Quick learn football | what are the positions and roles?

What are the Football Rules? | Step By Step Football Position Guide

"Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minute

In a football match, there will be two teams, each with a maximum of 11 players, and one must be the goalkeeper, designated to a specific position. These 10 players (except goalkeeper) are called the outfield players who play various defensive, midfield and attacking positions.

How to play football? | Step By Step Football formation 

A football formation refers to how a team is structured for a match. The formation is a consecutive number (often 3), representing the position strategy for the match. The 3 number formation is the number of defenders, midfielders, and forwards a team has on the field.


The first number in the soccer formation refers to defenders, the second to midfielders, and the third to forwards. For example, 4-4-2 means 4 defenders, 4 midfielders and 2 forwards. The 3 number formation does not count the goalkeeper, and the formation will constantly change throughout the game.

Football Players Position Terms

There are 4 main group of players positions in a match:

• Goalkeepers

• Defenders

• Midfielders

• Forwards

Goalkeeper

The goalkeeper duty is to stop and block the opponent team’s goal at all costs, hence, it is the most specialized and defensive position in the football field. Goalkeeper is the only player allowed to touch, catch, pump the ball with his hands, but only inside his own penalty area. Goalkeeper is like a core in the team as the scoring heavily relies on the goalkeeper, also they can see the entire field and position the rest of the team.

Would have to go with the two games against Arsenal in the FA-Cup semi final in 99. A semi final over 210 minutes. Both games equally dramatic. Down to 10 men, into extra time and then that Giggsy goal... Anyone remember? #TopFive pic.twitter.com/Sp3QQnopM8

— Peter Schmeichel (@Pschmeichel1) April 9, 2020

Notable Keepers: Peter Schmeichel, Iker Casillas, Manuel Neuer

Defenders

Defenders play an important role in defending the goal and blocking the opposing team attacks, usually being 4 players. Defenders normally play behind midfielders and remain in the half of the field. There are three types of defenders: centre-back, full-back and wing-back.

Centre-backs

Centre-backs (also known as centre-half, central defender) play in the centre of defence,to defend directly in front of the goals from scoring. And so, centre-backs usually are tall and strong so they are able to block shots, making tackles and clearances. Centre-backs constantly dealing and defending the opposing team’s forwards. The captain of the team usually is one of the centre-backs.  Notable Centre-backs: Ruben Dias, Virgil van Dijk, Marquinhos CB

Full-Backs: Right and Left

The right and left full-backs (also known as the outside defenders) defend the either side of the centre-backs and protect any attacks from the opposing team’s wingers from wide. They are also more involved in the attacking play than centerbacks. The full-backs have to be agile, fast and physically demanding as they need to cover long distances to constantly defend, run and chase the ball down. Notable full-backs: Philipp Lahm, Ashley Cole, Patrice Evra

Wingback

Wingbacks are the mixture of a full-back and a winger, where they have to take extra defensive support on a wider defensive positions. The wingbacks often need to make long busting runs past the defenders, forwards to assist attack, and track back to help defence while controlling the ball , and so, stamina plays an important role for a good wingback. The difference between full-backs and wingbacks is that full-backs are the wide defenders in a back four, while wingbacks are wide defenders in a back five. Notable wingbacks: Dani Alves, Cafu, Roberto Carlos

Midfielders

Midfielders play in the middle of the park, ahead of the defenders and operate behind the strikers.

Central Midfielders

The central midfielder provides a link between defence and attack, mainly in the middle third of the pitch. Central midfielders is the attack initiator, so they are skillful and smart to predict the movement and make accurate passes, and make a goal. A central midfielder is expected to have good vision, be adept at long and short passing and have great stamina because of the ground they cover in a game.

Defensive Midfielder

A defensive midfielder's main responsibility is to defend the rest of the midfield, and tackle the opposing team’s attacker and defenders. Also, a defensive midfielder often needs to cover the positions of full-backs, other midfielders and even the centre-backs when they initiating the attack.

Attacking Midfielder

Attacking midfielders are usually positioned between central midfield and forwards, to assist in creating goal scoring opportunities, hence they are placed in advanced midfield positions.

Forwards

Forwards main responsibility is to make a goal, and they are always at the nearest to the opposing team’s goal for getting the one score shot. Good forwards have good stamina, are agile and run at speed, along with a strong ability in goal shoot.

Centre Forwards

Centre-forwards serve as target man and are used to win long balls and provide a strong aerial presence in the opponent's half. A traditional centre forward is tall and physically to run with the ball in the area from crosses and attempts to score with either their feet or head, or to knock the ball down for a teammate to score.

Strikers

Strikers are usually fast and have good dribbling abilities to create spaces and finish strongly.

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— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) September 21, 2022

Second-Strikers

Second striker can score goals whilst creating several scoring opportunities for his teammates. They tend to be more quick, agile and skillful, helping to create goals and scoring opportunities for centre forwards, utilizing spaces created in the opposition's defence to provide passes to the strikers, picking up loose balls around the area, or attempting to dribble with the ball and score themselves.

Summary

It is very important to know what each position does and what they are responsible for, as each player will use their respective skills to play their position correctly. Make sure you understand the role for each position so you can better understand the match. Stay tuned to Ugrado for all the latest updates and guide regarding Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022.