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Soccer IQ for Strikers

A striker's most important decisions are about movement: where to be when the ball arrives, and when to make the run.

Strikers time runs against the offside line, hold the last line to create space for others, attack the near post and lead the press. They also decide in a split second whether to shoot, lay it off or wait.

Worked plays

13 plays from Footy Eye's training pool, with the best read and why.

  1. Play 1

    The situation
    Centre-forward. Your centre-back steps out with the ball and nobody meets him; their back line is backing off towards their box.
    Best read
    Hold the last shoulder, pin their line
    Why
    While a centre-back carries, your job is to hold their line where it is: every yard you drop is a yard their back four steps up into, and his grass disappears without them defending anything. Dropping in buys him an easy pass and costs him the run.
    The other options
    • Drop short into the pocket Their back line steps up with you, and his space is gone.
    • Peel wide into the channel Their centre-backs step up without you, and his space shrinks.
    • Spin in behind before the line drops You’re in behind too early, and he has no pass to play.

  2. Play 2

    The situation
    66th minute, 1–0 up with ten men. You’re the lone striker; their pivot drops in to build three-v-one.
    Best read
    Drop in and screen their pivot
    Why
    One man cannot press three, and a lone press played through hands them the whole pitch with a nine-man block behind it. Drop onto their pivot and your team defends with two proper lines. Staying high as an out-ball sounds like relief, but nobody in a deep block can reach you.
    The other options
    • Press the ball — force a mistake They pass round you to the pivot, and he runs at your midfield.
    • Stay high and central as the out-ball Their pivot turns freely, and your team can’t reach you up top.
    • Shuttle across and shadow the far centre-back The ball goes into their pivot behind you, and he turns.

  3. Play 3

    The situation
    Your strike partner drops off the front line to show for it, and their centre-back follows him out.
    Best read
    Spin in behind into the space he’s left
    Why
    Two strikers work when they mirror each other — one drops, one spins. The second your partner pulls a centre-back out, the door behind him is open for barely a second. Attack it now: holding your line leaves you static and easy to mark, while opposite movement breaks a back four.
    The other options
    • Drop in beside him for the one-two Two of you crowd the same pocket, and the door behind shuts.
    • Pull wide to stretch the centre-backs You pull wide, and their other centre-back simply fills the gap.
    • Hold your line and wait The centre-back recovers his line, and you’re easy to mark again.

  4. Play 4

    The situation
    You’re the nine on the last line. The pass is going into your ten, and their centre-back wants to step onto him.
    Best read
    Hold the last line and pin the centre-back
    Why
    Your ten only has that pocket while the centre-back is stuck watching you. Stand on the line, in his eyeline, and he cannot step; leave it and he jumps the pass. The run in behind feels productive, but nobody is looking for it yet.
    The other options
    • Come short for the bounce pass You crowd your ten, and the centre-back steps in to squeeze you both.
    • Sprint in behind right now Your ten can’t see the run, and the centre-back jumps the pass.
    • Drift into the channel to drag the full-back You drift wide, the centre-back is freed, and he steps onto your ten.

  5. Play 5

    The situation
    Their keeper, between the centre-backs, rolls it to one. You’re the near striker in a front two.
    Best read
    Press the CB and cut the keeper return
    Why
    The roll is the trigger: press as it travels so you arrive as his touch lands. Wall off the return and his only out is a rushed ball down the line. Leave the return open and the ball just goes back; charge the keeper and the press dies.
    The other options
    • Charge the keeper before he releases The ball’s gone before you arrive; the centre-back strolls out unpressed.
    • Sit in and let them play out They pass it around the back at their own pace.
    • Press the CB, leave the keeper return open He plays it straight back to the keeper, and the press resets.

  6. Play 6

    The situation
    Your keeper claims the cross. Their bodies are still in your box. You’re the striker who stayed high, one defender for company.
    Best read
    Spin the last man and attack the channel
    Why
    A caught cross is the fastest transition in football — one throw takes their whole side out, and behind that defender is grass. Spinning turns their set piece into your break. Dropping to feet puts your back to goal and buys them time to get home; holding still gives the keeper a standing target.
    The other options
    • Drop twenty yards and show to feet You receive with your back to goal, and their players get home.
    • Hold on his shoulder, wait for the team The ball comes to your feet, and their defender is still goal-side.
    • Drop back to add a man in midfield Nobody is left up top, and their players jog back.

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