Footy Eye
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Attacking the box

Attacking the box is how players move into the penalty area to meet a cross or cutback, and the zones they choose to attack.

Most goals from wide come from a handful of zones: the near post, the far post and the penalty spot area where cutbacks land. Good attackers spread across those zones instead of all running to the same place.

Timing matters as much as position. A run that arrives early gets marked; a run that arrives as the ball does is hard to stop. For the crosser, the read is which of those zones is open, and whether a cutback beats a cross.

What to look for

  • A teammate attacking the near post to draw defenders
  • Space at the far post behind the defenders' line
  • The cutback zone at the edge of the six-yard box
  • Arriving late, as the ball comes in, not before

The common mistakeEveryone running to the near post, so the cross that goes past it finds nobody.

Worked plays

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

  1. Play 1

    The situation
    A deep cross is coming from the far side. You’re at the back post, level with the last defender.
    Best read
    Hold, then attack the back post late
    Why
    The back post is where crosses die for defenders and live for strikers. Hold half a yard onside, let the ball clear the near-post scramble, then attack it late — arriving beats waiting. Go early and the flag kills you.
    The other options
    • Sprint across now to beat him You’re past him too early, and the flag goes up.
    • Attack the near post through the traffic You run into the crowd at the near post, and they clear it.
    • Drop to the top of the box The cross lands at the back post, and their defender heads it away.

  2. Play 2

    The situation
    A cross is being lined up. Your marker is goal-side, touch-tight, and watching you, not the ball.
    Best read
    Step to the near post, then check back
    Why
    A marker watching you goes wherever you go, so one straight run just takes him with you. Move him first: two hard steps to the near post commit his weight, and the check back buys the yard the header needs. Waiting at the back post lets him set his feet and jump with you.
    The other options
    • Sprint straight to the near post He runs with you step for step and heads it clear.
    • Hold at the back post and wait He sets his feet beside you and wins the header.
    • Back into him and hold him off He holds his ground goal-side and gets his head to it first.

  3. Play 3

    The situation
    You drive into their box. Your striker is beyond the last man; a midfielder arrives from deep, behind the ball.
    Best read
    Delay, then roll it to the late runner
    Why
    The pass everyone wants is a flag — he is beyond the last defender before the ball leaves your foot. The man arriving from deep is behind the ball, so he cannot be offside, and nobody tracks him: both defenders watch the runner. Shooting early into two bodies is the same impatience with worse odds.
    The other options
    • Slide the through ball to the striker The flag goes up as your striker runs onto it.
    • Shoot early across the keeper Your shot hits the nearer defender and bounces clear.
    • Take on the last defender Both defenders close you, and the chance is smothered.

  4. Play 4

    The situation
    You break into the channel. Your striker is level with the last man, both centre-backs sprint toward goal, their full-back closes you.
    Best read
    Hit it first time across goal
    Why
    A defender running toward his own goal cannot watch the ball and the runner, and anything struck across him is unplayable — that window is a second wide. First time beats a better body position two touches later. The touch inside and the cut back are the same delay, and by then everyone is goal-side.
    The other options
    • Take a touch inside and pick the cross Their centre-backs get goal-side, and the full-back blocks your cross.
    • Cut back onto your other foot and wait Everyone is back goal-side by the time you look up.
    • Drive to the byline, then look up The full-back catches you near the byline and blocks the cross.

  5. Play 5

    The situation
    A goal down, ten to play. You’re the centre-back, camped in their half with the ball secure.
    Best read
    Step to the edge for the cutback
    Why
    Down one with the ball secure high, your extra body is worth the risk — but height, not depth. Arrive at the top of the box where cutbacks and second balls drop, not in the crowd on the six. Your pivot slides into your seat, so you’ve added a man without opening the counter.
    The other options
    • Stay deep and hold the rest defence The cross comes in to one striker against three defenders.
    • Sprint into the six-yard box You join the crowd on the six, and the edge is empty.
    • Overlap wide and get to the byline You end up beside your winger, and the box is still short.

  6. Play 6

    The situation
    90+5, a goal down, five shown. It drops to you at the edge: a man closing, a marked teammate square.
    Best read
    Hit it first time, on target
    Why
    When there is no next attack, the shot you take beats the shot you set up — on target it can be spilled, deflected or turned in, and even a block wins a corner. Squaring it puts the ball into a marked man in front of a set defence, and the moment is gone.
    The other options
    • Square it to the man in the middle Their defender steps across your teammate, and the ball is cleared.
    • Take a touch to set, then hit it The extra touch lets him close, and he smothers the shot.
    • Work it wide for one more cross The cross comes in to a set defence, and the whistle goes.

Train it

Short untimed sessions with the reasoning after every answer.

Train Attacking the box

Test it

Ten plays, twenty seconds each, one Football IQ from 60 to 140.

Take the Football IQ Test

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