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They're specialists in the dark arts of the game and will try anything to put their opponents at a disadvantage. They're the base of a team’s spine and are responsible for their side keeping a clean sheet.īrave and physically imposing, these players never make it easy for the opposition’s strikers. Notable Center Backs: Virgil Van Dijk, Sergio Ramos, Marquinhos, and Fabio Cannavaro.Ĭenter backs are positionally sound, ferocious tacklers, and dominant in aerial duels. Creating chances for more attacking players.Creating good relationships with winger teammates.Moreover, they have a lot of them, making the position even more difficult to play in. Left Back Responsibilities:Ī left back’s responsibilities are straightforward but by no means easy. Ĭrossing, threading through passes, and even cutting inside for a more central attack are essential skills. Since the wings are usually the most open areas on the field, left backs must be efficient and productive when given time and space. In modern soccer, their offensive duties can be just as important as their defensive role.
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Then they must defend the back past and track late runners into the penalty box, as they're often the backline’s final hope of preventing a team from scoring from a deep cross. Today, a left back must control the entire flank going forward and backward.ĭefensively, their main priority is to win the individual battle with their opposite winger. We can no longer say that a left back’s primary role is to defend wide areas. Once a position that was largely overlooked, left backs are now celebrated for their influence in attack and defense.
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Once deemed an unconventional goalkeeping approach, the sweeper-keeper is now one of the staple soccer position in the modern game. Notable Sweeper Keepers: Ederson, Manuel Neuer, Alisson Becker, and Hugo Lloris. Today, sweeper keepers are essential as teams play with higher defensive lines and play mainly possession-based soccer. Īs the game continues to develop, so too does the role of a goalkeeper. The average professional keeper stands about 6’2”, which is several inches taller than the average outfielder. While there are exceptions, most goalies are tall with long limbs. Goalkeepers must have cat-like reflexes, fast instincts, agility, and dexterity to stop shots from all distances and angles. They’re not only the last line of defense, but also key contributors to build-up play and a passing outlet against a high press. Especially in the modern game when many goalies are required to be skilled with the ball at their feet.
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While that’s their core responsibility, the role is far more complicated. Stop the ball from hitting the back of the net. On paper, the goalkeeper's role might seem simple: Notable Goalkeepers: Alisson Becker, Thibaut Courtois, Gianluigi Buffon, and David De Gea.