The team recovers its shape quickly and defends as a unit, instead of being caught half pressing and half defending.
05 · Put it into practice
Try it on a match
Watch one team for 20 minutes and note every time they lose the ball. Count the seconds until they win it back, or until the opponent gets out and the team drops back.
After ten or so examples, look at the pattern. Who reacts first? How many players stay behind the ball? Where on the pitch does the team counter-press, and where does it drop instead?
Use What? How? Why? to explain one example. Counter-pressing shares its details with pressing from a set shape, so read How to read a team’s pressure too.
The Debrief · Football explained
What happens when a team loses the ball
Counter-pressing: winning the ball back in the first seconds, before the opponent can get organised.
By Harry Lowe · 6 min read
Read the article →Introduction
The moment a team loses the ball is one of the most important in football. For a few seconds, the team that has just won it is usually not set up to attack, and the team that lost it is not set up to defend.
Some teams use those seconds to drop back and get into shape. Others go straight back at the ball. That second choice is counter-pressing.
Here are four things to watch for. In every board, Blue is the team that has lost the ball.
01 · The first seconds
Who reacts first?
- What you see
- The moment the ball is lost, the nearest players turn on it instead of turning to run back.
- How the team does it
- The players closest to the ball close the new ball carrier within a couple of seconds. The rest of the team holds its position behind.
- Why the team does it
- The player who has just won the ball is often facing the wrong way and surrounded. It is the best moment to win it back.
- What is the benefit
- If the ball is won back there, the team is already close to goal against a defence that is not set.
02 · The lanes
Close the forward pass first
- What you see
- The players around the ball do not all chase it. Some step into the spaces between the ball and the opponent’s forwards.
- How the team does it
- One player presses the ball carrier from behind while teammates block the forward passes, leaving only a pass backwards or sideways.
- Why the team does it
- A counter-press that lets the ball forward has failed. Closing the forward pass buys time for the press to work.
- What is the benefit
- The opponent is forced backwards or into a rushed pass, and the pressing team gets a second chance to win the ball.
03 · Rest defence
Count the players behind the ball
- What you see
- Even while the team is attacking, a few players stay behind the ball, close to the opponent’s forwards.
- How the team does it
- Usually the centre-backs and a defensive midfielder. They position themselves before the ball is lost, not after.
- Why the team does it
- Counter-pressing takes players forward. If the ball gets past them, someone has to be there to stop the counter-attack.
- What is the benefit
- With good rest defence the team can press with confidence, because a lost duel does not mean an open run at their goal.
04 · When to drop
Watch for the moment they stop
- What you see
- If the ball escapes the first players, the team stops pressing and runs back into its defensive shape.
- How the team does it
- Once the opponent plays forward past the counter-press, the players turn and sprint towards their own goal to rebuild the block.
- Why the team does it
- Chasing a ball that has already escaped leaves gaps everywhere. Some teams set a limit, around five or six seconds, before they drop.
- What is the benefit
- The team recovers its shape quickly and defends as a unit, instead of being caught half pressing and half defending.
05 · Put it into practice
Try it on a match
Watch one team for 20 minutes and note every time they lose the ball. Count the seconds until they win it back, or until the opponent gets out and the team drops back.
After ten or so examples, look at the pattern. Who reacts first? How many players stay behind the ball? Where on the pitch does the team counter-press, and where does it drop instead?
Use What? How? Why? to explain one example. Counter-pressing shares its details with pressing from a set shape, so read How to read a team’s pressure too.