This analysis is sponsored by TrainEffective.com – an online professional football academy with players from over 45 countries worldwide. Featured in this video is Brett Cooper – an U/23 Analyst at Fulham FC and an UEFA-A Licensed Academy Coach.
This article will talk about fake runs and how the world’s top strikers lose their markers in the box. This topic will cover couple of things:
- Movement Off The Ball
- Creating Space and Moving Defenders
We are going to concentrate on three top strikers in the world :
- Luis Suarez
- Javi Hernandez
- Alvaro Morata
Example #1: Front Post to Check Back
Suarez has a look at his marker and takes him to the front post, knowing that it will also create a space in behind defender. He made a fake run to the first post, checked back, got that little bit of space and was able to score.
Suarez has a look at his marker and takes him to the front post, knowing that it will also create a space in behind defender.
He made a fake run to the first post, checked back, got that little bit of space and was able to score.
Example #2: Dragging Defenders Away
Again Suarez checks his shoulder to see a space in behind the defender. He knows exactly where the space is so he is dragging the defender towards the ball to create more space between the two highlighted defenders for him to run into. He dragged out the defender away from free space and then he checked back into area he wanted to go. Scored.
Example #3: Three Times a Charm
He doesn’t run once or twice. He fakes three times and the defender doesn’t know where he is. First he runs in behind, then in front and then where he wants the ball – in behind. The defender constantly trying to check where Suarez is, but he cant see because his movement is so clever!
Example #4: Smaller Players Scoring Headers
The cool thing about this example is Hernandez going to score with a header , despite the fact that he’s not the tallest player. All thanks to his clever movements. Defender is looking over the shoulder where Hernandez is. He drags the fullback wide. When the defender will turn back he won’t know where Hernandez is. As a ball is crossed Hernandez is making his run and he’s able to get in front of defender. Suddenly he’s in front and there is no chance to stop him. Note that his run is timed to perfection.
Example #5: The Peel Away
Hernandez peels away from the defender. He wants to create space between two center backs by putting the other center back wide. He is making the distance between two center backs as big as possible. He does so, exploits the space and is able to run in behind and score.
Example #6: Spinning Into Space
Morata checks towards the ball knowing that the defender will come with him and it creates the space in behind for him to spin into. He comes short to the ball in order to spin the defender and get in behind. Great fake run to create that little space he can spin to and great finish. That’s all! I hope it will be helpful for you to copy those few movements off the ball so you know how to create space and move defenders to get into scoring positions.
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