Attacking Soccer a tactical analysis PDF

If I were asked to pick out a match from all those that I have watched, I would have to choose Italy’s 3–2 victory against Brazil at Sarrià in 1982. More recently I would select the splendid match at Old Trafford between Manchester United and Real Madrid (2–3) in 2000.

As a neutral spectator I will always remember the nerve wracking semi-final between Germany and France during the 1982 World Cup, which ended 5 4 after the comeback by the Germans, or again the 3- 2 victory of the French over Brazil in Mexico 1986.

These were all matches of an extraordinary emotional intensity, contested by top class players who loyally confronted each other in an attempt to score that one extra goal that would guarantee the final victory for their team.

They were all matches full of goals.

Goals are the magic of soccer. A goal is that strange thing that can make the thousands of people present in a stadium jump to their feet as one, and with them all those others that are watching the match in bars or at home in an armchair in front of the TV.

A goal is that flash that unites millions of people all over the country, who will roar out their joy or their despair as the occasion demands.

A goal is an extraordinary charge of emotion, which can generate an otherwise almost unthinkable explosion of collective energy – positive or negative as it may be.

A goal breaks down all kinds of barriers, evoking the same reactions from people of different creeds, social classes, culture and origin.

A goal is a work of art with the superb finishing touches from the free kicks of Del Piero and Zidane.

A goal notched up by Inzaghi or Raul is a feat of cunning. A goal is an act of power as in the free kicks of Mihajlovic or Batistuta.

A goal is pure class as in the one scored by the incomparable Maradona against the English during the World Cup in 1986 or Van Basten’s incredible lob shot that went over the head of the Russian Dasaev and gave the Dutch national team the title of European champions in 1988.

For all of us that have played soccer on the fields in the suburbs or at school, a goal has always been the means to make us feel as if we, too, were just a little Pelè, a Cruijff, a Platini, a Maradona, a Van Basten, a Baggio, a Figo, a Vieri or a Shevchenko.

A goal can be a lot of things, but in the end it all comes down to this: goals are the magic of soccer.

The book that you are about to read aims to be an instrument in the hands of coaches, experts or even supporters, which, by way of a tactical analysis of the attacking phase of play, will help to understand and develop match strategies directed at goal scoring and victory, which are the surest ways of generating deep emotion in the ‘soccer tribe’.